"Not community ownership."
Patricia stepped closer to the bars.
"Open the gate."
"No."
"Marcus."
"No."
"Open it."
"No."
She slammed her clipboard against the gate.
A loud metallic crack echoed across the yard.
"You're going to regret this."
Marcus looked at her.
"I probably will."
"What does that mean?"
"It means I don't enjoy this."
"Then open the gate."
"No."
"You can't just decide the rules don't apply."
"I didn't."
He lifted his phone.
"You did."
Patricia's eyes narrowed.
"What are you recording?"
"Everything."
"You can't record me."
"I'm on my property."
"You need my permission."
Marcus almost smiled.
"That's interesting."
"What?"
"You seem to think permission works only one way."
Patricia turned away.
She spoke rapidly into her phone.
Marcus watched.
Then she looked back at him.
"I'm calling the police."
"Go ahead."
"You'll be arrested."
"Why?"
"For obstructing an HOA event."
"There is no crime called that."
"There will be."
Robert Hayes looked at his wife.
Denise whispered something to him.
Patricia heard it.
"What?"
Denise hesitated.
"Nothing."
"No. What did you say?"
"I said maybe we should cancel."
Patricia stared at her.
"Cancel?"
"If the pool isn't available—"
"The pool is available."
Marcus looked down.
The waterline had dropped another inch.
Patricia followed his gaze.
Her expression changed.
"You really drained it."
Marcus nodded.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want a hundred strangers swimming in it."
"You could have told me."
"I did."
"When?"
"Thursday."
"You never told me."
"I told you when you booked it without asking."
Patricia shook her head.
"You are being vindictive."
"No."
"You drained a $90,000 pool just to ruin a party."
"No."
"Then why?"
Marcus looked directly at her.
"Because you keep confusing access with authority."
She opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
A few seconds later, a black SUV pulled into the driveway.
Everyone turned.
A man stepped out wearing a dark blue suit.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
His attorney.
Daniel Brooks walked toward the group carrying a leather folder.
Patricia's face went pale.
"You called your lawyer?"
Marcus said nothing.
Daniel approached the gate.