Nothing changed the exterior appearance.
And most importantly, it complied with Article 9, Section 2 of the HOA bylaws.
The garage was mine.
The security system was mine.
Sandra's Lexus just happened to be inside.
Marcus finished around noon.
He tested the system twice.
“Works perfectly.”
“Thanks.”
He left.
I packed for Seattle.
Before going to bed, I called my attorney, Patricia Lane.
I explained everything.
She listened carefully.
“So let me make sure I understand,” she said.
“Sandra entered your private garage without permission?”
“Yes.”
“She obtained your security code without authorization?”
“Apparently.”
“She parked her vehicle inside your property while you were away?”
“Yes.”
“And now you've installed a lawful security system on your private garage?”
“Correct.”
Patricia paused.
“Daniel, I have to admit something.”
“What?”
“I think this is the first time I've ever heard someone describe an HOA dispute where the homeowner actually read the bylaws better than the HOA president.”
I laughed.
“So I'm okay?”
“You're fine. Don't provoke her. Don't threaten her. Don't touch her vehicle. Document everything.”
“I can do that.”
“And enjoy your trip.”
Before leaving, I wrote Sandra a letter.
It was polite.
Extremely polite.
I explained that I would be away for two weeks.
I explained that I had installed additional garage security.
I explained that the external keypad would be unavailable during my absence.
And I told her that any questions could be directed to Patricia.
I taped the letter to her door.
Then I went home.
The next morning, I flew to Seattle.
I expected the next two weeks to be peaceful.
In fact, they were.
At least for me.
Seattle was cold and rainy.
I loved it.
I worked from my hotel.
I drank terrible hotel coffee.
I ordered room service.
Nobody knocked on my door at 7:45 a.m.
Nobody measured anything.
Nobody complained about my mailbox.
Nobody cared about my driveway.
For the first time in months, I felt completely relaxed.
Then Patricia called.
“Sandra contacted me.”
I smiled.
“Of course she did.”
“She claims you're illegally preventing access to her property.”
I laughed.
“Her property?”
“Her vehicle, technically.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“I know.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That you're away on business and that the garage security system is legitimate.”
“And?”
“She wasn't happy.”
I leaned back against the hotel chair.
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
Patricia's voice changed.
“Her attorney threatened legal action.”
I sighed.
“Let them try.”
Patricia laughed.
“That's exactly what I told him.”
I hung up.
Then I looked out at Seattle.
I thought the story was about Sandra's car.
It wasn't.
I just didn't know that yet.
Because while I was enjoying my two weeks of peace, Sandra had started a fight with the wrong people.
And they had been waiting a long time to fight back.
The First Homeowner Speaks
On the fifth day of my trip, Patricia called again.
This time, she sounded amused.
“Daniel, something interesting is happening.”
“Define interesting.”
“The HOA board is receiving complaints about Sandra.”
“How many?”
“Four so far.”
I sat up.
“What kind?”
Patricia explained.
One homeowner claimed Sandra had entered her backyard without permission to photograph a patio.
Another said Sandra had used a master key to enter his garage while he was on vacation.
A third claimed Sandra had threatened him with fines unless he removed decorations she personally disliked.
The fourth homeowner had apparently been fighting Sandra for eighteen months over a landscaping dispute.
All four had now submitted formal complaints.
I was stunned.
“Sandra actually entered someone's garage?”
“Apparently.”
“Using a master key?”
“Yes.”
“Where did she get it?”
“The property management company.”
I was silent.
Patricia continued.
“She was authorized to use it only for genuine emergencies.”
“Checking storage violations isn't an emergency.”
“Exactly.”
I looked out the hotel window.
Rain streaked the glass.
For months, I had assumed I was the only person being targeted.
I was wrong.
Sandra had been doing this to everyone.
She had simply been waiting for someone to push back.
And apparently, my garage had been the spark.
The HOA board called an emergency meeting.
Sandra attended.
She reportedly arrived with her binder.
According to Tom, who had developed a surprising talent for obtaining neighborhood gossip, Sandra argued that she had done nothing wrong.
She claimed her position as HOA president gave her broad authority to inspect properties.
Then someone asked her to identify the section of the bylaws granting that authority.
She couldn't.
Another homeowner produced a copy of the bylaws.
Another produced emails.
Then the retired accountant who lived across the street presented records showing Sandra had approved fines against homeowners without proper board review.
The meeting lasted three hours.
Sandra left furious.
The next morning, she hired another attorney.
Her first attorney had apparently withdrawn.