That illusion of absolute power was shattered exactly two minutes later by the deafening wail of police sirens.
Red and blue lights strobed violently through the garage windows. Not one, but three local police cruisers skidded to a halt on Brenda's pristine driveway, blocking her in completely. Before the sirens even died down, four officers were out of their vehicles, hands resting on their duty belts, moving with aggressive purpose.
Brenda spilled her iced tea. Tyler nearly fell off the ATV.
"What on earth is the meaning of this?!" Brenda shrieked, marching out of the garage in her red blazer, reverting instantly to her aggressive Karen persona. "I am the HOA President! You cannot park those cars on my grass!"
"Brenda Hastings and Tyler Hastings!" the lead officer barked, ignoring her entirely. "Keep your hands where I can see them and step out of the garage!"
A black, unmarked SUV pulled up right behind the police cruisers. The door opened, and Mark stepped out. He wasn't wearing his casual polo shirt anymore. He had slipped on his tactical vest. Across the back, in massive yellow letters, was the word FEDERAL AGENT. Beside him walked Captain Miller.
Brenda’s jaw practically detached from her skull. She looked at the tactical vest, then at Mark's face, the color draining completely from her own.
"You... you called the police over an HOA dispute?" Brenda stammered, her voice shaking violently as she finally realized she was entirely out of her depth.
"No, Brenda," Mark said, walking up the driveway, his voice cold and echoing with absolute authority. "I called the police over a felony grand theft auto. You and your son came onto my property and stole a vehicle valued at fifteen thousand dollars."