“Sometimes.”
“Inside locked yards?”
“When necessary.”
“Who determines necessity?”
“The board.”
“Did the board vote to enter Mr. Cole’s yard?”
“No formal vote was required.”
Robert looked toward her.
“Why not?”
Vanessa ignored him.
Andrea continued.
“Did you provide written notice of entry?”
“The prior pool inspection notice constituted notice.”
“That notice requested cooperation.”
“It was mandatory.”
“Where did it say you would climb a locked gate if he declined?”
Vanessa stared.
Andrea waited.
Then asked:
“Would the board like to see the video?”
Vanessa immediately said:
“I object.”
Patricia looked toward her.
“Why?”
“It was recorded without my consent.”
Marcus spoke for the first time.
“In my backyard.”
Vanessa turned toward him.
“You knew I was there in an HOA capacity.”
Marcus stared.
“You were in my swimming pool.”
“Because—”
Robert raised one hand.
“Just play it.”
Marcus connected his laptop.
The video began.
Vanessa appearing over the gate.
The room became still.
Her right leg swung across the top.
Then her left.
She dropped into the yard.
Straightened the pale-pink jacket.
Walked toward the lounge chair.
Removed her shoes.
Linda Park whispered:
“Oh my God.”
Vanessa stared ahead.
Marcus did not look at her.
The video showed her entering the water.
Then Marcus coming outside.
“Hey! Get out of my pool now.”
Vanessa’s voice:
“Shut up! I can use this pool whenever I want.”
Patricia closed her eyes.
Robert slowly put his glasses back on.
Andrea paused the video.
“Is the association’s position that this was an inspection?”
Nobody spoke.
Vanessa said:
“I entered the water to verify certain conditions.”
Andrea looked toward her.
“Which conditions?”
“Tile maintenance.”
Marcus almost laughed.
Andrea remained perfectly straight-faced.
“By standing waist-deep in the pool?”
“Waterline issues.”
“What instrument did you bring?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“What?”
“A clipboard?”
“No.”
“Camera?”
“My phone.”
“Testing equipment?”
“No.”
“Inspection checklist?”
“No.”
“Measuring device?”
“No.”
“Any written assignment from the board?”
Vanessa’s voice hardened.
“I do not need to justify every operational decision.”
Robert leaned forward.
“Yes.”
“You do.”
Vanessa stared.
He pointed toward the screen.
“You climbed over a homeowner’s locked fence.”
“You'd better be able to justify that.”
The video resumed.
Marcus clearly said he did not consent.
Vanessa refused to leave.
Then the security-camera reference.
Then the police officer.
Then Vanessa accusing Marcus of threatening her.
The officer saying he had watched the footage.
Finally:
“Ma’am, this citation isn’t for him. It’s for you.”
Andrea stopped the video.
The room remained silent.
Robert rubbed both hands over his face.
Patricia looked toward Vanessa.
“What were you thinking?”
Vanessa’s eyes flashed.
“I was trying to enforce community standards.”
Patricia stared.
“You were swimming.”
“I was not recreationally swimming.”