Brenda grabbed the hose.
Marcus did not stop her.
She began pulling it toward the gate.
He watched calmly.
The hose dragged across the wet deck.
A small amount of yellow liquid spilled from the nozzle.
Perfect.
More evidence.
Brenda reached the gate.
The lock hung open.
Marcus saw something metallic near the flowerbed.
Thin.
Silver.
He walked over.
A narrow bypass tool.
He crouched.
Did not touch it.
Brenda saw.
Her expression sharpened.
“That isn't mine.”
Marcus stood.
“I didn't say it was.”
“You were thinking it.”
“I was thinking someone opened a locked gate.”
“I told you I have access authority.”
“You picked the lock.”
“No.”
“Then how did it open?”
“It wasn't locked.”
Marcus looked toward the camera above her.
Brenda followed his eyes again.
Silence.
She suddenly understood.
The camera had seen the gate too.
Marcus had positioned it specifically after the previous incidents.
Wide enough to capture the latch.
High enough to avoid easy tampering.
Brenda released the hose.
It dropped.
“Delete that footage.”
Marcus smiled.
“No.”
“I am formally directing you as HOA president not to distribute association-related security footage without board review.”
Marcus actually stared in disbelief.
“You're giving me an HOA order about evidence of you breaking into my yard?”
“This was official activity.”
“No.”
“It was.”
“Then send me the written authorization.”
Brenda opened her mouth.
Nothing.
Marcus continued:
“The board approved you bringing urine into my pool?”
“It isn't urine.”
“Fine.”
“Biological wastewater.”
Her face flushed.
Marcus folded his arms.
“Did the board approve biological wastewater?”
Brenda said nothing.
“Thought so.”
A voice came from the patio speaker.
“Mr. Reed?”
Brenda spun.
Marcus did not.
He had been expecting it.
“Yeah?”
The speaker crackled.
“Officer Ruiz. I'm at the side entrance.”
Brenda's face emptied.
Marcus walked toward the gate.
Brenda moved in front of him.
“You called police?”
“No.”
She stared.
“No?”
Marcus pointed toward the red blinking camera.
“The system did.”
“That is impossible.”
“It triggers an evidence alert when the gate opens while the house is armed.”
Brenda looked toward the house.
“You were home.”
“The backyard remained armed.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It doesn't have to make sense to you.”
The speaker crackled again.
“Marcus?”
“Coming.”
He stepped around Brenda.
She followed.
“Do not let him in.”
Marcus stopped.
Turned.
“What?”
“This is an HOA compliance matter.”
“No.”
“You don't understand what you're doing.”
Marcus stared at her.
“Brenda, I understand exactly what I'm doing.”
“You could destroy my reputation over a misunderstanding.”
Marcus looked toward the yellow pool.
“What part did I misunderstand?”
She lowered her voice.