The sterile smell of antiseptic did little to mask the scent of my own burned skin.

Every small movement sent a hot, throbbing ache down the left side of my face and neck.

I lay perfectly still in the hospital bed, staring at the white ceiling tiles of the burn unit.

To my right, the heart monitor beeped in a slow, fragile rhythm.

My husband, Ethan, sat in the vinyl chair beside my bed, his face a mask of practiced concern.

His mother, Margaret, stood right behind him, her hands clasped tightly over her designer handbag.

“She was just so clumsy in the kitchen, Detective,” Ethan said, his voice smooth and steady.

“It was a terrible accident,” Margaret added, nodding quickly. “The pan just slipped from her hands.”

Detective David Sullivan did not write anything down in his notepad.

He stood near the door, his heavy winter coat unbuttoned, his eyes fixed on Ethan.

My friend, Dr. Rachel Carter, stood on the other side of my bed, her lab coat crisp and white.

Rachel crossed her arms, her fingers pressing into her sleeves.

“That is not what the injuries suggest, Ethan,” Rachel said, her voice cold and level.

“With all due respect, Doctor, you weren’t there,” Ethan replied, a sharp edge creeping into his tone.

He reached out to touch my hand, but I pulled my arm away, the movement sending a jolt of pain through my shoulder.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a warning flash passing through his gaze.

“Natalie is confused,” Margaret said, stepping closer to the bed. “She’s on heavy pain medication.”

“I am completely lucid,” I whispered, the words scraping against my raw throat.

Detective Sullivan stepped forward, the rubber soles of his boots squeaking against the linoleum floor.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black smartphone.

“We have a few questions about the timeline of events,” Sullivan said.

“We’ve already given our statements,” Ethan said, standing up from his chair to loom over the detective.

“We want to go home and let my wife rest,” Ethan added, gesturing toward me.

“The investigation is ongoing, Mr. Brooks,” Sullivan said calmly.