Not well.
Blue Mesa handled some landscape and drainage work for the association.
He had never authorized them to touch his pool.
He said:
“Turn it off.”
Diane laughed.
“No.”
Marcus stared.
Her expression became more confident.
“The remediation cycle has to finish.”
“You are contaminating my pool.”
“You contaminated common drainage first.”
“Again, with what?”
“Improper runoff.”
“Show me the report.”
“You'll receive it.”
“So you don't have it.”
“I don't carry HOA files around in my purse.”
“You brought a sewer hose.”
Diane's eyes narrowed.
“You know what your problem is?”
Marcus almost smiled.
“Today?”
“You think because you have money, every rule is optional.”
Marcus looked around his own backyard.
Large pool.
Travertine deck.
Outdoor kitchen.
Guesthouse.
Yes, expensive.
He had worked twenty years to afford it.
None of that answered why a black hose was pouring filthy water into his pool.
He said:
“This isn't about money.”
“It always is with you.”
“No.”
Marcus pointed at the hose.
“This is about you entering private property and pumping unknown water into my pool.”
Diane stepped closer.
“You ignored three notices.”
Marcus frowned.
“What notices?”
She smiled.
There it was.
The part she had been waiting for.
“Exactly.”
Marcus stared.
Diane continued.
“January 12. January 29. February 6.”
“About landscaping.”
“Drainage-related landscaping.”
“No.”
“The January notices were about my mesquite branches crossing the rear setback.”
“Which affected drainage.”
“That's not what the notice said.”
Diane's face hardened.
“You argued every one of them.”
“I answered every one.”
“You appealed.”
“Yes.”
“You made the board waste hours.”
“Because the notices were wrong.”
“The board does not exist for you to cross-examine.”
Marcus remained quiet.
Diane mistook that for surrender.
She gestured toward the pool.
“This is what happens when homeowners refuse to cooperate.”
Marcus looked directly at her.
“Say that again.”
Diane frowned.
“What?”
“The last sentence.”
“Don't play games.”
“Please.”
He looked toward the small camera mounted beneath the patio roof.
Diane followed his eyes.
Her expression changed.
Not enough.
“What is that?”
“Camera.”
“I can see that.”
“Good.”
Her face tightened.
“Are you recording me?”
Marcus looked toward the lens.
“Yes.”
“Turn it off.”
“No.”
“This is HOA business.”
“You are in my backyard.”
“Recording someone without consent—”
Marcus interrupted.
“Don't guess at laws, Diane.”
She stepped toward the camera.
Marcus moved between her and the patio post.
Not threateningly.
Simply blocking access.
“Do not touch my equipment.”
“I have a right to document an enforcement action.”
“So do I.”
Diane pointed toward the pool.
“You're going to regret making this difficult.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I think the pool already regrets it.”
She did not laugh.
He reached into his pocket.
Empty.
Phone upstairs.
He called toward the house.
“Alexa, call Daniel.”
Nothing.
Too far.
Diane smirked.
“Having trouble?”
Marcus ignored her.