The man hesitated.
“I'd have to check.”
Michael didn't move.
“Please.”
The stranger scrolled.
Then stopped.
His expression changed slightly.
He looked toward Evelyn.
For a moment, he seemed uncertain whether to continue.
Finally, he answered.
“Eleven twenty-six.”
Michael stared.
The grill hadn't been lit yet.
The extinguisher hadn't been discharged.
There had been no incident.
And Evelyn had apparently arranged for an emergency compliance company to visit before the problem she later claimed to have solved even existed.
Michael looked toward Grace.
Her face had gone pale.
Then he turned toward the man.
“Who authorized this?”
The stranger swallowed.
“Mrs. Hartwell.”
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Evelyn approached.
Her expensive sandals clicked against the stone patio.
“That's enough.”
She looked toward the CedarShield representative.
“You're discussing internal association operations with an unauthorized homeowner.”
Grace turned.
“Evelyn, he is the homeowner.”
Evelyn ignored her.
She looked toward the man.
“You can return to the office.”
He hesitated.
“Mrs. Hartwell, I've already been dispatched.”
“Then consider the appointment canceled.”
Michael stepped forward.
“Hold on.”
Evelyn turned.
He looked directly at her.
“Why was an emergency inspection scheduled before the barbecue started?”
Her face tightened.
“I don't owe you an explanation of every administrative procedure.”
Grace crossed her arms.
“Actually, Evelyn, the board is entitled to know why an HOA-funded vendor was sent to a private residence.”
Evelyn looked toward her.
For a moment, genuine anger flashed across her face.
Then she smiled tightly.
“Grace, this is precisely why I don't involve every board member in routine operational decisions.”
The older woman stared.
“I'm the treasurer.”
“And I'm the president.”
Michael watched them.
For the first time, the argument seemed to be moving beyond his backyard.
Beyond the barbecue.
Beyond the extinguisher.
He looked toward the CedarShield representative.
The man had stopped smiling.
His tablet remained open.
And he seemed increasingly uncomfortable with the conversation.
Then Grace asked something that made Evelyn's expression change again.
“Is this the same CedarShield company that's been receiving emergency assessment payments from our reserve account?”
The man looked down.
Evelyn stiffened.
“Grace, not here.”
The older woman didn't move.
“Why not?”
Evelyn turned toward Michael.
“This is your fault.”
He stared.
“My fault?”
She pointed toward the grill.
“If you'd followed the rules, none of this would have happened!”
For several seconds, Michael felt anger rising.
Then he looked toward Sophie.
She was watching from the kitchen window.
He took a breath.
And answered quietly.
“Evelyn, I was cooking hamburgers for a school fundraiser.”
He pointed toward the ruined food.
“You brought the extinguisher.”
Her face reddened.
Then Grace spoke.
“And apparently someone arranged to bill the neighborhood before there was anything to inspect.”