"How long have I been here?"
"Since last night."
"Exactly."
She turned toward Evelyn.
"What parking violation occurred last night?"
Evelyn opened her folder.
"Overnight occupancy."
Laura almost smiled.
"My vehicle was parked in a private driveway."
"Which is subject to community regulations."
Laura held out her hand.
"Show me the regulation."
Evelyn hesitated.
"There's a process."
"I didn't ask about the process."
Laura's voice remained remarkably calm.
"I asked to see the rule."
The tow operator looked away.
Daniel noticed something.
The man seemed embarrassed.
Laura noticed it too.
She turned toward him.
"Did you receive a written order?"
"Yes."
"Does it identify my vehicle?"
"Technically..."
"Yes or no."
The operator looked at the paper.
"No."
Evelyn interrupted.
"The order identifies the address."
Laura looked at her.
"That isn't the same thing."
"No, but the association has authority—"
"Then you won't mind showing us where that authority comes from."
Evelyn said nothing.
Laura opened her briefcase.
She removed a small notebook.
Then she wrote down the tow company's name.
The truck number.
The operator's name.
The time.
The license plate.
Daniel watched.
"You do this often?"
Laura closed the notebook.
"Document first. Argue later."
"Are you an attorney?"
She looked at him.
"Something close."
Evelyn suddenly became interested.
"Ms. Bennett, if you had simply contacted the association, this could have been resolved privately."
Laura smiled.
"I contacted the association three months ago."
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn didn't answer.
Laura continued.
"I sent three emails."
She opened her phone.
"I received no response."
The tow operator cleared his throat.
"I'm going to call my supervisor."
This time Evelyn didn't stop him.
As he walked toward the truck, Laura looked at Daniel.
"Do you have security cameras?"
"Three."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I think we're going to need them."
Daniel didn't understand.
Not yet.
But fifteen minutes later, the first police cruiser entered Cedar Valley Estates.
And Evelyn Carter stopped smiling.
Officer Miguel Reyes stepped out of the cruiser.
His body camera was already recording.
"Morning. Who called?"
Laura raised her hand.
"I did."
Officer Reyes looked around.
"What's going on?"
Evelyn stepped forward.
"I'm the HOA president."
Reyes nodded.
"Okay."
"We're enforcing a parking rule."
"On private property?"
"Within an HOA-controlled community."
Reyes looked at Daniel.
"Whose driveway is this?"
"Mine."
"Whose vehicle?"
"Laura's."
Reyes looked at the tow order.
"What's the plate?"
Evelyn answered.
"9K-614."
Reyes looked at the SUV.
"That's 9K-641."
Nobody spoke.
Reyes looked at Evelyn.
"Is that correct?"
Evelyn folded her arms.
"It's an administrative error."
Reyes nodded.
"Then why is the vehicle immobilized?"
Evelyn didn't answer.
Reyes looked at the tow operator.
"Can you remove the boot?"
"Yes."
Evelyn immediately said:
"No."
Reyes turned.
"Ma'am?"
"The association has authorized the immobilization."
"Of this vehicle?"
"Yes."
"But the document identifies another plate."
"It's a clerical issue."
Reyes looked at Laura.
"Are you the registered owner?"
"Yes."
"Can I see your registration?"
Laura handed it over.
Reyes examined it.
Then the tow order.
Then the SUV.
He sighed.
"These don't match."
Laura nodded.
"No."
Reyes handed everything back.
"I'm not going to decide a civil dispute for either of you."
He looked at the tow operator.
"But if your authorization is for a different vehicle, you should probably not tow this one."
The operator nodded.
"I agree."
Evelyn looked furious.
"This is becoming ridiculous."
Daniel pointed toward the cameras.
"No."
He said it quietly.
"It's becoming documented."
Officer Reyes looked up.
"Do those record continuously?"
"Yes."
"Save everything from this morning."
"I will."
Reyes turned toward Evelyn.
"If there are additional documents, give them to your attorney."
Evelyn's jaw tightened.
"We have nothing to hide."
Laura looked at her.
"Then this should be easy."
The tow operator removed the device.
The metal clamp fell away from the wheel.
Laura took a photograph.
Then another.