"Agreed."
"And I want the inspector's license information before the inspection."
"That's reasonable."
Marcus wrote down the appointment date.
Friday.
At ten in the morning.
When he hung up, Danielle called.
"Well?"
Marcus told her.
She was quiet.
"Does it feel strange?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because Patricia used the exact same language."
"Community safety."
"Exactly."
Danielle sighed.
"Could be nothing."
"Could be."
"Then treat it like nothing."
Marcus smiled.
"That's what I'm going to do."
Friday morning arrived.
The inspector was a woman named Elena Vargas.
She arrived in a gray SUV with a county contractor badge displayed on the dashboard.
Marcus checked her credentials.
Everything was legitimate.
She smiled.
"I appreciate you verifying."
"After last year, I'm careful."
"I heard about last year."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Already?"
"Small neighborhood."
He laughed.
Elena inspected the gate.
The locks.
The pool depth markings.
The drainage.
The equipment enclosure.
She took photographs.
She checked the chemical records.
Everything passed.
Then she noticed the warning tag.
She smiled.
"This is good."
Marcus looked at it.
"What?"
"The temporary closure tag."
"That's the same kind of tag from the incident."
"Yes."
Elena examined it.
"This is more than a warning."
Marcus frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"This tag has a tracking number."
He looked closer.
He had never noticed.
There was a small code in the lower corner.
Elena scanned it with her phone.
A digital record appeared.
Marcus watched her expression change.
"What?"
She looked at him.
"This treatment record is unusual."
"How?"
"The chemical adjustment was entered under an emergency service classification."
Marcus frowned.
"Is that bad?"
"No."
She hesitated.
"It's just unusual."
Marcus folded his arms.
"Why?"
"Because emergency service records require additional documentation."
"Do you have it?"
"I can access the database."
She tapped her screen.
Then she stopped.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"The service record has been viewed recently."
Marcus's stomach tightened.
"By whom?"
"I can't see the person's name."
"Can you see when?"
"Yesterday."
Marcus stared at her.