"No."
He looked at the approaching cruiser.
"I'm preserving evidence."
The police cruiser stopped.
Two officers stepped out.
One was a broad-shouldered woman in her forties.
The other was a younger male officer who immediately scanned the scene.
Patricia rushed toward them.
"Officer, thank God."
The female officer raised one hand.
"Everybody stay where you are."
Patricia pointed toward Frank.
"He assaulted my son."
Ethan lifted his phone.
"He hit my hand and threatened me."
Frank said nothing.
The attorney remained silent.
The officer looked at Ethan.
"Did he strike you?"
"He knocked my hand away."
"Did you have your hand on his property?"
Ethan hesitated.
"My mother said the HOA had seized the motorcycle."
The officer looked at Patricia.
"Had it?"
Patricia swallowed.
"It was subject to seizure."
"That's not what I asked."
"It was under enforcement."
The officer looked at Frank.
"Is this your motorcycle?"
"Yes."
"Registration?"
Frank nodded toward a workbench.
"Inside."
Before he could move, the attorney stepped forward.
"Officer, may I identify myself?"
"Go ahead."
He handed over a card.
The officer read it.
Her expression changed.
"State Attorney's Office?"
"Yes."
Patricia's face drained of color.
The younger officer looked at him.
"You're investigating this HOA?"
The attorney nodded.
"Among other things."
Patricia stepped forward.
"This is absurd."
"No," the attorney said quietly.
"It's documented."
He opened the folder.
And for the first time that afternoon, Patricia looked afraid.
Not angry.
Not offended.
Afraid.
Because she knew there were things inside that folder she had never intended anyone outside the HOA board to see.
Frank glanced at the attorney.
"How bad?"
The attorney looked at him.
"Bad enough that I asked you not to answer any more questions until I arrived."
Frank nodded.
Patricia laughed nervously.
"This is ridiculous. The association has authority."
The attorney turned a page.
"Let's start there."
He held up a document.
"Article seven, subsection four."
Patricia stiffened.
"The association may impose fines."
He turned another page.
"It may suspend amenity privileges."
Another page.
"It may place a lien under certain statutory conditions."
He looked directly at Patricia.
"It does not grant the association authority to physically seize a privately owned motorcycle."
Silence.
Ethan looked at his mother.
"But you saidβ"
"Enough."
Patricia's voice cracked.
The attorney continued.
"You told nine homeowners the same thing."
Patricia shook her head.
"No."
"You told them the association could enter their garages."
"No."
"You told one homeowner that refusing to surrender his truck could result in criminal charges."
"I was enforcing the bylaws."
"You were making threats."
"That's your opinion."
"No."