"Property address?"
He gave that too.
There was typing.
Then silence.
"Yes, Mr. Reed."
"What exactly is the violation?"
"You'll need to speak with the compliance office."
"Can I speak with them?"
"They're unavailable."
"When will they be available?"
"I don't know."
Marcus looked at the letter.
"It says I have ten days to correct the violation."
"That's correct."
"Correct what?"
Another pause.
"Your unauthorized commercial use."
"What commercial use?"
"I don't have that information."
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Who issued the notice?"
"The compliance department."
"Who is the compliance department?"
Another pause.
"Mr. Reed, the letter explains the violation."
"No, it doesn't."
The receptionist said nothing.
Marcus continued.
"It says I'm operating a private commercial facility. It doesn't identify what activity you're calling commercial."
"I can put a note in your file."
"Please do."
The call ended.
Marcus thought that would be the end of it.
It wasn't.
Two days later, an HOA security truck stopped outside his garage.
A uniformed guard got out.
Marcus watched from his driveway.
The guard walked toward the garage.
Marcus stepped outside.
"Can I help you?"
The guard looked uncomfortable.
"I'm here to inspect the structure."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
"Then you're not inspecting anything."
The guard looked toward the house.
"Mr. Reed, this is HOA property."
Marcus glanced at the truck.
"No. That's HOA property."
He pointed toward his garage.
"That's mine."
The guard didn't argue.
He returned to the truck.
Marcus thought the problem was solved.
Then the cameras appeared.
Small black cameras began showing up around the subdivision.
At the pool.
Near the clubhouse.
At the entrance.
Near the mailboxes.
Then one appeared on a utility pole facing Marcus's street.
The HOA sent an email.
"Enhanced community security measures."
Marcus read it twice.
There was no mention of the cameras recording private driveways.
There was no mention of who controlled the footage.
There was no mention of how long the recordings were stored.
Marcus didn't think much of it.
Until one night, his garage alarm triggered.
It was 2:13 a.m.
Marcus woke immediately.
He grabbed his flashlight and went downstairs.
The garage door remained closed.
The alarm panel showed motion detected.
Marcus checked the camera feed.
The camera showed nothing.
He opened the interior door.
The garage was empty.
He checked the side entrance.
Locked.
Then he noticed something.
The keypad had been opened.
Not broken.
Opened.
The metal cover had a tiny scratch along the edge.
Marcus crouched.
He touched it.
Fresh.
Someone had attempted to access the control box.
He called his private security company.