"And tell them exactly where you're standing."
Pamela's expression changed.
But she was already dialing.
Within minutes, a police cruiser turned into the quiet suburban street.
Pamela stepped away from the garage and immediately rearranged her expression. Her furious scowl became one of wounded concern, and she held the clipboard against her chest as though it were evidence of an official duty interrupted by an aggressive homeowner.
Dylan stood beside her, arms folded.
Isaiah remained near the Mustang.
He hadn't touched either of them.
He hadn't threatened anyone.
And he had no intention of surrendering the car.
Two officers stepped from the cruiser.
The first was Officer Elena Rivera, a forty-two-year-old Latina police officer with a calm expression and twelve years of patrol experience. Her partner was Officer Aaron Price, a thirty-four-year-old white officer who carried a department-issued tablet and wore an activated body camera.
Pamela hurried toward them.
"Officers! Thank goodness. This man has been threatening me!"
Rivera looked toward Isaiah.
Then toward the open garage.
"Ma'am, we'll speak with everyone. Please give us a little space."
Pamela pointed toward the Mustang.
"He refuses to comply with HOA regulations. My son has authorization to take that vehicle for a community event, and this man is obstructing us!"
Isaiah remained still.
Rivera looked toward Pamela.
"Who owns the vehicle?"
Pamela hesitated.
"The association has authority—"
"That wasn't my question."
For a moment, Pamela stared.
Then Price glanced at the tablet in his hand.
His expression changed.
He looked toward the yellow Mustang.
Then back at Pamela.
"Ma'am, what's your name?"
She straightened.
"Pamela Whitcomb. President of the Hawthorne Estates Homeowners Association."
Price looked toward Rivera.
The two officers exchanged a quiet glance.
Pamela noticed.
"What's wrong?"
Rivera stepped slightly closer.
"Mrs. Whitcomb, did you arrange for a towing company to come to this address this morning?"
Pamela froze.
Dylan lowered his phone.
Isaiah looked toward them, surprised.
The officer continued.
"We received information about a disputed vehicle-removal request associated with this property."
Pamela forced a laugh.
"That's an internal HOA matter."
Rivera shook her head.
"Not if someone provided false information to authorize removal of a vehicle they don't own."
Pamela's smile disappeared.
For the first time that morning, she looked genuinely frightened.
Then Officer Price said something that made Dylan take an involuntary step backward.
"Your name also appears in an earlier report we're reviewing."
Isaiah glanced toward the Mustang.
Then toward the clipboard in Pamela's hands.