“When?”
“This morning.”
He released the trigger.
The pump stopped.
Not because she ordered him.
Because the truck tank was nearly full.
Daniel waited for the remaining flow to settle before removing the nozzle.
Cynthia mistook the pause for compliance.
“Thank you.”
Daniel returned the nozzle to its holder.
Then reached for a shop rag.
“You're welcome.”
She held out the papers.
“Twenty-four hours.”
“For?”
“Removal.”
Daniel wiped his glove.
“What am I removing?”
Cynthia pointed dramatically toward the tank.
“That.”
“No.”
Her face hardened.
“You don't get to say no.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I just did.”
“Then I'll say it differently.”
She stepped closer.
“The Briarwood Estates Homeowners Association adopted an amendment prohibiting residential fuel-storage systems visible from adjoining property or association-maintained roadways.”
Daniel stared.
He knew exactly which amendment she meant.
He had sat through two hours and forty-six minutes of discussion about it the previous evening.
He also knew exactly what happened at the end.
“No, it didn't.”
Cynthia laughed once.
Not humor.
Disbelief.
“You left before administrative review.”
Daniel frowned.
“I left after the vote.”
“Then you missed the final determination.”
“What determination?”
“That the amendment was adopted.”
Daniel removed one glove.
He folded it carefully and placed it on the truck hood.
“Vote was three to three.”
“One member abstained improperly.”
Daniel stared.
“That isn't how abstentions work.”
Cynthia's voice rose.
“You are not the parliamentarian.”
“No.”
“You are not legal counsel.”
“No.”
“You are not on the board.”
“No.”
“Then stop acting like you understand the board's authority better than the people responsible for enforcing it.”
Daniel looked at her papers.
“Show me the rule.”
Cynthia thrust the notice toward him.
He took it.
The top read:
BRIARWOOD ESTATES HOA
NOTICE OF IMMEDIATE NONCOMPLIANCE
Below that:
Violation: Exterior Fuel Storage Equipment
Authority: Amendment 7.14-B
Effective Date: October 18
Daniel glanced at his watch.
October 18.
Today.
He read farther.
Removal required within twenty-four hours.
Failure could result in daily penalties.
Possible legal enforcement.
Possible reimbursement of association costs.
He looked at Cynthia.
“You made this fast.”
“We are efficient.”
“Meeting ended after ten.”
“That is irrelevant.”
“You drafted an amendment number, enforcement language, and individual notice overnight.”
“We anticipated passage.”
Daniel nodded.
That phrase interested him.
“Anticipated.”
“Yes.”
“So it was already prepared.”
“Responsible boards prepare documents in advance.”
“Sure.”
Daniel handed the notice back.
“But it didn't pass.”
Cynthia's patience broke.
“It did.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Daniel walked toward the garage wall.
Cynthia followed.
“What are you doing?”
He stopped at the weatherproof gray document box mounted beside the pump controls.
Opened it.