Brenda closed the gate behind herself.
She did not knock.
Did not call out.
She began walking directly toward the pool.
Ruiz looked at Simone.
“You know her?”
Simone's voice went flat.
“That's Brenda.”
Ruiz glanced at his body camera.
Activated.
A small tone sounded.
Simone slid open the patio door.
“Stay here.”
Ruiz frowned.
“I don't think that's how this works.”
“I need her to say what she's doing.”
He considered.
Then nodded.
“I'll remain inside unless needed.”
Simone stepped onto the patio.
Brenda was halfway to the water.
She looked surprised for perhaps one second.
Then recovered.
“Oh.”
Simone walked toward her.
“What are you doing?”
Brenda lifted the bucket slightly.
“Pool inspection.”
“No.”
Brenda kept walking.
Simone stepped directly into her path.
“Stop.”
Brenda's mouth tightened.
“Move.”
“You entered my property without permission.”
“This is HOA business.”
“You do not have permission.”
“The association has inspection authority.”
“From common areas.”
Brenda sighed theatrically.
“Simone, I am not doing this with you today.”
“That makes two of us.”
Brenda gestured toward the pool.
“We received another complaint about contamination.”
“From whom?”
“Confidential.”
“What contamination?”
Brenda looked toward the red bucket.
Simone followed her eyes.
Then understood.
Not everything.
Enough.
“What is in that bucket?”
“A sample.”
“From where?”
Brenda hesitated.
The first crack.
Simone stepped closer.
“From where, Brenda?”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Answer.”
Brenda's face hardened.
“You are not going to bully me on behalf of your personal agenda.”
Simone almost laughed.
“You walked into my backyard carrying dirty water.”
“It came from an association drainage area.”
“And you're bringing it toward my pool because?”
“For comparison.”
Simone stared.
“Comparison.”
“Yes.”
“With what?”
Brenda lifted her chin.
“We've received reports your pool is affecting adjacent runoff.”
Simone looked around.
The pool sat inside a contained deck.
No drainage connected to HOA common areas.
She knew that because she had the property drawings.
“That's impossible.”
“You don't know everything.”
“I know how my own drainage system works.”
Brenda shifted the bucket.
“Move.”
“No.”
Brenda stepped left.
Simone mirrored.
Right.
Simone blocked again.
Brenda's face flushed.
“I am the HOA president.”
“You are trespassing.”
“I have authority.”
“Not here.”
Brenda looked toward the pool.
Then at Simone.
“Get out of my way.”
Simone's heart accelerated.
She kept her voice level.
“What happens if I don't?”
Brenda lifted the red bucket.
For one second, Simone could not believe she was actually doing it.
The moment became absurdly clear.