He slipped on a loose beige T-shirt, matching beige lounge shorts, and slippers.
He walked downstairs.
The laughter became louder.
He approached the sliding glass door.
He opened it.
And stopped.
For several seconds, Marcus didn't move.
Six women were in his pool.
One was sitting on the shallow steps.
Another was floating near the center.
Two were laughing near the deep end.
Patricia was leaning against the pool wall as though she owned the place.
Marcus's eyes moved immediately to the gate.
The lock was broken.
He looked at Patricia.
Then at the other women.
Then back at the broken lock.
Patricia saw him.
Her smile widened.
"Oh."
She lifted one hand.
"Good morning."
Marcus said nothing.
Patricia climbed onto the shallow steps.
She pointed at him.
"I'm HOA president. I don't need your permission to use this pool."
Marcus looked at her.
His voice was calm.
"You broke my lock."
Patricia laughed.
"It's a gate."
"It's a locked gate."
"It's a community neighborhood."
"It's my backyard."
She shrugged.
"You're making this bigger than it is."
Marcus glanced toward the security camera above the patio.
Then he looked back at her.
"Get out."
The women stopped laughing.
Patricia's smile disappeared slightly.
"Excuse me?"
"Everyone out."
Patricia put her hands on her hips.
"You don't tell me what to do."
Marcus didn't raise his voice.
"You broke my lock, invited six people onto my property, and every camera caught it."
One woman slowly climbed out.
Another looked toward the gate.
Patricia noticed.
"Nobody move."
Marcus looked at her.
"You're done."
Patricia laughed nervously.
"You think you're going to intimidate me?"
"No."
Marcus walked toward the pool equipment enclosure.
He opened a small cabinet.
Then he removed a laminated maintenance sheet.
He held it up.
Patricia frowned.
"What is that?"
Marcus looked directly at her.
"A record."
"Of what?"
"The pool treatment this morning."
Patricia glanced at the sheet.
Her face changed.
"What treatment?"
Marcus didn't answer.
The women began climbing out.
One woman wrapped a towel around herself.
Another looked at her arms.
She frowned.
"What's on me?"
Patricia looked down.
There was a faint green shimmer along her wrist.
She rubbed it.
The color didn't disappear.
"What is that?"
The pool technician stepped through the side gate.
Behind him came a police officer.
The technician stared at the women.