She saw me coming and straightened up like she was about to deliver a rehearsed speech. I stopped at the property line and said, "Where's my trailer?" Marion's smile didn't waver. "The HOA exercised its removal authority under Section 11.4C. The vehicle was classified as abandoned property and has been impounded pending resolution of the violation."
"Where?" I said again, slower this time, "is my trailer?" She pulled a folded paper from her pocket and held it out at arm's length like she was serving a subpoena. "The impound location is listed here along with the daily storage fees." "You can retrieve it once you've paid the removal costs and signed an acknowledgement that future violations will result in immediate action."
I didn't take the paper. "Who authorized the removal?" "I did. As board president, I have emergency enforcement authority." "And who performed the tow?"
"That's operational information. It's handled by a contractor we retain for these situations." I looked at her for a long moment. She looked back with the kind of confidence that comes from 4 years of people backing down when she used words like authority and contractor. I pulled out my phone and dialed.
Marion watched, her smile finally starting to thin at the edges. Roland answered on the first ring. I put it on speaker. "Marion Keller, HOA president, just confirmed she personally authorized the removal of my trailer and that it's being held at an impound location she won't name." "She's demanding I pay removal and storage fees before I can retrieve it."
Roland's voice came through clear and level. "Mrs. Keller, this is Roland Voss, Mr. Brennan's attorney. Are you confirming that the HOA has taken possession of a privately owned, registered, and insured trailer from Mr. Brennan's private property?" Marion's smile was gone now. The HOA exercised its governing authority.
Everything was done according to our bylaws. Where is the trailer currently located? That's between the HOA and our contractor. Mrs. Keller, under Texas Property Code, removing a registered vehicle from private property without a court order or the owner's consent constitutes conversion. Holding it at an undisclosed location and demanding payment for its return is extortion.
I need the location of that trailer within the next 10 minutes or I'm filing an emergency motion for replevin and a criminal complaint with the sheriff's office. Marion's face went from smug to pale in the space between one breath in the next. The HOA has legal authority. The HOA, Roland said cutting her off, does not have the authority to seize property. You've just confessed to a theft.
10 minutes. He ended the call. Marion stared at my phone like it had bitten her. Then she turned and walked quickly toward her house. Ed Holloway had come out onto his porch.
He gave me a small nod. Two other neighbors were visible in windows. The street had that particular stillness of a place where everyone is watching and no one is pretending otherwise. 9 minutes later my phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number with a name and address.
Keller Towing and Storage, 1847 Industrial Road. I looked it up. The business had no website, no Google presence, no DOT operating authority listing. Just a pin on the map marking a lot on the east side of the county. I called Roland back.
Got the location. Place is called Keller Towing. Keller, Roland repeated slowly. Yeah, family business, that'd be my guess. Roland was quiet for a beat.