Brenda didn't bother with a greeting. She stopped at the bottom of the porch steps, her face twisted into a scowl of pure entitlement.
"David, I am giving you one last chance," Brenda announced, her voice piercing the quiet suburban air. "The HOA board requires immediate access to your backyard to inspect the unauthorized shed you’ve allegedly built. Hand over the padlock key to the side gate."
David crossed his arms, offering a slow, dry chuckle. "Brenda, I told you in the email. It's not a shed; it's a custom doghouse for my Golden Retriever. And more importantly, you don't have the right to conduct an unannounced inspection of my private property."
Brenda’s face flushed red. She turned to the young deputy, gesturing frantically at David as if he were a violent criminal. She turned back to David, jabbing her index finger in the air toward his face.
"Open that gate and cooperate, or we will make this a bigger problem," she threatened.