He pulled it down.
The alleged violations included:
Unauthorized commercial activity.
Unsafe equipment.
Obstruction of shared visual standards.
Improper garage use.
And one bizarre accusation:
Aggressive manipulation of automated garage access mechanism.
Marcus stared at the paper.
Then laughed.
Tasha came outside.
“What?”
He handed it to her.
She read it.
“This is insane.”
Marcus nodded.
“Yeah.”
“What are you going to do?”
He looked at the camera above the garage.
“Nothing tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because she's making the mistake of putting everything in writing.”
Tasha looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
Marcus folded the notice.
“I mean I'm done arguing.”
The next morning, Marcus hired an attorney.
Not because he was afraid.
Because he was finished handling the matter himself.
The attorney's name was Elaine Porter.
She was fifty-one.
Sharp.
Calm.
And completely unimpressed by HOA theatrics.
She reviewed the footage.
She reviewed the bylaws.
She reviewed the violation notices.
Then she looked at Marcus.
“Did she really drive the Maybach into your garage?”
“Yes.”
“And then claim you were the problem?”
“Yes.”
Elaine smiled.
“This is going to be easy.”
Marcus laughed.
“I don't want a fight.”
“You don't have to fight.”
“What then?”
“We make her prove every claim.”
Marcus nodded.
“Okay.”
“And we send a preservation letter.”
“For what?”
“All records concerning your property.”
Marcus frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if she escalates, we need everything.”
Elaine continued.
“Emails.”
“Messages.”
“Board minutes.”
“Complaints.”
“Inspection reports.”
“Any communication about you.”
Marcus nodded.
“And the camera footage.”
“Yes.”
“What if they ask for it?”
“Don't give it to them.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't owe the HOA your private security footage.”
Marcus looked relieved.
Elaine leaned back.
“There's another issue.”
“What?”
“She may have violated association rules herself.”
“How?”
“If the bylaws prohibit parking commercial or oversized vehicles in certain areas, her Maybach could become relevant.”
Marcus smiled.
“She'll love that.”
Elaine shook her head.
“Don't antagonize her.”
“I won't.”
“Let her antagonize herself.”
That was exactly what happened.
Patricia filed another complaint.
Then another.
Then another.
Each time, Marcus responded through Elaine.
Each time, the complaints became weaker.
Eventually, Patricia stopped filing paperwork.
She began talking instead.
At neighborhood gatherings.
At the pool.