The system listed a motion event at 1:17 a.m.
I selected it.
The screen showed my side yard in muted nighttime colors.
The fence.
The narrow path.
And two figures entering through the side gate.
One wore a pale coat.
The other carried a long equipment case.
I enlarged the image.
My stomach tightened.
The woman appeared to be Judith.
And the man beside her looked like Grant Keene.
The recording showed them walking toward the boundary flags.
Then the camera's view became partially obscured as the man moved close to the wall.
The clip ended shortly afterward.
I checked the next event.
It showed movement near the fence.
But the angle wasn't clear enough to establish exactly what they were doing.
I knew they had entered my yard at an extraordinary hour.
I suspected they were interfering with the survey markers.
But I didn't yet have a complete picture.
So I saved the available clips and contacted Allison.
She advised me to preserve the original recordings, document the position of the markers, and avoid disturbing anything until Carla could examine the area.
I agreed.
Then I checked the garage camera.
It faced the driveway and part of the narrow side passage.
Its footage showed the dark SUV arriving shortly after one in the morning.
Grant stepped out.
Judith followed.
He opened the rear cargo compartment.
And removed a rectangular blue canvas case.
For several seconds, they stood beside the vehicle talking.
The video didn't capture every word.
But it showed the case clearly.
Then they disappeared toward my backyard.
I stared at the screen.
Something about the case bothered me.
It was too large to be a simple tool bag.
And when Grant carried it toward the gate, he looked as though it contained something heavier than survey flags.
I saved that recording too.
Then I called Thomas.
He listened.
For a long moment, he was silent.
Finally, he said, "Ryan, they had no business entering your property at one in the morning without permission."
I nodded.
"I know."
He took a breath.
"Don't confront them alone. Let the surveyor and attorney handle the evidence."
I agreed.
But I couldn't stop thinking about the blue case.
And I didn't know that the contents of that case had already been left somewhere on my property.
Friday afternoon, the HOA sent another notice.
It claimed my security camera violated neighborhood privacy standards and demanded removal within twenty-four hours.
I read the email three times.
The deadline was unusually short.