She looked toward the fence again.
Then said sharply, "Turn off your camera."
Luke didn't.
He held the phone steady.
"Please leave."
For several seconds, she glared at him.
Then she seized her sandals and hurried toward the gate.
As she passed the blue flowerpot, she nearly knocked it over.
Luke watched her leave.
He didn't chase her.
Didn't shout.
And didn't try to force her to confess.
He simply saved the recording, documented the time, and contacted the professionals handling the matter.
Rafael arrived just after five.
By then, the pool was empty of swimmers, and Luke had restricted access pending the inspection.
The technician reviewed the recording before examining the system.
He watched the blue tracer moving toward the old fitting.
Then looked toward the boundary.
"Was the HOA fountain running?"
Luke nodded.
"Yes."
"Did you record the time?"
"To the second."
Rafael smiled faintly.
"Good."
They didn't begin cutting pipes or dismantling equipment.
The specialist first documented the existing conditions and reviewed the available records.
The observed dye movement supported concern about unexpected flow through the old auxiliary system, but it didn't establish where the water ended up.
That required further investigation.
The team inspected accessible portions of the pool equipment and compared the installed arrangement with the historical plans.
They identified signs of modifications not reflected in Luke's maintenance records.
An additional connection appeared to have been introduced into the formerly isolated auxiliary circuit.
The visible work didn't match the older construction photographs.
Rafael looked toward Luke.
"Someone's changed this."
Luke felt his stomach tighten.
"Recently?"
"I can't establish the date from appearance alone."
He paused.
"But it isn't described in the documentation you gave me."
Luke nodded.
For several seconds, he looked toward the fence.
Then asked whether they could determine where the line went.
Rafael explained that the buried section would require coordinated investigation, appropriate access, and additional documentation.
Luke agreed.
He wasn't going to dig across a disputed boundary or interfere with the HOA fountain without authorization.
He wanted a professional examination that could withstand scrutiny.
The next morning brought the discovery Celeste had feared.
A landscaping employee noticed unusual blue coloration in the water circulating through the HOA's decorative fountain.
He reported it to the fountain-maintenance company.