“You can ask the judge after I file for damages.”
I looked at her clipboard again.
A faint blue logo appeared in the upper corner.
It belonged to a private property-management company called Fairmont Residential Services.
I had heard that name before, although I could not immediately remember where.
A patrol car turned onto our street eight minutes later.
Officer Lena Ortiz stepped out and paused when she recognized me.
I gave her a small shake of the head before she could address me by rank.
She understood immediately.
Karen did not.
“Finally,” Karen said, marching toward Lena.
“I need this man ordered away from the vehicle.”
Lena asked everyone to remain calm and requested the paperwork.
Karen offered the clipboard with exaggerated confidence.
Lena read the notice, looked at the car, and asked whether Karen had a court order.
Karen said she did not need one.
Lena asked whether the vehicle was on association property.
Karen said it was in a neighborhood governed by association rules.
Lena repeated the question.
Karen’s expression hardened.
“You’re being deliberately difficult.”
“I’m establishing where the car is parked,” Lena said.
Owen pointed toward my driveway.
“It’s entirely on his property.”
Lena returned the clipboard.
“There is no basis for me to order a tow from this driveway.”
Karen stared at her.
“Who is your supervisor?”
Lena answered without hesitation.
“Chief Bennett.”
Karen turned toward me as if the name had been thrown across the street.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
I put down my coffee.
“That would be me,” I said.
Chapter 4: The Wrong Kind of Victory
Karen’s face changed in stages.
First came disbelief.
Then came a brief attempt to smile.
Finally, anger replaced both.
“You set me up,” she said.
“I asked for the paperwork,” I replied.
“You should have told me who you were.”
“My job doesn’t change who owns the car.”
Lena kept her expression neutral.
I knew she was watching me as closely as she watched Karen.
That was appropriate.
A police chief should never use a badge to win a private neighborhood dispute.
I told Lena to document the incident according to ordinary procedure and to refer any allegation involving me to the county if further investigation became necessary.
Then I stepped back and allowed her to finish.
Karen announced that the association would fine me for interfering with enforcement.
Lena explained that civil disputes over association rules belonged in the appropriate civil process.
