"See?"
The older deputy turned toward me.
"Sir, let's keep everyone separated while we work through this."
I nodded.
"Of course."
I moved several steps away.
The younger deputy examined the empty fertilizer bag without entering the pool.
He photographed its position, the remaining material, and the visible granules in the water.
Then he looked toward the patio camera.
"That's yours?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
"Is it recording?"
"Yes."
He asked me to preserve the original footage.
I told him the system already maintained the recording.
He noted the location.
Then asked whether I had touched the bag after Patricia entered.
"No."
"Did you add anything to the pool today?"
"Only the normal maintenance chemicals according to the service schedule, before she arrived."
He nodded.
"Do you have records?"
"Yes."
I explained where the maintenance log could be found.
Then he asked whether anyone had used the pool after Patricia dumped the fertilizer.
"No."
"Good. Don't let anybody enter until the material has been identified and the water professionally assessed."
I agreed immediately.
The pool was no longer a recreational space.
It was a contaminated area.
And possibly evidence.
The older deputy continued speaking with Patricia.
She was growing more agitated.
Her pink blouse was damp with sweat.
Her sunglasses had slipped down her nose.
Her carefully styled hair was disheveled from climbing the fence.
Then the deputy asked a question that made her expression change completely.
"Mrs. Holloway, do you have a financial interest in Desert Blue Environmental Pool Services?"
I turned.
Patricia went still.
For several seconds, she didn't answer.
Then she said sharply, "That's none of your business."
The deputy remained calm.
"We're investigating a reported incident involving potential property damage and a related cleanup work order."
She stared.
"Who told you about that?"
The deputy did not answer the question directly.
Instead, he continued.
"Do you know who authorized the work order for this address?"
Patricia swallowed.
"The association handles emergency maintenance."
"Did you personally request it?"
A pause.
Then she said, "I don't remember."
I looked toward her.
Less than two hours earlier, she had arrived at my house carrying a bag of fertilizer.
She had climbed my fence.
Deliberately contaminated my pool.
Threatened to fine me for the contamination.
And now she claimed she couldn't remember whether she arranged the cleanup.
For the first time, I wasn't merely angry.
I was astonished by how far she seemed willing to go rather than tell the truth.
The deputy made a note.
Then spoke again.
"Mrs. Holloway, you're being detained while we investigate this incident."