But he noticed.
"You have a copy of the plat?"
"Yes."
"Then you know where the line is."
"We know where the association-approved boundary is."
Marcus leaned back in his chair.
"Association-approved boundary?"
"Yes."
"That's not a legal term."
Patricia laughed.
"You're not a lawyer."
"No."
"But you think you know more than the association."
"I think property boundaries are established by deeds and surveys."
"You are making this unnecessarily difficult."
"No."
Marcus looked through the kitchen window again.
"I'm asking you to show me the document."
"Attend the next board meeting."
"I can do that."
"Good."
"Before then, please send me the survey you're relying on."
"I don't have to."
"Then I don't have anything else to discuss."
She hung up.
Marcus stared at the phone.
Denise walked into the kitchen.
"What happened?"
"Patricia wants us to remove the fence."
"Why?"
"She says it's on their property."
Denise laughed.
"Which property?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out."
Marcus showed her the letter.
She read it.
Then she looked outside.
"That's ridiculous."
"I know."
"Are you going to fight her?"
Marcus folded the letter.
"I'm going to find out where the line actually is."
That was Marcus.
He did not begin with anger.
He began with facts.
The next morning he pulled out the closing documents.
There was the deed.
The recorded plat.
The old boundary survey.
The title insurance documents.
He spread them across the dining room table.
Denise joined him.
They spent nearly two hours reviewing everything.
The old survey showed the rear property line running behind the fence.
Not through it.
Not in front of it.
Behind it.
Marcus traced the line with his finger.
"See?"
Denise nodded.
"The fence is ours."
"Looks like it."
"And Patricia knows that."
"Maybe she has another survey."
"Then she should show it."
Denise looked at him.
"Do you think she'll back down?"
Marcus thought about it.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because this isn't about the fence."
"What is it about?"
Marcus looked toward the window.
"Control."
Three days later, Patricia appeared at the house.
She came in a white SUV with an HOA logo magnet attached to the door.
She stepped out wearing a cream blazer, black trousers, sunglasses, and the expression of someone arriving to deliver a verdict.
Marcus was in the front yard.
He was replacing a loose mailbox post.
Patricia stopped at the sidewalk.
"Marcus."
He looked up.
"Patricia."
"I'm here about the fence."
"I know."
"I've already explained the situation."
"No."
She frowned.
"You were sent a written notice."
"I received it."
"Then you understand."
"I understand that you want me to remove my fence."
"Because it violates the rules."
"Show me the rule."
She stared at him.
"It's in the architectural standards."
"Which section?"
"You're being difficult."
"I'm asking a question."