But he remained still.
Rivera turned toward Dylan.
"Did the owner give you permission?"
The young man opened his mouth.
Then looked toward his mother.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, he answered.
"Not exactly."
Officer Price looked up.
"What does 'not exactly' mean?"
Dylan lowered his eyes.
Pamela immediately intervened.
"He's confused. The agreement was being handled through the association."
Rivera looked toward her.
"Then we'll need to examine the actual agreement."
Isaiah approached only after Rivera invited him to speak.
He kept his hands visible and his voice steady.
He explained that the Mustang belonged to him, was registered to him, and had never been offered for sale or loan to Dylan.
He described the HOA notices and prior conversations.
Then he told the officers about the towing company.
Rivera asked whether he had documentation.
Isaiah nodded.
He retrieved a folder from the workbench after telling the officers where it was.
Inside were copies of the vehicle title information, registration records, relevant association correspondence, and the written notice he'd sent disputing any attempted removal.
Rivera reviewed the materials.
Then asked about the morning's confrontation.
Isaiah described Pamela entering the garage and attaching a notice to the Mustang.
He explained Dylan's demand for the keys.
Then described the moment Pamela shoved his forearm.
Pamela immediately objected.
"He was aggressive!"
Isaiah didn't turn toward her.
He looked at Rivera.
"My camera recorded it."
The officer nodded.
"Would you be willing to preserve and provide the recording?"
"Yes."
Pamela's expression changed.
For the first time, she looked toward the small security camera mounted above the garage entrance.
Dylan noticed it too.
His face paled.
Then he whispered.
"Mom."
She ignored him.
But Isaiah could see that she was frightened.
Not because the camera had appeared unexpectedly.
It had been installed for days.
She was frightened because she'd been so focused on asserting her authority that she hadn't bothered to look for it.
Nora approached from her property after Rivera requested a witness statement.
The retired librarian walked slowly down the sidewalk carrying a small notebook.
Pamela stared.
"Oh, wonderful. Here comes the neighborhood gossip."
Nora ignored the insult.
She greeted the officers politely.
Then described what she'd seen.
Pamela had entered the garage before Isaiah confronted her.
Dylan had approached and appeared to demand something.
The exchange became heated.
But Nora hadn't seen Isaiah threaten the visitors.
She also described earlier occasions when Pamela and Dylan appeared near the garage while Isaiah wasn't home.