"Of course."
The girl hurried toward the house.
A few minutes later, the engineer arrived.
His daughter immediately told him what happened.
He listened carefully.
Then checked the gate.
The lock had several new marks around its protective plate.
No obvious forced entry had occurred.
But somebody had been examining it.
He took photographs.
Then reviewed the exterior camera.
At that time, the system included a basic porch camera and a device covering the side walkway.
The gate itself was only partly visible.
The footage showed the blonde HOA president and her friend standing beside it for nearly six minutes.
At one point, the red-haired woman held something small near the latch.
The angle did not establish exactly what she did.
But it was enough to make the homeowner uncomfortable.
He called the association management office.
Reported the encounter.
Then wrote directly to the board requesting that no association representative approach or enter his private pool area without authorization or a lawful basis.
He also asked how the president obtained information about his gate hardware.
The response arrived the next morning.
It came from the president.
Routine HOA safety observations do not require homeowner permission.
The engineer stared.
Then contacted an attorney.
Not because he wanted to sue immediately.
But because he needed to understand how to protect his property while preserving an accurate record.
His attorney reviewed the deed, recorded subdivision plan, governing documents, and relevant association provisions.
Then explained that the HOA president's claim did not establish an unrestricted right of entry.
If an actual emergency required lawful intervention, that would be a different matter.
If the HOA wanted to conduct a legitimate inspection under an applicable rule, it needed to follow the proper process.
But a person wearing an HOA title could not simply take over someone's private backyard.
The engineer understood.
He installed a better camera.
Then another.