Other neighbors, too. The whole cul-de-sac just saw Deandra's golden boy arrested. Sergeant Nyland pauses before leaving, voice low. "She's got pull with the township supervisor. Watch your back."
I nod. Already planning on it. The sun's fully up now. Birds chirping. Sprinklers starting their cycles.
Coffee and gasoline mixing in the warming air. I look at the Harley. Miranda's name scarred, but visible. "Not done yet," I say quietly. "Not even close."
Day 23. Certified letter in my mailbox, thicker than the last one. Emergency special assessment, $5,800 per household. Immediate road repairs and legal consultation. Payment due in 24 hours.
Non-compliant homes subject to immediate lien. 24 hours. Indiana law requires 30 days notice for assessments over 500. This isn't bending rules, it's breaking them. I call township public works.
A woman named Susan answers. Sounds genuinely confused when I ask about Larkspur Lane road repairs. "No permits filed, sir. Your HOA hasn't requested anything in 18 months. No road repairs."
So, where's the money going? I spend 2 hours fighting through bureaucratic red tape to access HOA bank statements. Indiana law says tax-exempt HOAs must make financials available to members, but Deandra's made it deliberately difficult. Three formal requests later, I'm finally looking at the records. $47,000 transferred to Callaway Consulting LLC over 18 months.
I run a business registry search. Old habit from tracking cartel money through shell companies back in Chicago. Callaway Consulting is registered to Deandra's address. Sole proprietor, Deandra Marie Callaway. She's been paying herself for services that don't exist.
I've seen this before. Someone gets a little authority, realizes nobody's watching, starts moving money. They always think they're too smart to get caught. They never are. My phone rings.
Unknown number. "Mr. Trudeau? Sloan Beckett, Indianapolis Star. I cover suburban corruption. Heard you might have an HOA story worth investigating."
Word travels fast. "Possibly. What are you thinking? Coffee tomorrow?" "I've been tracking HOA abuse for 3 years.
You bring documentation, I bring front-page placement." We set a time. That evening, Deandra strikes on Facebook. Pine Haven Meadows Community Group, 8:00 p.m. "Concerned about aggressive newcomer threatening our children's safety. Use caution near 42 Larkspur Lane.
Individual has made threats against long-time residents and shows signs of instability. Protecting our community is paramount." Photo attached. My house, veteran plates visible. Comments flood in from her friends, clearly coordinated.
"I heard he threatened someone." "PTSD issues?" "My kids play there. Terrifying." I screenshot everything, print copies, add to the file.