Then he asked, "The maintenance invoices?"
She nodded.
He swallowed.
"Mom, those were your idea."
Her expression hardened.
"Lower your voice."
He looked toward the hallway.
Then whispered, "What are we supposed to do?"
The woman stared at him.
For a long moment, she seemed to be calculating.
Then her eyes moved toward a folder resting on the kitchen counter.
Inside were documents concerning the Black homeowner's property.
Parking complaints.
Vehicle photographs.
Draft compliance notices.
And a proposed work authorization involving the son's company.
She picked up the folder.
Her son watched.
Then she spoke quietly.
"We need everyone talking about him instead of those records."
The young man frowned.
"How?"
His mother looked toward the driveway outside.
Then answered.
"That car."
He stared.
"The McLaren?"
She nodded.
He laughed nervously.
"What about it?"
The woman opened the folder.
He read the draft work order.
His expression changed.
"Mom, you can't just—"
She interrupted.
"We're not letting him get away with this."
The young man hesitated.
For a moment, he appeared to understand how serious the plan had become.
Then his mother said something that made him straighten.
"If the board starts reviewing those invoices, they'll come after your business."
He looked down.
The maintenance company was his primary source of income.
His mother supplied most of its contracts.
Without the HOA, he had few regular customers.
And he knew some invoices described work that had not been completed as billed.
He swallowed.
"What do you want me to do?"
The woman closed the folder.
Then answered.
"Make the car an issue nobody can ignore."
At 11:38 that morning, the new HOA president returned home.
He had stayed after the organizational meeting to speak with several residents.
The elderly woman with the ramp hugged him.
The secretary thanked him.
A younger homeowner asked whether the board could review pool maintenance before summer.
He promised to place legitimate concerns on the agenda.
Then he drove home.
His McLaren stood inside the garage.
The deep-black paint gleamed beneath the lights.
He smiled when he saw it.
He was tired.
The election had been stressful.
And although the result was encouraging, he knew the hardest work remained.
Financial records needed review.
The management company needed updated authorized contacts.
Outstanding violations required examination.
The board had to establish a process for responding to residents.
And the former president's attorney might challenge parts of the election.
He expected administrative difficulty.
He did not expect violence against his property.
He changed into his charcoal-gray polo shirt and black trousers.
Then moved the McLaren into the driveway so he could reorganize a storage area inside the garage.
He planned to be outside for less than an hour.
Before beginning, he checked the newly received HOA records.