Victoria stood. "This is misleading. The association has had expenses. Roads don't maintain themselves. Pools require insurance. Security costs money."
"That's true," Felicia replied. "But ordinary operating expenses don't tell us whether a particular assessment increase was authorized. We need both the votes and the accounting."
"You are making a mountain out of ordinary bookkeeping."
"Then a complete audit should be straightforward," Felicia said.
I switched to the vendor records. Peton Premium Landscaping's invoices appeared beside comparable estimates from unrelated local contractors. I showed the payment schedule, the repeated vague descriptions, and the business disclosures that didn't identify Randy's family relationship to the board president.
Randy muttered something to Victoria. She waved him quiet.
"We have not concluded that every high invoice is fraudulent," I told the members. "Some services cost more because of legitimate circumstances. What we have found are payments that deserve independent verification, missing work records, and undisclosed relationships. Those should concern us regardless of who signed the invoices."
Mrs. Patterson then stood. She carried two folders, one blue and one green, and walked to the microphone with deliberate care. The room went silent because almost everyone knew her as the woman who organized holiday decorations and brought soup to people after surgery.
"I was secretary before Victoria became president," she began. "I signed minutes, kept copies, and assumed the rest of us were taking the same care. Over time I was told that my job was to record the decisions, not question how they were reached. But lately I've found entries in our official summaries that don't match the meeting notes I took at the time."
She held up a page. "This says the board unanimously approved a new consulting contract. I was at that meeting. We did not vote on this contract. I have my original notes and the distribution record."
Victoria jumped to her feet. "Evelyn, you are confused."
Mrs. Patterson looked at her. "Perhaps. That's why I brought the original pages. I want an independent accountant to compare them. I don't want my memory to be the only evidence."
A different kind of silence settled over the room. I understood, suddenly, why Victoria had been trying to remove those records from the office. Not because every one of them proved a crime, but because they could prove that official histories had been rewritten after the fact.
Walter Keene took the microphone next. He had a sheaf of payment authorizations in one hand and a piece of paper covered in notes in the other.
"I'm the treasurer," he said. "I've approved invoices based on supporting documents provided by our vendors and president. I now know I should have checked some of that support myself. I have identified several authorizations bearing my electronic approval where I cannot yet verify that I personally reviewed the underlying invoice. I'm asking for an independent review of the approvals and of my own conduct."
Victoria stared at him. "Walter, we discussed this."
"We discussed that you wanted me to say everything was in order," he answered. "I can't say that anymore."