Marcus almost admired that sentence.
A convenient memory lapse developing in real time.
The deputy asked:
“How many times did you strike the vehicle?”
“I don't know.”
Marcus said quietly:
“Seven.”
Pamela glared.
The deputy asked Marcus:
“Seven?”
“Video shows seven impacts.”
“Any threats?”
Marcus considered.
“She demanded my phone.”
“Did she attempt to take it?”
“She stepped toward me with the bat after asking.”
Pamela interrupted:
“I never threatened him.”
Marcus nodded.
“True.”
Pamela blinked.
She did not expect fairness.
Marcus continued:
“She never explicitly threatened physical violence.”
The deputy looked toward him.
Marcus added:
“She did tell Tom to stay back while holding the bat.”
Tom shouted:
“Yep.”
Pamela closed her eyes.
Wade rubbed his forehead.
“This neighborhood is exhausting.”
Marcus looked at him.
“You should see the newsletter.”
Wade nearly smiled.
Nearly.
Then Pamela’s phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
Marcus guessed immediately.
Another board member.
She answered.
“Hello.”
Pause.
“No.”
Pause.
“I’m handling it.”
Longer pause.
Her eyes moved toward the watching neighbors.
“No, nobody is arrested.”
Pause.
Her expression hardened.
“I said I’m handling it.”
She ended the call.
Marcus asked:
“Board?”
“None of your business.”
Thirty seconds later, Tom received a text.
Then another neighbor.
Then Marcus.
Briar Oaks community group.
A photograph.
Pamela mid-swing.
Caption:
IS PAMELA DESTROYING MARCUS’S CAR?
Responses multiplied instantly.
Marcus showed the screen to Wade.
Wade stared.
“Fast neighborhood.”
“Nothing travels faster than suburban scandal.”
Pamela saw.
“Delete that.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I didn't post it.”
“Who did?”
Tom raised one hand.
“Wasn't me.”
The woman two houses down said:
“My daughter did.”
Everyone looked.
A teenage girl stood beside her mother.
Phone in hand.
Pamela looked horrified.
“Take it down.”
The girl’s mother stepped forward.
“No.”
Pamela stared.
“You are a member of this association.”
“Yes.”
“Then you understand community reputational harm.”
The woman looked toward the shattered Rolls.
“I think reputation already left.”
Pamela went silent.
Within twenty minutes, two HOA board members arrived.
Thomas Bell.
Treasurer.
Retired accountant.
And Diane Perez.
Secretary.
Former school principal.