Sergeant Shaw stepped forward.
“No, ma’am.”
“You knew him.”
“I did.”
“You protected him.”
“I told you to leave property that did not belong to you.”
“You treated him differently because he was police.”
“If Mr. Holloway had worked at a grocery store, the law would still give him the right to remove an uninvited person from his yard.”
Patricia shook her head.
Internal Affairs Lieutenant Lewis opened a folder.
“Your complaint stated Detective Holloway identified himself as law enforcement and intimidated responding officers.”
“Yes.”
“He did not.”
Patricia froze.
“The body-camera footage shows Detective Holloway never displayed credentials.”
“He never referenced his rank.”
“He never asked officers for preferential treatment.”
“He never instructed Sergeant Shaw.”
“He never contacted dispatch.”
“He remained on his own patio while patrol officers investigated your complaint.”
Lewis closed the file.
“Your allegation was unfounded.”
A low murmur moved through the room.
Patricia gripped the table.
Then the door opened again.
Detective Lena Park entered.
My stomach tightened.
I had not expected her.
“Mrs. Langford.”
Patricia turned slowly.
Lena stopped several feet away.
“I need to speak with you after this meeting.”
Patricia swallowed.
“About what?”
“The property damage at Mr. Holloway’s home.”
“I had nothing to do with that.”
Nobody spoke.
Lena tilted her head slightly.
“I didn’t say you did.”
Patricia realized her mistake.
Too late.
Then the treasurer stood.
Her name was Carol Atwood.
She held a thick binder.
“Before we adjourn, there is another issue.”
Patricia turned.
“No.”
Carol looked toward the board.
“I reviewed association spending after Patricia requested additional private security authority.”
“This is not on the agenda.”
“It concerns association funds.”
Carol opened the binder.
“Two payments were made to GreenShield Community Patrol.”
Lena Park remained perfectly still.
“The first payment covered authorized weekend patrols.”
Carol looked toward Patricia.
“The second was eighteen hundred dollars.”
A homeowner asked, “For what?”
Carol lifted the page.
“Emergency community threat assessment.”
Patricia crossed her arms.
“Yes.”
“Where’s the assessment?”
“I haven’t received the final report.”
“Where’s the agreement?”
“Verbal.”
“Board approval?”
“I used executive authority.”
Carol shook her head.
“Anything above seven hundred fifty dollars requires a second board signature.”
Patricia’s face tightened.
“You signed it alone.”
Detective Park stepped forward.
“GreenShield did not conduct an emergency assessment.”
Patricia stopped breathing for a second.
Lena continued.
“We identified the individual who damaged Mr. Holloway’s property.”
No one moved.
“His name is Cody Mercer.”
Patricia looked toward the floor.
“Mr. Mercer previously worked for GreenShield.”
Her voice rose.
“That proves nothing.”
“Neighborhood cameras place the company vehicle near the residence.”
Lena continued calmly.
“A search warrant recovered clothing consistent with the surveillance footage.”
“Tools consistent with damage to the HVAC housing.”
“Red industrial marking paint consistent with material recovered from the exterior wall.”
Patricia gripped the edge of the table.
Then Lena said the sentence that ended the room.
“Mr. Mercer is cooperating.”
Patricia whispered, “No.”