"Confirmed."
He looked at Elaine.
"This key was reported missing."
Elaine blinked.
"Missing from where?"
"Municipal facilities."
"I don't understand."
"It was part of a restricted access ring."
Elaine shook her head.
"No."
The officer held it up.
"Yes."
"I got that from the HOA."
"Then the HOA has a serious problem."
Elaine's lips parted.
Daniel remained silent.
The officer continued:
"That key was reported missing three weeks ago."
Elaine stared at it.
"I didn't steal it."
The officer didn't accuse her.
He simply said:
"I didn't say you did."
Her breathing became faster.
"Then why are you treating me like this?"
"Because you're holding property that was reported missing."
Elaine looked toward Daniel.
He was still filming.
She suddenly realized something.
The entire scene had been recorded.
Her arrival.
The gate.
The key.
Every broken light.
Every statement.
Everything.
She looked at Daniel.
"You set me up."
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
He lowered his phone slightly.
"You did this yourself."
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Second Key
The officers asked Elaine to step aside.
She complied.
They photographed the key.
They photographed the broken lights.
They photographed the gate.
Daniel provided the original video.
The younger officer examined the lock.
"How did she get through?"
Daniel pointed toward the key.
"That's what I'd like to know."
The officer looked at him.
"Was the gate locked?"
"Yes."
"Did you give her permission?"
"No."
"Have you ever given the HOA a key?"
"No."
"Did they have access before?"
"Not to this gate."
The officer nodded.
Then he asked:
"Have you had disputes with her?"
Daniel smiled slightly.
"Several."
"What kind?"
"HOA violations."
"Anything else?"
Daniel hesitated.
"She wanted me to remove things from my property."
"What things?"
"Lights. Cameras. Fence modifications."
The officer wrote it down.
"Did she ever threaten you?"
"No."
"Threaten your property?"
Daniel thought.
"Not directly."
The officer looked toward Elaine.
She was speaking quietly with the younger officer.
Daniel watched her hands.
Then he noticed something.
The keyring contained another unusual object.