Hard Line - Pamela Clare Page 0,84

jaw, a concerned frown on his face. “You gave your weapon and the location of the Golden Horde components to Delaney and risked your life on a hope that Dr. Park was still alive.”

Thor had known this was going to be an issue.

He explained his thought process—not that he’d had much time to think. “Jones and Segal knew where I was. I knew they’d be warned if Delaney went after the package. Even if he got hold of it, he wasn’t going anywhere. It seemed right to leave Delaney to Jones and Segal and to go after Dr. Park. I believed Delaney would give me her location. I was wrong about that. As it turned out, he planned to kill me outright after getting the intel he wanted. She was just bait.”

“With others on hand, why did he choose Dr. Park?”

Thor answered carefully. “I can’t be sure, but because Dr. Park went with us to retrieve the components, the three of us know her better than anyone else on station.”

That wasn’t the whole truth. Everyone on station knew that Thor and Samantha had slept together. Delaney had gone for Thor’s vulnerable spot—and it had worked. Even so, Thor didn’t regret it.

Then it hit him right in the face.

Did he love her? Was he in love with Samantha?

“Why did you carry her all the way to Summer Camp? Four hundred meters is a long distance in wind chill of minus a hundred. Wouldn’t it have been faster to head back into the station?”

“When I heard that door lock, I figured Delaney would lock the other doors, too. With everyone in the life pod, no one would have heard me knocking. I would have wasted precious minutes trying to find a way in. Instead, I went to the closest shelter I could find, a place I thought might be off Delaney’s radar.”

Tower seemed to consider this. “When you’re armed and the bad guy makes demands, it’s an unusual strategy to give him what he wants. You gave him everything—your weapon, your means of communication, access to the package—to save someone who might already have been dead. In the process, you were shot, got hypothermia and frostbite, and nearly died. But you also saved Dr. Park’s life.”

“Dr. Park could have been anywhere out there. I didn’t have time to fight Delaney or interrogate him. I either needed to find her—or give her up for dead. I couldn’t do the latter. I just couldn’t.”

Tower nodded. “You made some strategically questionable choices, but now I understand why. It all worked out in the end. You saved Dr. Park’s life. The package and the station are secure. Dr. Holcomb’s murder is solved.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You know, I’m tough, and I’ve done a lot of extreme shit. But I’m not sure I could have done what you did. I’m not sure any of us could. You’ve got unusually high endurance. When Corbray and I decided to bring you on board, we knew we were acquiring a somewhat different skillset. Our decision has paid off on this mission. Well, done, Isaksen. Now, heal up, and I’ll do my best to get you all home quickly.”

Thor wasn’t sure he wanted to go—yet. “Thank you, sir.”

Relieved to have the debriefing behind him, Thor disconnected from the satellite VPN, left his room, and made his way upstairs to the galley. The meeting had gone on a little longer than he’d expected, and he was a few minutes late joining Samantha for supper. She’d stayed with him in the infirmary these past few nights—with Kristi’s approval—and had at least gotten some sleep.

He walked through the door—and people got to their feet, clapping and cheering.

Hva’ fanden? What the hell?

An amused smile on her bruised and beautiful face, Samantha walked over to him and spoke for his ears alone. “Hey, it’s okay. You look like a deer in the headlights. They’re happy to see you on your feet and grateful for what you did.”

Thor wasn’t sure what a deer was doing inside headlights, but he forced a smile onto his face. “Can we eat fast and get out of here?”

She picked up a tray for him. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell me a big, tough guy like you can’t handle a little adoration. Lasagna or beef stew?”

23

“You don’t have to go down there.” Thor drew Samantha’s hood up over her woolen hat. “It’s bound to trigger bad memories.”

“Patty was my best friend. I need to be there. The rest of it doesn’t matter.” Then it hit