The young mother with the toddler pointed toward her doorbell. "Mine caught audio."
Caldwell looked at Marjorie. Marjorie's mouth tightened.
"Videos can be misleading."
Dominique's voice stayed even. "Then let them mislead us in chronological order."
Officer Caldwell gave her a sideways look. Something like recognition passed over her face. "You're an attorney?"
"Chief deputy district attorney."
Marjorie's head snapped toward her. "You never said that."
Dominique did not look at her. "You never asked."
Officer Morales coughed once and looked down.
They watched Paul's video first. It started with Marjorie already arguing, but it captured the key moment clearly: Imani holding the hose, saying, "Please don't," Marjorie yanking it from her hands, then turning the stream directly onto the child. Mrs. Denton's video began earlier and showed Marjorie crossing the yard without permission. The doorbell footage captured her words: "This is what happens when children are raised with no respect."
Marjorie tried to speak over the recordings twice. Officer Caldwell stopped her both times.
"Ma'am, I need you to let the video play."
By the time the third clip ended, the street was silent.
Marjorie took a breath. "I admit I may have overreacted, but the child was being disrespectful."
Officer Caldwell looked at Imani, then back at Marjorie. "Disrespect is not a crime."
"She refused an HOA directive."
"A thirteen-year-old visitor watering flowers is not subject to physical enforcement by an HOA president."
"I didn't physically enforce anything."
Dominique lifted one eyebrow.
Officer Caldwell's face hardened. "Ma'am, I just watched you take an object from a child and spray her while she cried for you to stop."
Marjorie's eyes darted to the neighbors. "Are you arresting me over water?"
"I am documenting a possible simple battery and disorderly conduct complaint," Caldwell said. "Depending on further review, this may also involve harassment."
Marjorie's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Dominique gently placed one hand on Imani's shoulder. The child had stopped crying, but her eyes were red and distant. That hurt Dominique more than the tears had. Tears still moved. Shame froze.
"I want the report number," Dominique said.
"You'll have it."
"And I want the videos preserved."
"We will request copies."
"No," Dominique said. "You will document the existence of each recording, the names of each witness, and whether Mrs. Vale attempted to claim the videos were misleading before viewing them in full."
Caldwell studied her.
Then nodded. "Understood."
Marjorie stared. "This is absurd. I am the HOA president."
Lorraine spoke for the first time since officers arrived.
"That is exactly the problem."
Everyone turned toward her.