Patricia's gaze moved toward her.
A cold smile appeared.
"Mrs. Price. I see you've found yourself a new friend."
Eleanor looked down.
Something inside me hardened.
But before I could answer, she lifted her head.
Her voice was quiet.
"Yes."
Patricia seemed surprised.
Eleanor continued.
"And I'm glad I did."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Patricia's expression tightened.
"You've turned this neighborhood into a spectacle."
Eleanor looked directly at her.
"No."
Her voice grew steadier.
"You did that when you stopped treating people like neighbors."
Patricia stared.
Then she turned toward me.
"You think you're better than everyone else because you have cameras?"
I took a slow breath.
"No."
Her lips tightened.
I continued.
"I think private property means something. I think homeowners deserve accurate bills. And I think people in positions of authority should answer questions without threatening anyone."
For a moment, she seemed about to shout.
Instead, her attorney stepped closer and spoke quietly to her.
She turned away.
Eleanor and I continued toward the parking lot.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Eleanor began trembling.
I looked at her.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"I think so."
I smiled.
"You handled that well."
She looked toward the courthouse.
Then began laughing nervously.
"I've never spoken to her like that."
I nodded.
"Maybe it was time."
She smiled.
Then took my arm.
"Come on. I need coffee."
The legal case developed along two tracks.
The first concerned Patricia's recorded conduct at my property.
The unauthorized entry.
The deliberate contamination.
The resulting damage.
And any applicable offenses supported by the evidence.
The second concerned the financial transactions involving the association, contractor, and related businesses.
That investigation was broader and more complicated.
It involved records spanning several years.
Multiple witnesses.
Different legal entities.
And allegations that required careful evaluation of intent.
My attorney repeatedly reminded me that a person being investigated was not the same as a person being convicted.
I understood.
I also understood that the video from my backyard did not prove everything I suspected about the earlier incidents.
But it proved enough about that afternoon to make denial difficult.
Several months after Patricia climbed my fence, the property-related charges proceeded toward resolution.
Through counsel, Patricia eventually acknowledged entering the fenced backyard without permission and causing the pool contamination.