She let out a laugh like I’d told the funniest lie she’d ever heard.
“He’s lying,” she said. “It’s HOA land. We told him months ago. He refuses to cooperate.”
The officer’s brow creased. “Ma’am, is this your property?”
She waved the question away. “It’s not mine. It’s HOA jurisdiction. Common area. The association controls it.”
Then she leaned toward me, just close enough that the officer couldn’t hear her whisper unless he tried.
“You should have moved when I told you.”
Her breath smelled like peppermint and certainty.
I looked at her, then at the officer, and my voice stayed level.
“Officer, I can prove this property is mine.”
Her smile sharpened. “Oh, I’d love to see that.”
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