Some blamed me.
Some blamed Apex.
Increasingly, many blamed their own board.
Amanda Peterson told the reporter:
“I’m angry that the road is closed, obviously, but if the HOA was shown a certified survey Thursday and did not send it to counsel, I want to know why.”
That clip changed the tone.
Then Channel 8 located Thomas Abernathy.
Thomas refused to discuss confidential client details but confirmed:
“Yes, I performed a certified boundary survey.”
“Yes, my professional opinion is that the marked entrance segment lies within the Porter parcel.”
The reporter asked:
“Could eighty homes really have been built using a road without a recorded easement?”
Thomas answered:
“I have seen stranger title problems.”
That aired at noon.
By 5:00 Sunday, I was driving down from the mountains.
Copper slept in the back.
June drooled on the window.
I had caught seven rainbow trout.
Released four.
Kept three.
My phone regained signal ten miles from home.
It vibrated so hard I thought something was wrong with the truck.
Ninety-three missed notifications.
Twenty-one voicemails.
Oliver.
Thomas.
Unknown numbers.
News.
I pulled over.
Called Oliver.
He answered immediately.
“You’re alive.”
“Apparently.”
“Do you know what happened?”
“No.”
He laughed.
Not professionally.
Actually laughed.
“Your gate made television.”
“What?”
“Drive home.”
“Do not talk to reporters until I get there.”
“Why are reporters there?”
“Because Crest View spent the weekend discovering walking.”
I drove faster.
Not dangerously.
But faster.
I reached my property around 5:15.
The roadside looked like a festival organized by angry accountants.
Cars.
News van.
Sheriff cruiser.
Residents.
Package table.
Robert’s muddy Jeep still visible beyond the gate.
I parked at the cabin.
Leashed the dogs.
Walked through my pines.
Carolyn saw me.
“You!”
The crowd turned.
The reporter signaled his camera operator.
I stopped.
Carolyn gripped the bars.
“Open this gate right now.”
I looked at her.
“You had my lawyer’s number.”
“You disappeared.”
“I told your board Thursday what the problem was.”
“You had no right to do this.”
“I own the property.”
“We will sue you into the ground.”
Robert shouted from behind her.
I noticed mud on his trousers.
“What happened to you?”
Someone laughed.
Robert’s face reddened.
“Open the gate, hillbilly.”
That word again.
I looked at Carolyn.
“Thursday I gave you a certified survey.”
“You called it a stunt.”
“I offered to negotiate an easement.”
“You threatened me with police.”
“You told me to stay away from your community.”
“So I stayed on my property.”
“This is not funny.”
“I agree.”
“You’ve created an emergency.”
“No.”
“I coordinated emergency access with the fire district.”
“Your residents can walk.”