County crews arrived and cleared the immediate obstruction after coordinating with the property owners and utility personnel.
No one was injured, but three cars sustained water damage and the clubhouse canceled its event.
The next morning photographs of the flooded spaces circulated through the neighborhood.
Brenda claimed Nathan had deliberately sabotaged the drains.
Nathan responded by releasing the timestamped report he had made before the county crews arrived.
He did not claim the flood settled the property case.
He said only that the people using the runway deserved accurate information about known hazards.
For the first time, several residents who had paid to park there demanded a refund in writing.
Chapter 12 — The Treasurer Speaks
Paul Hensley arrived at Marisol’s office carrying a folder that was thinner than Nathan expected.
He said most of the HOA’s relevant records were held by the management vendor, not the board.
Marisol asked him whether he was authorized to share the documents and whether he had independent counsel.
Paul said he had consulted an attorney and was willing to provide records to which homeowners were entitled.
His voice trembled when he explained that he had voted to approve maintenance payments because Brenda assured him the land issue had been resolved.
He had never seen a recorded deed transferring the strip to the association.
Brenda had shown him a letter from a developer describing the runway as a future neighborhood amenity.
The letter contained no transfer language and had been written before the developer filed for bankruptcy.
Paul brought budget summaries listing payments to Trevor’s company for management, security, and seasonal improvements.
The parking revenue appeared on a separate schedule that was not distributed with the annual HOA budget.
Nathan asked how much money the association had collected.
Paul said the total was substantial, but he would not give a number until an independent accountant reconciled the accounts.
He feared that some revenue never reached the association at all.
Marisol explained the difference between an accounting irregularity and a criminal accusation.
They agreed that the board should retain an outside auditor and preserve the relevant records immediately.
Paul admitted that he had once dismissed Helen’s questions because he thought she simply disliked Brenda.
Now he wondered how many residents had been made to feel unreasonable for asking ordinary questions.
He left the office looking older than when he arrived.
Nathan understood that Paul might be a negligent treasurer, a frightened witness, or both.
The investigation would have to decide which description the evidence supported.
