This time she brought three men.
The trail camera caught the vehicles first. Karen's SUV, a white utility truck marked SILVER RIDGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, and a smaller service vehicle towing a trailer with portable tanks.
I was in the barn when my phone notified me.
By the time I reached the pond, Karen stood beside the eastern bank holding a clipboard. One man had a long-handled net. Another was preparing a portable aeration tank. The third was looking around as if trying to decide where a larger truck could turn.
I stopped twenty feet away.
"Nobody touches the water."
Karen turned.
Her expression was not surprised.
"Robert. Good. You are here."
"What are you doing?"
"Removing the fish."
"No."
She lifted the clipboard.
"You have been notified."
"By who?"
"Silver Ridge management."
"That is not an answer."
She handed me a letter.
I read the heading.
SILVER RIDGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
Emergency Environmental Remediation Notice.
The letter claimed the transferred fish population could create water-quality risk if left unmanaged and stated that Silver Ridge intended to remove and redistribute the stock under emergency authority.
No county seal.
No state authorization.
No court order.
No signature from any agency with jurisdiction over my pond.
I handed it back.
"This is a letter from the people who work for you."
"Our management company."
"Exactly."
"They oversee environmental compliance."
"For Silver Ridge."
Karen's mouth tightened.
"Robert, we are trying to protect the community."
"No. You are trying to undo something you did."
One of the men shifted beside the tank.
Karen lowered her voice.
"You do not understand what you are dealing with."
"Then explain it."
"The fish cannot stay here indefinitely."
"Why?"
"Because this pond is not designed for that population."
"A county fisheries specialist was here."
Karen blinked.
There it was again.
A reaction too fast to hide.
"Who?"
"Dr. Elaine Foster."
"You brought the county onto this property?"
"You brought the fish."
Karen took one step closer.
"You should not be involving outside agencies until Silver Ridge finishes its internal review."
I almost laughed.
"My pond is outside Silver Ridge."
She ignored that.
"These fish need to be removed."
"Show me legal authority."
"You have the notice."
"No. Show me authority from the county, state, court, or lawful owner of the stock."