Brenda stepped toward him.
“You're threatening me again.”
“Still not.”
“Then explain yourself.”
“I tried.”
“You made vague statements about ownership.”
“Correct.”
“Whose camera is it?”
Marcus looked directly at her.
“I am not discussing that with you.”
She smiled coldly.
“Because you're bluffing.”
Marcus shrugged.
“Sure.”
That irritated her more than an argument would have.
She walked toward the side gate.
Marcus watched.
Then heard tires.
Fast.
Not reckless.
Urgent.
Brenda stopped.
Marcus looked past her.
One black SUV turned onto the street.
Then a second.
Then a third.
All three stopped near his driveway.
Brenda looked back at him.
Marcus sighed.
“Here comes the educational portion.”
Doors opened.
Men and women in plain business attire stepped out.
Not tactical teams.
No dramatic weapons.
No shouting.
Just purposeful movement.
The first person through Marcus's side gate was Special Agent Dana Brooks.
Marcus had met her twice.
She was forty-six, Black, composed, and had the unnerving ability to make ordinary questions sound like sworn testimony.
She stopped when she saw Marcus.
Her expression shifted.
Not because of Brenda.
Because of his face mask.
Marcus pointed at his face.
“Don't.”
Dana pressed her lips together.
“I wasn't going to say anything.”
“You were.”
“I absolutely was.”
Behind her, another agent looked up at the empty mounting bracket.
Then at the broken camera in Brenda's hand.
His expression changed.
Dana's humor disappeared.
“What happened?”
Brenda straightened.
Marcus said nothing.
He wanted to hear her version.
She offered it immediately.
“I am Brenda Whitmore, president of the Briar Ridge Homeowners Association.”
Dana waited.
Brenda seemed surprised that this produced no visible reaction.
She continued.
“This homeowner installed an unauthorized surveillance camera aimed toward neighboring property.”
Dana looked at Marcus.
He lifted both hands.
Again.
Pajamas.
Mask.
Slippers.
Dana returned her gaze to Brenda.
“You removed it?”
“Yes.”
“With permission from Mr. Reed?”
“I don't require permission to enforce HOA standards.”
Dana looked toward the ladder.
“Hammer?”
Brenda held it loosely now.
“Yes.”
One of the agents behind Dana glanced at the broken camera.
Then toward Marcus.
Marcus saw the exact moment the agent realized what Brenda was holding.
Dana said:
“Ma’am, put the hammer on the ground.”
Brenda's posture changed.
“Am I being arrested?”
“No.”
“Then don't order me to surrender my property.”
Dana looked at the hammer.
Then Brenda.
“The hammer is yours.”
“Yes.”
“The camera is not.”
Brenda's face tightened.
“It was attached to his house.”
Dana nodded.
“I know.”
Marcus leaned against the patio post.
Brenda looked toward him.
Then back to Dana.
“What exactly is going on?”
Dana held up her credentials.
“Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
Brenda stared.
Her face changed slowly.
“What?”
Dana repeated nothing.
The credentials remained visible.
Another agent moved toward the broken mount.
Brenda looked at the camera in her hand.
Then Marcus.
Then Dana.
“No.”
Marcus almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.