The bypass motor vibrated steadily. Nobody spoke.
Brennan approached the pump house door. The severed padlock was still hanging from one side of the hasp, because the contractors had left it there rather than admit what its removal meant. She photographed it, inspected the lock, and asked the foreman when the equipment had been installed. He gave Wednesday's date. She asked who authorized the work. He pointed toward Diane without lifting his eyes.
Then Brennan opened her hard case on the tailgate of her truck. It contained official forms, pressure-testing equipment, a camera, and a thick file. She set the file flat and called the two officers closer.
"Public water system four-one-one-zero-two," she read. "Cedar Hollow service area. Owner of record: Kenneth Wilson. Certified operator of record: Kenneth Wilson. The well, tank, pump house, and primary equipment are located on Parcel A, two point four acres, under the Wilson deed and recorded survey."
The younger officer looked from the papers to me. I remained beside the gravel edge, my hands at my sides.
Diane took a step forward. "Chief, with respect, we have a recorded amendment that clarifies the status of the community water system. Our members voted to assume control. We have been funding this infrastructure for years."
Brennan placed the file on the tailgate. "I reviewed the amendment before coming. There are several problems."
"Our attorney assures us it's valid."
"Your attorney can address the legal claims in court. My job is to identify the permitted system and protect the public. Under the rules governing this system, a change in ownership or operating responsibility requires the applicable state approval and updated permit records. There has been no approved transfer. There hasn't even been an application."
Diane opened her mouth, but Brennan continued.
"Second, a community vote does not qualify anyone to operate a public water system. The association would have to arrange a properly certified operator and obtain approval for the transition. Who is your certified operator?"
Diane glanced at the foreman. He looked at the concrete.
"We retained a qualified utility contractor," she said.
"That's not what I asked. Who is listed as the association's certified operator of record?"
No one answered. I saw Robert Keene take half a step away from Diane. Janice Bellamy lowered her coffee cup and looked toward the residents.
"There is no such designation," Brennan said. "You cannot assume operation because a room of homeowners voted to do so."
She drew out a second folder. "Third, your claim that residents funded the system and that Mr. Wilson's billing dispute is the cause of the outage needs to be separated from the safety investigation. We obtained the association's filed assessment schedules and corresponding service account records. Over six years, residents were assessed approximately three hundred and ten thousand dollars under the label water infrastructure. The operator's service account shows no remittance for twenty-six months and a balance of fifty-five thousand nine hundred dollars for water delivered."