"That's the one."
"How's the swimming pool holding up?"
"Beautifully, mostly. But I have a few questions about the old water-feature plumbing."
Samuel became interested.
He remembered the original fountain and the decorative garden channel.
He explained that the system was installed when the development was still under construction. It had been a personal design feature, not a community utility.
He'd eventually disconnected it because maintenance became inconvenient.
Luke asked whether he ever allowed the subdivision residents to use the pool.
Samuel chuckled.
"Only for a few neighborhood celebrations when the first houses were being sold."
Luke frowned.
"Was there an agreement?"
"Yes. A temporary one."
"Did you extend it permanently?"
Samuel laughed again.
"Absolutely not."
Luke felt his stomach tighten.
He explained the document Celeste provided.
Samuel listened.
Then asked whether he could see it.
Luke emailed the copy.
Several minutes passed.
Then Samuel called back.
His voice sounded different.
"Luke, I've never seen this extension."
For a moment, Luke couldn't speak.
Samuel continued.
"The original arrangement was for a limited period. It didn't give the association permanent access."
"What about the pool plumbing?"
"That was my equipment. The neighborhood didn't own it."
Luke looked toward the fence.
Then asked whether Samuel remembered the old auxiliary line.
"Of course."
"Where did it go?"
Samuel described the former backyard water feature and the path of the line beneath the patio.
The pipe ended near the garden boundary after the fountain was removed.
It had been isolated from service.
Samuel paused.
"Why?"
Luke took a slow breath.
"Because somebody may have connected something to it."
The older man was silent.
Then said quietly, "Well, they certainly didn't ask me."
Samuel agreed to provide a written account and copies of the documents he retained.
His original agreement was shorter than the version Celeste circulated.
It limited recreational use to specified events during the early development period and contained provisions making clear that the arrangement didn't convey ownership or permanent access.
The purported later extension wasn't among Samuel's records.
He also had photographs showing the original poolside fountain before it was removed.
One image revealed the location of the auxiliary line's former outlet.
Luke compared it with the current pool.
The fitting still existed beneath the decorative tile border, though it had been covered with a small protective plate during a previous renovation.