"Yes."
"Eleanor gave me your number."
"How can I help?"
She hesitated.
"Somebody was in my backyard before my pool turned cloudy."
I stopped writing.
"What?"
Denise took a breath.
"I didn't know it at the time. My husband found an old camera recording last night."
I sat straighter.
"Does it show who entered?"
"Not clearly."
She sounded disappointed.
"But it shows a person near the side gate."
I asked whether she had shared the recording with investigators.
She said she hadn't yet.
I gave her the appropriate contact information and encouraged her to preserve the original file.
Then I asked one question.
"Was the person carrying anything?"
Denise paused.
"Something blue."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"A bag?"
"Maybe."
She was quiet.
Then added, "My husband thinks so."
I looked toward the pool through my office window.
A blue bag.
Granules.
The contractor.
The six-hundred-and-forty-dollar assessments.
The pieces were beginning to resemble something deliberate.
But I still didn't know who was responsible.
And I refused to confuse suspicion with proof.
The detective called that evening.
He had spoken with several homeowners.
Obtained records through appropriate channels.
And found enough irregularities to continue the investigation.
He didn't share every detail.
He couldn't.
But he wanted to know whether I would be willing to cooperate if Patricia attempted to enter my backyard.
I considered the question.
"What does that involve?"
He explained that I should maintain ordinary security precautions, avoid confrontation, and notify law enforcement if an unauthorized entry or property damage occurred.
I told him about the new violation notice and the predated contractor estimate.
He asked me to send it through the established evidence channel.
Then he made a suggestion.
"Don't change your routine just to provoke her."
I frowned.
"I wasn't planning to."
"Good. Don't invite her onto the property. Don't leave gates open for her. And don't try to create an incident."
I nodded.
"Understood."
He continued.
"If she's merely making threats, let the legal process address them. If she actually enters without permission and damages property, that's a different matter."
I looked toward the backyard.
"Do you think she'll come?"
He paused.
"I can't predict that."
Then he added, "But we take the reports seriously."
I ended the call.
For several minutes, I sat quietly.
The pool lights glowed beneath the darkening sky.
A breeze moved through the palm leaves.
My patio looked peaceful.