He looked at Cynthia.
“What happened last night?”
She answered quickly.
“Proposed amendment 7.14-B was considered.”
“Vote?”
“There was procedural irregularity.”
“What was the actual count?”
Silence.
Cole repeated:
“The count.”
Cynthia's jaw moved.
“Three supporting.”
“Against?”
“Three.”
“Abstentions?”
“One.”
Cole wrote.
Daniel watched.
Cole asked:
“How many votes are required?”
“Simple majority of participating board members.”
“And three-three isn't a majority.”
“The abstention should have been recorded differently.”
Cole looked up.
“How?”
“The member had a conflict.”
Daniel said:
“He didn't.”
Cynthia snapped:
“You do not know that.”
Daniel looked at Cole.
“The member said he abstained because his brother sells farm equipment and he didn't want appearance issues.”
Cole nodded.
Cynthia continued:
“Exactly.”
Daniel replied:
“That doesn't turn his abstention into a yes.”
Cynthia's face reddened.
Cole closed the notebook.
“Okay.”
He looked toward the notice again.
“Do you have the board minutes?”
“They are being finalized.”
“Resolution?”
“In preparation.”
“Any online record?”
“The management portal will update.”
Cole looked toward Daniel.
“You have something?”
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“Meeting agenda.”
He opened the HOA portal.
Public to residents.
The agenda remained visible.
Amendment 7.14-B.
Proposed.
Not adopted.
No final minutes yet.
Cole studied it.
“Nothing showing outcome.”
“No.”
Cynthia folded her arms.
“Because administration is still processing it.”
Daniel stared.
“Yet you're enforcing it.”
She turned.
“Because the result is clear.”
“It was tied.”
“The legal interpretation is clear.”
“Whose?”
“Our counsel.”
Daniel immediately asked:
“Did counsel issue an opinion?”
Cynthia hesitated.
Just slightly.
Officer Cole noticed.
“So you have counsel confirmation?”
“We discussed procedure.”
“When?”
“This morning.”
“With attorney present?”
“By email.”
Cole nodded.
“Can you show me?”
Cynthia’s expression tightened.
“That communication is privileged.”
Daniel said:
“Convenient.”
“Don't.”
Cole raised his hand again.
“I don't need privileged communication.”
He looked at Daniel.
“My job here is limited.”
“I understand.”
“If this is solely a covenant dispute, neither of you is getting what you want from me.”
Daniel nodded.
“Fine.”
Cynthia did not.
“You cannot leave him operating equipment that violates association rules.”
Cole looked at her.