Not enough to move him far.
Enough to make her intention clear.
“Move.”
Marcus jerked his arm backward.
Her grip slipped.
Vanessa stumbled half a step.
Marcus immediately backed away.
“Don't touch me.”
“You pulled me!”
“You grabbed me.”
“You nearly knocked me down.”
“You grabbed me.”
She reached again.
This time toward the waistband area of his wet shirt—except he was shirtless, so her hand caught his upper arm instead.
Marcus twisted free.
“Stop.”
His voice was louder now.
Vanessa pointed at him.
“You do not raise your voice at me.”
Marcus stared.
“You climbed into my yard and grabbed me.”
“You became aggressive.”
“I stepped away.”
“You yanked my arm.”
“Because you were holding it.”
“You could have injured me.”
Marcus looked around.
The absurdity nearly overwhelmed him.
“Leave.”
Then came the siren.
Faint.
Outside the neighborhood.
Vanessa heard it.
Marcus saw the exact moment she did.
Her face changed.
The anger disappeared.
Not slowly.
Instantly.
She stepped backward.
One hand went to her upper arm.
Her breathing changed.
Her shoulders drew inward.
Then she said, louder:
“Stay away from me.”
Marcus stared.
“What?”
“Don't come any closer.”
He had not moved.
Vanessa backed toward a lounge chair.
“I'm warning you.”
Marcus looked toward the side gate.
Siren closer.
Then he looked at Vanessa again.
She clutched her arm.
The performance became obvious.
“You called police?”
“I had to.”
“When?”
“Before I came in.”
Marcus laughed in disbelief.
“You called police and then climbed my fence?”
“I called because I knew you might become hostile.”
Marcus stopped laughing.
That sentence landed heavily.
He looked at her.
“You planned this.”
“I planned an inspection.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You planned a confrontation.”
Vanessa raised her voice.
“Stop threatening me!”
Marcus moved farther away.
He walked toward the patio table.
Picked up his phone.
No sudden motion.
He unlocked it.
Several notifications.
Motion detected.
Rear property.
Gate camera.
Pool camera.
Then:
SECURITY EVENT SAVED.
Marcus tapped.
There she was.
Vanessa walking along the exterior fence.
Looking toward the locked gate.
Trying the latch.
Then moving toward the corner.
Camera angle changed.
Garage camera caught her climbing onto a decorative retaining wall.
One foot on a horizontal fence brace.
Hands on top.
Swinging herself over awkwardly.
Clear.
Marcus felt his heartbeat slow.
Good.
He saved the clip manually.
Then called dispatch.
Not 911.
The number shown in his security app.
“Raleigh County dispatch.”