"We pay for maintenance."
"Then you may wish to review your landscaping contract with your association. That doesn't change what the city has confirmed today."
Richard made one final attempt to shift the issue. He told Benton that the association's fire policy prohibited open flames and that Mark had already been instructed to stop grilling. Benton turned to me and asked whether I had checked the fire requirements. I opened the next tab in the binder, and Officer Morales smiled before she could help herself.
"You have paperwork for that, too?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'm beginning to see why the folder is blue," she said.
She and Benton reviewed the relevant guidance, inspected the equipment from a safe distance, and verified the conditions of the city authorization. Benton was careful to say that he was not issuing a permanent fire permit or interpreting every possible private rule. He could only address the situation before him and the evidence available. Nothing he saw gave him a legal reason to order me to extinguish the grill on behalf of Cedar Landing.
"So he gets to do anything he wants?" Linda demanded.
"No, ma'am," Benton said. "He must follow the same applicable laws and restrictions as everybody else. So far, he appears to be doing that."
That sentence should have ended the matter. I wanted it to end the matter. Emily had already put the cooked food into covered containers to keep it warm, and I was willing to pack everything up after breakfast. But Richard looked at Linda, and she reminded him that there had been a threat. He turned back to Benton with an expression that suggested he had discovered a serious concern nobody should overlook.
"Our board member says Mr. Dalton threatened her when she attempted to enforce the rules," Richard said.
"What sort of threat?" Benton asked.
Linda stepped closer to him. "He got in my face and told me to stop. It was an aggressive, intimidating manner. I've been dealing with him for weeks. He's a large man with a military background, and he knows exactly how to frighten people without saying anything explicit."
I could feel Emily stiffen beside me. My height and career had just become part of an allegation for which Linda had not identified a threatening act. I did not interrupt her. Benton listened until she finished, then asked me what I remembered.
"She tried to take the cooler. I stood in front of it and told her not to touch my property. I did not threaten to harm her or anyone else. I recorded the conversation."
Linda swung toward me. "You recorded me without permission!"
"The phone was visible," I said. "You asked about it."
Benton raised one hand. "Let's keep this orderly. Mr. Dalton, would you be willing to play the relevant portion and provide a copy for the report?"
"Yes."