“She wanted to delete it at first, but Michael told her to keep it.”

“But the footage shows her hitting me,” I said.

“Not after I edited it,” Daniel whispered.

The kitchen clock ticked on the wall, a sharp, rhythmic sound that seemed to fill the room.

“You edited the security tape,” I said.

“I had to, Liz,” he pleaded.

“I just cut the first three minutes. The part where she threw the bottle.”

He sounded desperate, his voice rising in pitch.

“I started the clip right when you grabbed her wrists to defend yourself.”

“From that angle, it looks like you initiated the struggle.”

“You framed me,” I said.

“No, I just gave them what they needed to protect Jason,” Daniel said.

“If you just help him get into a different residency, they won’t use it.”

“They’ve already sent it to the hospital board, Daniel,” I said.

My hand was gripping the edge of the kitchen counter so hard my knuckles were white.

“The board is reviewing my license tomorrow morning.”

“They won’t do anything if we tell them it was a misunderstanding,” Daniel said.