He put his hand on her shoulder.
"At least it's over."
But it wasn't.
Two weeks later, Marcus received a certified letter.
The letter wasn't from Patricia.
It was from a development company.
They wanted an easement.
Again.
Marcus stared at the page.
The company claimed the request was unrelated to the HOA dispute.
His attorney disagreed.
"Same investors."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
Marcus frowned.
"Then why now?"
"Because they lost their first route."
"They're trying to use my property again."
"Exactly."
Marcus read the proposed amount.
It was enormous.
Danielle looked over his shoulder.
"That's a lot of money."
"Yes."
"You could sell."
Marcus looked at her.
"Do you want to?"
"No."
"Then no."
She nodded.
The next morning, another envelope arrived.
This one contained photographs.
Photographs of Marcus's house.
His backyard.
His driveway.
His pool.
The angle suggested they had been taken from the street.
On the back of one photograph was a handwritten message.
Everyone has a price.
Marcus felt the old anger return.
He took photographs of the photographs.
Then he called the police.
This time, he didn't wait.
The investigator arrived.
He looked at the photographs.
"Have you received anything else?"
Marcus handed him the easement proposal.
The investigator studied it.
"Same company?"
"Yes."
He nodded.
"We'll forward this."
Marcus looked at him.
"Is this a threat?"
The investigator answered carefully.
"Maybe."
"What should I do?"
"Keep documenting."
Marcus smiled.
"That's becoming a theme."
"It works."
The investigator left.
That night, Marcus installed another camera.
Not because he wanted to live in fear.
Because he wanted evidence.
A week later, the camera captured a vehicle stopping near the property.
A man got out.
He walked toward the gate.
He didn't enter.
He stood there for several minutes.
Then he took photographs.
Marcus called the police.
The vehicle was gone by the time they arrived.
But the footage remained.
Investigators identified the man.
He worked for the development company.
That was enough to trigger a new investigation.
This time, federal investigators became involved because several property records had been accessed illegally.
Marcus was interviewed.
Then Cheryl.
Then the other women.
Then the former HOA employees.
Then Patricia.