Her short blonde hair was perfectly styled.
She wore a pale-green jacket and an expression suggesting she was trying very hard to remain polite.
"Ryan, I've heard you're hiring outside people to interfere with the association's project."
I looked at her.
"I hired a surveyor to verify my property boundary."
Her smile tightened.
"That's unnecessary. We already have professionals working on this."
"Then please send me their signed report."
For a moment, her face changed.
Then she looked toward the security camera mounted above the side entrance.
"That camera is also a problem."
I frowned.
"What camera?"
She pointed.
"That one. It's monitoring common property without approval."
I looked toward the white dome-shaped device.
"It covers my side entrance, driveway, and part of the yard near the fence."
She folded her arms.
"It's intrusive."
I took a breath.
"Please identify the rule you believe it violates."
Her expression hardened.
"Must you challenge everything?"
"I'm asking for the rule."
Judith stepped closer.
"You're creating problems for yourself."
I looked directly at her.
"By verifying my own property line?"
For several seconds, we stared at each other.
Then she smiled coldly.
"I would remove that camera if I were you."
She turned and walked away.
I watched her cross the driveway.
At the time, I thought she was simply using another HOA complaint to pressure me.
I didn't realize she'd already begun treating the camera as a threat.
Thursday evening, I worked late in the garage.
Hannah had taken Lucy to soccer practice.
The driveway was quiet.
And the motion sensor above the side entrance turned on occasionally as insects moved near the light.
Around nine, I noticed a dark SUV parked across the street.
A man sat behind the wheel.
I couldn't identify him.
The vehicle remained there for several minutes.
Then drove away.
I didn't think much of it.
Cars stopped in Briar Glen all the time.
Visitors.
Delivery drivers.
And contractors checking addresses.
But the following morning, Friday, I noticed something strange.
Two orange boundary flags behind my house had moved.
I was certain of it.
The day before, one stood beside the rear fence post.
Now it was closer to the patio.
Another had appeared near Martha's yard.
I walked outside.
Examined the ground.
And noticed fresh disturbances in the soil around the markers.
For a moment, I assumed the survey crew had returned.
Then I remembered the security camera.
I went inside and opened the recording application.