Every notice created a record.
Every invoice had a date.
Every drainage agreement had an origin.
And every decision made on behalf of the association was supposed to rest on actual authorization.
For the first time, Cynthia was being asked to prove what she'd spent years merely asserting.
Tanya returned home less than an hour after Andre called her.
She pulled into the driveway, saw the municipal vehicles, and felt her stomach tighten.
Andre was waiting near the front entrance.
She hurried toward him.
“Where's Maya?”
“Inside. She's safe.”
Tanya closed her eyes.
Then looked toward the pool.
The patio had been cordoned off from casual access while the incident was being documented.
The water looked terrible.
For a moment, Tanya couldn't speak.
Then she turned toward her husband.
“Did Cynthia do that?”
Andre nodded.
“Yes.”
Tanya stared.
“On purpose?”
He looked toward the patio.
Then back at her.
“Yes.”
For several seconds, she remained silent.
Then she looked toward the house.
“I'm going to Maya.”
Andre nodded.
He followed her inside.
Their daughter sat at the kitchen island with her hands folded in front of her.
The purple birthday invitations lay beside her.
She hadn't finished them.
When she saw her mother, she jumped from the stool.
“Mommy!”
Tanya knelt.
Maya threw her arms around her.
For several seconds, the girl didn't speak.
Then she whispered.
“She put dirty water in our pool.”
Tanya closed her eyes.
“I know, sweetheart.”
Maya began crying.
“Daddy said we can't go outside.”
Her mother gently stroked her hair.
“Not near the pool right now.”
Maya pulled away slightly.
Her eyes were wide.
“Is it broken forever?”
Tanya swallowed.
She didn't know the answer yet.
She looked toward Andre.
He crouched beside them.
“No, baby.”
Maya stared.
He took a breath.
“The pool has been contaminated, and we need professionals to determine how to make it safe again.”
She lowered her eyes.
“For my birthday?”
Andre felt his throat tighten.
For a moment, he wanted to promise yes.
He wanted to tell her it would all be fixed before the party.
That nothing important had changed.
But he couldn't.
So he answered carefully.
“I don't know whether it will be ready by your birthday.”
Maya's face crumpled.
Andre continued.
“But we're going to have your birthday celebration somewhere safe, and you can still invite the people you love.”
She looked toward him.
“Really?”
He smiled gently.
“Really.”
For a moment, the girl seemed relieved.
Then she looked toward the patio.
Her voice became quiet.
“Mrs. Vale hates us.”
Andre went completely still.
Tanya's expression changed.
Their daughter continued.