The HOA president seemed almost disappointed by the lack of reaction.
He looked down at the papers.
Then back at her.
“Do not put your hands or anything you're holding against me again.”
Her face turned red.
“I handed you documents.”
“You shoved them into me.”
“That is ridiculous.”
One of the neighbors across the street called out.
“We saw it.”
The HOA president spun toward the voice.
“This does not concern you.”
The neighbor raised her phone.
“It concerns the camera.”
The homeowner noticed the change instantly.
The HOA president's confidence remained.
But now it had strain beneath it.
She pointed toward a black rubber wheel chock beside the truck.
“This junk shouldn't even be in public view.”
Before anyone could stop her, she kicked it.
The chock skidded six feet across the driveway and bounced into the grass.
The tow operator stared.
The homeowner looked at the chock.
Then at her.
“That belongs to the vehicle.”
“It's a piece of rubber.”
“Still not yours.”
She laughed sharply.
“You know what? Good. Keep arguing. The police are already coming.”
The homeowner's expression barely changed.
“You called police?”
“I absolutely did.”
“For what?”
“Threatening behavior.”
The tow operator looked at her.
The homeowner did too.
“When did I threaten you?”
“You are intimidating me right now.”
“How?”
“You're refusing to cooperate.”
“That is not a threat.”
“You raised your voice.”
“No, I didn't.”
She looked around.
For the first time she seemed to understand how many cameras were now pointed toward her.
Then red and blue light reflected from the wet-looking black paint of the pickup.
A police cruiser turned onto the street.
The HOA president smiled.
It was small.
Victorious.
The homeowner saw it.
He said nothing.
The patrol cruiser stopped behind the tow truck.
A white officer in his late thirties stepped out.
His attention moved quickly across the scene.
Tow truck.
Black pickup.
White woman in expensive clothing.
Black homeowner.
Neighbors filming.
Scattered documents.
He approached carefully.
“What's going on?”
The HOA president moved toward him first.
“Officer, thank God.”
The homeowner nearly sighed.
The officer looked at her.
“Ma’am?”
“This man has been aggressive for twenty minutes. We are trying to enforce an HOA violation and he refuses to let the tow operator perform his job.”
The officer glanced at the homeowner.
Then the truck.
“Sir, is this your vehicle?”
“Yes.”