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was raped?"  Drew turned to Ryan in rage.  "Why didn't you tell me?"
    "Vic didn't want her to be embarrassed by it.  He was going to tell you."  Ryan turned his attention back to Stone.
    "Like I was saying, as I'm sure you both know, we couldn’t find any trace evidence from the bomb.  Now we have to add attempted murder and vandalism.  She has to know something."  He turned and walked up the stairs.
    Drew began to follow and Ryan caught his arm.  "Let him talk to her."
    Walking back to the kitchen, the men sat back at the table.  "Really, asshole. You knocked me out," Melissa said while rubbing her neck.
    "Here we go.  I did it so I wouldn't have to put my foot in your ass, and could you please lower your voice. The detective is upstairs talking to Tony now."  Drew slumped back in the chair.
    They heard the panicked footsteps coming down the stairs.  "Do you think this is a joke?"
    Ryan stood. "What are you talking about?"
    "Where is she?  She's gone."
     

Chapter 4
    "Just one bed please," Tonya whispered to the lady behind the counter at the hotel.  The lady, based on her name tag, was named Sophia. She looked Tonya over. 
    "And how long will you be staying with us?" She looked at her credit card and smiled.  "Ms. Irvine."
    "Two nights."
    Sophia looked around the empty foyer of the hotel.  "Ms. Irvine, um...your money is no good here.  I know that you wanted a single bed, but I just upgraded you to a suite." 
    Tonya looked at her in confusion. "That won't be necessary.  I can stay in the single bed and pay for it."
    "Ms. Irvine."  Sophia took a deep breath.  "I've been where you are at and I prayed that someone would have helped me."
    Tonya had no idea what she was talking about until she caught her reflection in the mirror behind the counter.  Tonya looked like death.  She had taken an oversized sweater and tennis shoes.  The bruises were getting worse, not better. And she was keeping her arm close to her.  This woman thought she was running away from an abusive boyfriend or husband.  "Ma'am, it's not what you think."
    "You don't have to explain.  I will keep your credit card on file.  Unfortunately, if you want room service, I will have to charge it to the room, okay?"  Sophia handed her the license and credit card back.  "If you need anything, please give a call at the front desk."  She gave her the room key with a smile.
    "Thank you."  Tonya flung her purse over her shoulder and tried to ignore the stares when she arrived at the elevator.  Her left leg, as hard as she tried, dragged behind her.
    Finally, making it to her room, she collapsed on the bed.  Her tennis shoes fell off her feet without her trying.  Face down in the comforter, she felt like the past 12 hours were a living nightmare.  She was fully aware that she was alone in the suite, but she was still ashamed to cry.  That girl had her pegged all wrong. Tonya had no idea why this had happened to her.
    Why hadn't I changed my contact information?  she thought as the tears fell. She knew that living in DC that one day that she and Vic were going to run into each other, but not like this.  The last time she saw him, she was faking strength-bravado.  The love she felt for him was thrown back at her like a brick to the face.  He was hateful and cruel.  She hadn't thought about him in a while. Now she remembered everything.  How he would touch her and everything would come to life.  How they would laugh at the stupidest things.  Vic was the only man that she ever known completely, in a way.  Well, in the beginning.  They were that couple.  So everyone thought.  They weren't lovey dovey and making goo goo eyes at each other, making everyone want to throw up.  It was deeper than that. They were a team, so she thought.
    Tonya remembered walking out of the house. Vic was two steps behind her.  Damn near throwing her out. She vowed that she would never give herself away to another man again.  Never love someone