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me again."
    "What did you do the second time?"
    "I shoved him away and asked him to leave."
    "Did he listen?" Sympathy tinged the prosecutor's voice.
    "No. He grabbed me by the neck and forced me to kiss him. Then he tore off my dress and--" she gulped for air, thinking fast, trying to be consistent "--and I tried to run away. But he caught me in the hall, shoved me to the ground and was on top of me before I could even blink. As I struggled, he yel ed at me, telling me I was a bitch and a tease and he'd take whatever he wanted to."
    Major Ogitani didn't deal with emotion well. Kalyna had watched her trying to distance herself throughout the interview. Now she put some physical distance between them, as well, by getting up and moving to the window. "Go on..."
    "I managed to wriggle out from underneath him while he was fumbling with his pants. I tried to run to my room, where I hoped to lock him out, but he grabbed my arm, slammed me into the wall and punched me in the face."
    "With his fist?"
    "Yes. You can see the black eye he gave me in the pictures."
    She started to get out the photos she'd insisted the Emergency Room doctor give her, but Ogitani shook her hand.
    "They're in the file I received." Her voice betrayed no disgust, but Kalyna knew she was feeling it. She had her hands clasped behind her so tightly her knuckles were turning white. "Did you fight back?"
    "Don't you think you should be writing this down?" Kalyna was doing 38

    such a good job, she wanted to be sure Ogitani was getting it al .
    "I plan to do a detailed recap as soon as we're done. You paint a vivid picture. Believe me, I won't forget." She took a deep breath. "Did you fight back?" she repeated.
    "I couldn't. I was so dazed I didn't know what was happening." Which would conveniently explain why he had no injuries....
    "And then?"
    Apparently, Ogitani wanted the gritty details. Maybe she was secretly, getting off on it. "And then he was inside me, thrusting hard and fast, telling me how badly he wanted me and how he'd never met anyone else he wanted as much." Excited by the mere pretense, Kalyna squeezed her eyes shut so the major couldn't ascertain her true emotions. "I'l never forget his hot breath on my neck." At least that part was true. She'd never forget a second of it. Being with Luke had been the best experience of her life, even when they weren't making love.
    Major Ogitani came over to crouch beside her. "Did you cry out, make any noise?"
    "Yes." She'd moaned in ecstasy....
    "Did anyone come to help?" Ogitani straightened as she asked this question.
    "No! No one heard me. I stil can't believe it."
    The major's pat on her shoulder didn't seem very natural, but the prosecutor's effort to console her made it easier for Kalyna to conjure up tears. "Are you okay?"
    Kalyna sniffed and nodded.
    "How'd you get to the hospital that night?" Her manner became indignant. "Don't tell me you had to drive yourself in that condition!"
    "No. After he left, I--I stumbled to the apartment next door. My neighbor drove me. And...and the pictures show the rest."
    "I appreciate the detailed account. I know it can't be pleasant to tell that story."
    "It's not." Kalyna sniffed again. "But...do you...do you think it'l be worth it? Do you think we'l win?"
    Major Ogitani worried her lip. "These are difficult cases to prove.
    But...1 plan to do my best."
    39

    Shrinking away from her because the closeness of other women always made Kalyna uncomfortable, she slipped off her chair on the opposite side and stood. "Thank you."
    Ogitani favored her with a smile. "You're welcome."
    After they shook hands and Kalyna left, she allowed her smile to grow more self-satisfied. She had him. Luke Trussell would go to prison, where he'd be isolated and nearly forgotten by the outside world.
    He'd need someone then. He'd need her. And that was when she'd forgive him. He'd finally realize they were meant to be together. There'd be letters and protestations of love. Conjugal visits.