"I understand perfectly."
He opened the federal warrant.
"Your association is named here."
Patricia stared at the document.
"No."
Cole moved toward the garage.
Marcus stepped aside.
Cole looked through the window.
Then he looked at Mercer.
"Same vehicles."
Mercer nodded.
Patricia shook her head.
"This is ridiculous."
Mercer looked at her.
"Ma'am, we need you to step away from the structure."
"This is HOA property."
"No."
She pointed at Marcus.
"He stole those vehicles."
Marcus said nothing.
Mercer looked at the property record in his hand.
"Mr. Reed owns this structure."
Patricia's voice rose.
"The association has rights."
"Not the rights you're claiming."
She looked at Marcus.
"You've been planning this."
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
"You knew!"
"No."
"You called them!"
Marcus looked at her.
"You called the FBI."
Patricia froze.
Marcus continued.
"I just answered the door."
Cole almost smiled.
But he remained professional.
Mercer approached the garage.
"Mr. Reed, we're going to execute the warrant."
Marcus nodded.
"Understood."
"Please remain outside."
"I will."
The garage door opened.
The first thing the agents saw was the row of three white HOA security trucks.
Then the tables.
Then the empty spaces where laptops had been.
Then the files.
Some were still there.
Some had been left behind.
Mercer walked toward the nearest table.
He opened a file.
Resident complaint.
He opened another.
Financial records.
Another.
Security logs.
Another.
Medical information.
Mercer stopped.
He looked at Cole.
"Don't touch anything else."
Cole nodded.
Marcus remained outside.
Patricia stood beside him.
She was suddenly silent.
Mercer found a locked metal case.
He photographed it.
Then another.
Inside was a stack of USB drives.
He sealed them.
One by one.
Then he found something unexpected.
A binder labeled:
PROJECT CYPRESS.
He opened it.
Inside were maps of the neighborhood.
But the maps weren't normal HOA maps.
They contained highlighted homes.
Some had names.
Some had financial notes.
Some had political affiliations.
Some had employment information.
Some had personal relationships.
Marcus stared.
"What is that?"
Mercer didn't answer.