Pulled up digital license.
Officer Daniels compared.
Then spoke into radio.
“Dispatch, run Marcus Anthony Reed, date of birth…”
He gave the details.
The younger officer walked toward the side gate and looked at the exterior number.
She called out the house number.
Officer Daniels relayed it.
Patricia stood with arms crossed.
“I can show you HOA records.”
Officer Daniels said, “In a minute.”
Marcus remained beside the grill.
The burgers were beginning to burn.
He smelled it.
Almost laughed.
Of all things.
He reached toward the lid.
The younger officer said, “You’re fine.”
Marcus closed grill.
Patricia looked offended.
“You’re letting him continue cooking?”
The younger officer stared at her.
Nobody answered.
Dispatch came over the radio.
The officer listened.
His eyes shifted toward Marcus.
Then toward Patricia.
“Copy.”
A second transmission.
Longer this time.
Officer Daniels’s face changed.
Not dramatically.
Professionally.
He asked:
“Dispatch confirms property deed?”
Another answer.
“Copy.”
He lowered his radio.
Patricia straightened.
“Well?”
Officer Daniels looked at Marcus.
“Mr. Reed, thank you.”
“Ownership confirms to Reed Property Holdings LLC.”
“Registered manager and beneficial owner listed as Marcus Anthony Reed.”
Patricia froze.
Marcus said nothing.
The younger officer looked toward Patricia.
Officer Daniels continued.
“Current driver’s license lists this address.”
Silence.
Patricia stared at Marcus.
Then at officer.
“That can’t be right.”
Officer Daniels’s expression did not change.
“It is what county and state records are showing.”
“No.”
“The HOA documents—”
“Ma’am.”
He gestured gently around them.
“We are standing in Mr. Reed’s backyard.”
Patricia’s lips parted.
For the first time since entering, she looked at the open side gate.
As if only now remembering how she had come through it.
Marcus folded his arms.
Officer Daniels asked him:
“Did you invite Ms. Halley onto the property?”
“No.”
Patricia turned.
“I was performing an HOA compliance check.”
Marcus looked at her.
“You opened a closed gate.”
“The gate was not locked.”
Officer Daniels said, “That isn’t the same as permission.”
Patricia flushed.
“I had reason to believe someone was trespassing.”
The younger officer asked:
“What reason?”
Patricia gestured toward Marcus.
Then stopped.
There it was.
The sentence she wanted to say.
The one she knew enough not to say in front of police.
Marcus watched her struggle to find another.
“I did not recognize him.”
The younger officer looked toward the house.
“Have you met every resident?”
“I am HOA president.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Patricia’s face became rigid.
Marcus’s daughter came through the back door before he could stop her.
“Dad.”
Marcus turned.
“Stay by the door.”
She did.
She was wearing a yellow swimsuit beneath an oversized T-shirt, hair still damp from pool.
Officer Daniels looked.