Her eyes sharpened.
“So you admit it.”
“I admit that after discovering somebody had been entering my property, I installed cameras.”
Loretta looked toward the corner of the porch.
She finally noticed the camera above the garage.
A tiny red light blinked.
Her eyes returned to Nathan.
“You have no right.”
Nathan tilted his head.
“To have security cameras?”
“To record HOA officers performing inspections.”
There it was.
The sentence Nathan had been waiting to hear.
“Inspections.”
“Yes.”
Loretta recovered slightly.
She crossed her arms.
The green staining made the gesture more ridiculous than intimidating.
“As HOA president, I have a responsibility to inspect conditions that may affect community standards.”
Nathan looked through the doorway toward his backyard.
“My pool is behind a six-foot wall.”
“It can still affect neighboring properties.”
“How?”
“Water quality.”
Nathan almost laughed.
“Water quality.”
“Mosquitoes.”
“The filtration system runs every day.”
“That isn’t for you to determine.”
“It’s my pool.”
“You live in Meadow Glen Commons.”
Nathan nodded.
“Yes.”
“That means you agreed to association jurisdiction.”
“Over certain covenant matters.”
“Over the property.”
“No.”
Loretta’s face tightened.
Nathan continued.
“You may want to be extremely careful about what you say next.”
She stepped closer.
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
Nathan looked toward the camera.
“It’s advice.”
Loretta followed his eyes.
For the first time, she understood the conversation was not private.
Nathan took one sip of coffee.
Then said:
“My attorney has the footage.”
That changed her expression again.
Not fear.
Calculation.
“Your attorney.”
“Yes.”
“Fletcher Cross.”
Loretta knew the name.
Nathan saw that immediately.
Fletcher handled enough property disputes in Scottsdale that HOA board members who liked threatening liens tended to learn his name.
Nathan continued.
“He has copies of all six videos.”
“A written statement from Miriam Bancroft.”
“Photographs.”
“My deed.”
“Plat records.”
“The current CC&Rs.”
“Your prior notices.”
“And the receipt from Desert Blue Pool Service showing that the water was undergoing a scheduled, nonhazardous maintenance test before you entered today.”
Loretta looked at her arms.
Nathan added:
“The temporary color will wash off.”
Her anger flared again.
“You poisoned me.”
“No.”
“My pool technician used a manufacturer-approved maintenance tracer as part of a scheduled leak and circulation inspection.”
“I have the service record.”
“The pool was not open to you.”
“Because it never is.”
Loretta stared.
Nathan could almost see her searching for the version of this conversation in which she still controlled the ending.
“You think a receipt protects you?”
“I think documentation helps.”
“I will fine you.”
“For what?”
“Unsafe pool maintenance.”
Nathan nodded slowly.
“Please put that in writing.”
That answer confused her.
He continued.
“Actually, put everything in writing.”
“Your claim that you have the right to enter my backyard.”
“Your claim that my privately deeded pool is subject to your personal inspections.”
“Your threat to fine me.”
“Your threat to place a lien.”
“Everything.”
Loretta’s lips pressed together.
She finally understood why he was not arguing.
He wanted records.
Nathan opened the door slightly wider.
“Anything else?”