Marcus went home.
The next morning he called Thomas Avery.
Thomas was a licensed land surveyor who had been recommended by Marcus's attorney.
"Tell me what you need," Thomas said.
Marcus explained.
Thomas listened.
"Do you have the deed?"
"Yes."
"Recorded plat?"
"Yes."
"Old survey?"
"Yes."
"Send me copies."
Marcus did.
Thomas called back that afternoon.
"There's something interesting."
"What?"
"The fence appears to be well inside your parcel."
"How far?"
"I need to verify."
"Can you come out?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Thomas arrived at eight.
He unloaded equipment from his truck.
Tripod.
Total station.
GPS receiver.
Boundary poles.
Flags.
Field notebook.
Marcus stood beside him.
Patricia watched from across the street.
She came outside.
"What are you doing?"
Marcus turned.
"Surveying my property."
"You don't have permission to conduct commercial work in the neighborhood."
Thomas looked at her.
"I'm on private property with the owner's permission."
Patricia glared.
"I'm the HOA president."
Thomas smiled politely.
"That doesn't change my license."
Patricia turned to Marcus.
"This is unnecessary."
"Maybe."
"You were told the fence is in violation."
"That's why I'm having the boundary checked."
"You should trust the association."
Marcus looked at her.
"I trust measurements."
Patricia's face hardened.
"Fine."
She went back inside.
Thomas continued working.
For three hours, he measured.
He checked monuments.
He located reference points.
He compared deed descriptions.
He checked the plat.
He ran the calculations.
At noon, he returned to the fence.
He placed a bright orange flag in the ground.
Then another.
Then another.
He stood beside the fence.
Marcus walked over.
"Well?"
Thomas looked at him.
"Your fence is three feet and four inches inside your rear boundary."
Marcus nodded.
"Everywhere?"
"Essentially."
Thomas pointed toward the western corner.
"Here it's three feet seven inches."
Then toward the eastern section.
"Here it's three feet two."
Marcus looked at the fence.
"So it's mine."
"Completely."
Thomas took out his phone.
"I've prepared a certified survey."
"When?"
"I'll have the final stamped version tomorrow."
Marcus looked toward the house.
"Can you stay a little longer?"
Thomas frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I have a feeling Patricia isn't finished."
Thomas looked at the fence.
Then at Marcus.
"What's she planning?"
"I don't know."
Two days later, Patricia sent another notice.
This time, she gave Marcus forty-eight hours.
Remove the fence.
Or the HOA would arrange removal.
Marcus replied with one sentence.
Please provide the legal authority permitting the association to enter my property and remove my fence.