“Two years.”
Perez looked toward Shaw.
She heard.
“Of course he does.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
Shaw smiled.
“You seem like someone who keeps records.”
“I work construction.”
“That explains it.”
Marcus opened an email folder.
BROOKHAVEN HOA.
One hundred eighty-seven messages.
Perez whistled.
“Any relevant threats?”
“Not direct.”
Marcus searched.
There.
Message from Brenda.
February 11.
Mr. Reed,
Continued refusal to cooperate with community compliance will leave the board no choice but to pursue increasingly aggressive enforcement measures until your property conforms to neighborhood standards.
Perez read it.
“That is vague.”
“Yes.”
“Still save it.”
Another.
March 3.
You have mistaken procedural delay for victory.
Marcus watched Perez’s face.
“Save that too.”
Another.
April 18.
Residents who force the association to spend unnecessary resources defending basic standards will be held responsible for all consequences permitted under the declaration.
Perez looked at Marcus.
“You have an attorney?”
“Yes.”
“Call them.”
Marcus did.
His attorney, Rachel Monroe, answered on the second ring.
“Please tell me Brenda didn’t send another letter.”
Marcus looked at the pool.
“She used a hammer.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Come over.”
“Marcus.”
“She broke the backyard gate and dumped laboratory glass into the pool.”
Longer silence.
“Are you joking?”
“No.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
Rachel arrived in eighteen.
She walked through the broken gate.
Stopped.
Looked at Marcus.
Then at the pool.
Then at the officers.
“I have represented homeowners against associations for fourteen years.”
Marcus waited.
“This is new.”
“Glad I could expand your practice.”
She did not laugh.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“She touch you?”
“Shoved my shoulder once.”
“On video?”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
Rachel looked toward the pool.
“What laboratory?”
Allison introduced herself.
That conversation lasted forty minutes.
By sunset, Rachel’s expression had changed from disbelief to professional focus.
“Do not communicate with Brenda.”
Marcus nodded.
“Do not communicate with individual board members.”
“Okay.”
“If the management company contacts you, forward it.”
“Yes.”
“Do not post video online.”
Marcus frowned.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
“I want this handled correctly.”
“That sentence makes my life easier.”
Marcus looked toward the damaged gate.
“Who pays?”
Rachel followed his gaze.
“Ultimately?”
“Yes.”
“That will depend on whether she acted individually, as an HOA representative, or both.”
“She literally said HOA enforcement.”
“I know.”