The engineer leaned forward.
"Who controls the event company?"
The treasurer looked down.
"One of her friends."
The engineer felt his pulse quicken.
"Which one?"
"The red-haired woman."
For several seconds, he said nothing.
He remembered her walking into the pool.
Laughing.
Carrying drinks.
Then the video of the private event.
He looked toward the treasurer.
"Did the association authorize use of my swimming pool?"
The man stared.
For a moment, genuine confusion crossed his face.
"What?"
"My private pool."
The engineer pointed toward the backyard.
"Did the board approve renting it for events?"
The treasurer looked horrified.
"Of course not."
The engineer took a slow breath.
"Then you need to see something."
He opened his laptop.
Played a short, unedited segment from the security recording.
The treasurer watched.
His expression grew increasingly pale.
When the guest asked whether the pool was included in the premium membership, he stopped breathing for a moment.
Then whispered.
"Oh, no."
The engineer paused the video.
The treasurer stared toward the backyard.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, the older man asked.
"How many times?"
The engineer shook his head.
"I don't know."
The treasurer looked toward the folder.
Then whispered.
"I think it's worse than you realize."
He turned several pages.
Displayed a payment summary.
And pointed toward a series of entries labeled:
Private Aquatic Hospitality Experience.
Summer Sponsor Reception.
Recreational Venue Contribution.
The amounts varied.
Some were only a few hundred dollars.
Others exceeded two thousand.
The dates corresponded to several weekends when the engineer remembered finding unfamiliar items around his pool.
The treasurer looked toward him.
"I thought these events were happening at an approved rental venue."
The engineer stared.
"They were happening here."
The older man's hands began trembling.
Then he said something that connected the entire pattern.
"Our community pool has been closed for months because the president keeps saying we don't have enough money to finish the repairs."