"You know Linda feels that you engineered the encounter with the police to embarrass her."
"I checked the property line because you threatened fines and police action. Linda called them."
"You anticipated how she would react."
"I thought she might challenge the grill again. That's why I brought the documents."
"You were prepared for a confrontation."
"I was prepared to answer a complaint accurately. Preparation isn't a threat."
He sighed. "There are people on the board who think you've made this a campaign against Linda."
"Then hold the hearing."
"You really want that?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
I pointed toward the condo behind me. "Because the board put in writing that I threatened and harassed its representatives, and that accusation exposes Emily to penalties. Either the board has evidence or it doesn't. If it doesn't, we should not have to surrender a lawful activity as the price of removing a false notice."
Richard's mouth tightened. "You don't always have to win, Mark."
"I haven't asked to win. I've asked for a rule, evidence, and a fair process."
"Sometimes being a good neighbor means letting something go."
I thought about that. "I agree. That's why I shut the grill down the first time while we checked the rules. But I can't let somebody keep an accusation over Emily's property just because they dislike being corrected."
Richard looked older than he had at our previous encounters. "Linda has given nine years to this association. She's spent hours solving problems most residents never even hear about."
"Then those contributions deserve credit. They don't make every decision she makes correct."
He looked toward the stairwell. "People are afraid this is going to divide the community."
"Then the board should show the community a fair way to resolve it."
We stood in silence for several seconds. I would have preferred that he acknowledge the obvious contradiction in his proposed deal. I wasn't expecting him to turn against Linda on my porch. I wanted him to recognize that withdrawing an unsupported conduct notice should not depend on me agreeing to a new rule by private bargain.
"I'll see you at the hearing," he said at last.
"I'll be there."
He walked away without another word. Emily, who had remained inside where she could hear portions of the exchange, closed the door and leaned against it.
"Did he offer to withdraw the notice?"
"If I promise not to grill there."
"Even though that's no longer what the notice is about?"
"Exactly."
She shook her head, then gave a tired laugh. "They wanted you to follow the rules, and now they want to negotiate a private rule so Linda doesn't have to be wrong."
"That's one interpretation."
"Mark."
"It's also mine."
For the rest of the week, we prepared without turning our home into a courtroom. Emily read the HOA's hearing procedure and made notes on what an owner was allowed to submit. I checked that my copies were legible and that the recording remained intact. Gary confirmed he would attend.