The woman who treated every request for documentation as a personal attack.
At the end of the meeting, the board voted to suspend new vehicle-removal activity under the disputed program pending legal review.
It also authorized a limited independent audit of the association's enforcement contracts.
Sandra voted against the decision.
Walter supported it.
Harold supported it.
And the treasurer, Felicia Grant, supported it after asking a question that made the room even quieter.
“How much has Stonebridge Compliance and Recovery received from this association over the past two years?”
Nobody immediately answered.
Felicia was fifty-six, a former accountant who had joined the board only six months earlier.
She had already raised concerns about unexplained increases in compliance spending.
Sandra gave a dismissive laugh.
“It's all in the budget.”
Felicia opened her notebook.
“Then the number should be easy to provide.”
Sandra glared.
Felicia continued.
“I've reviewed the approved budget lines. I see several payments categorized as security readiness and enforcement support, but I don't see a complete contract file explaining the services.”
Walter looked toward Margaret.
The attorney nodded.
“We should obtain that.”
Felicia looked toward Sandra.
“Who selected Stonebridge?”
Sandra hesitated.
“I coordinated the vendor review.”
“Were competing bids obtained?”
The vice president folded her arms.
“The company was highly recommended.”
“By whom?”
Sandra stared.
For several seconds, she remained silent.
Then answered.
“People familiar with community enforcement.”
Felicia slowly closed her notebook.
“That isn't an answer.”
Sandra's face flushed.
But for once, nobody rushed to rescue her from the question.
Three days later, the first set of financial records arrived.
The association had paid Stonebridge tens of thousands of dollars for various enforcement-related services.
Some payments covered ordinary patrols or inspections.
Others concerned vehicle-removal preparation, storage coordination, and administrative services that appeared difficult to reconcile with the board's formal approvals.
The records also showed that homeowners paid Stonebridge directly to recover vehicles after certain removals.
Those payments were not ordinary HOA assessments.
They were separate invoices issued by the contractor.
Some were substantial.
The audit team began compiling the transactions.
And the number of affected homeowners was larger than anyone expected.
Ruth Adler wasn't the only one.
A young couple named Luis and Marisol Hernandez had paid nearly four thousand dollars after their minivan was towed following a disputed parking notice.