“Turn it off.”
“I can't.”
Marcus looked at the controls.
Then at the bucket.
Then at the operator.
“Turn it off.”
Denise stepped forward.
“Don't you dare touch that machine.”
Marcus reached the excavator.
The operator raised both hands.
“Sir, I'm just doing what I was hired to do.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Then stop.”
The operator glanced at Denise.
Denise shook her head.
“Continue.”
The engine rumbled.
The hydraulic arm began to move.
Marcus's eyes widened.
“Stop!”
The bucket descended toward another section of the Ferrari.
Marcus reached into the side of the machine and slapped the emergency-stop control.
The excavator immediately shut down.
The sudden silence was enormous.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Denise screamed.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?”
Marcus turned around.
“Saving what's left.”
“You just interfered with contracted work!”
“I stopped a machine from crushing more of my property.”
“You assaulted my equipment!”
“I pressed an emergency button.”
“You have no authority!”
Marcus stared at her.
“You don't either.”
Denise's face flushed.
“You're going to regret this.”
Marcus pointed toward the wreckage.
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“You're going to regret that.”
Denise pulled out her phone.
“I'm calling the sheriff.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Do it.”
She smiled.
“Oh, I will.”
She tapped the screen.
“You're about to learn that there are consequences for threatening HOA officials.”
Marcus said nothing.
Denise spoke into the phone.
“Yes, this is Denise Whitmore, president of the Bellmont Ridge Homeowners Association. I'm at 1847 Bellmont Ridge Drive. We have an aggressive homeowner interfering with an authorized property-removal operation.”
Marcus stared at her.
She continued.
“He's threatening me.”
Marcus's eyebrows rose.
“I never threatened you.”
Denise turned away.
“He's also interfering with the contractor.”
Marcus folded his arms.
“Tell them what you destroyed.”
Denise ignored him.
“Yes. I need deputies immediately.”
She ended the call.
Then she looked at Marcus.
“Enjoy the next few minutes.”
Marcus didn't respond.
He walked over to the remains of the Ferrari again.
He took out his phone.
He began taking photographs.
The hood.
The roof.
The broken windshield.
The excavator.
The contractor's truck.
The HOA notice lying on the pavement.
Denise noticed.
“What are you doing?”
“Documenting everything.”
“You don't need to.”
Marcus looked at her.