Elaine looked down at the broken fixture.
Then she threw it onto the grass.
Daniel's expression hardened.
He opened the front door.
"Elaine."
She looked up.
No surprise.
No embarrassment.
Instead, she smiled.
"Good morning."
Daniel looked at the broken light.
Then at the next one.
She was already reaching for it.
"What are you doing?"
Elaine bent down.
Her hands wrapped around the next fixture.
She pulled.
The stake came free.
She held it up.
"This is an HOA violation."
Daniel stared at her.
"Which one?"
Elaine shrugged.
"You've been notified."
"No, I haven't."
She dropped the light.
Then she moved to another.
Daniel stepped onto the porch.
"Elaine."
She ignored him.
She grabbed the third light.
Daniel watched her fingers tighten around it.
Then—
Crack.
Another fixture came free.
Daniel stood still.
Something inside him told him not to approach her.
Not because he was afraid of her.
Because he knew exactly what she wanted.
She wanted an argument.
She wanted anger.
She wanted him to make one mistake.
Daniel turned around.
He walked back inside.
Elaine continued destroying the lights.
Thirty seconds later, Daniel returned.
His phone was in his hand.
The camera was recording.
CHAPTER TWO
Keep Going
Elaine noticed the phone immediately.
Her expression changed.
"What are you doing?"
Daniel stood at the bottom of the porch steps.
"Recording."
"You need to stop."
"No."
Elaine stared at him.
Then she laughed.
"You really think this is going to help you?"
Daniel didn't answer.
She pointed at his phone.
"You're not allowed to record HOA business."
Daniel looked at the broken light beside her.
"This isn't HOA business."
Elaine's lips tightened.
"These lights violate community standards."
"Which standard?"
"The appearance standard."
"What's wrong with their appearance?"
"They don't comply."
"With what?"
She paused.
Daniel waited.
Elaine looked irritated.
"You don't need to know every detail."
"I do if you're destroying my property."
She turned away from him.
Then she grabbed another light.
Daniel raised the phone slightly.
"Go ahead."
Elaine looked over her shoulder.
"What?"
"Keep going."
Her face hardened.
"You think you're clever."
"No."