“I’m in a hospital bed.

My husband knows exactly which one.

He gave you a false report to punish me for not coming to cook.” The doctor stepped in and confirmed, dryly, that his patient was in no condition to walk across the room, let alone flee across the city.

When the officers called Zane back on their own line, his tone changed inside of a sentence.

“Officer — I honestly didn’t realize she was hurt that badly,” he said, suddenly the worried husband.

“You didn’t realize,” I said, loud enough to carry, “because you never once asked.”