"Which house?"
"Number fourteen."
"That's Mr. Brooks' house."
Karen paused.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
She looked outside again.
"How long has he lived there?"
"About a month."
Karen lowered her voice.
"Are you certain he's the owner?"
The guard sounded confused.
"Yes."
Karen ended the call.
For a few seconds, she stood still.
Then she called 911.
The police arrived eight minutes later.
Two patrol cars entered Bellmont Ridge.
Karen watched from her window.
She felt relieved.
"Good," she whispered.
Adrian heard the sirens.
He opened his eyes.
Two officers walked through the side gate.
One called out:
"Sir?"
Adrian sat up.
"Yes?"
"Could you come over here for a moment?"
Adrian stood.
He looked at the officers.
Then toward the street.
"Is something wrong?"
The older officer, Sergeant Daniel Harris, kept his voice calm.
"We received a call about a suspicious person."
Adrian looked around.
"I'm the only person here."
Harris nodded.
"Can I see some identification?"
Adrian reached into his pocket.
He handed over his driver's license.
The younger officer looked at it.
Then at Adrian.
"Mr. Brooks?"
"Yes."
"This is your residence?"
"Yes."
Harris glanced toward the house.
"Can you verify that?"
Adrian pointed toward the front door.
"The deed is inside."
Harris smiled slightly.
"We don't need the deed."
Adrian looked confused.
"Then what do you need?"
"We need to determine why someone called."
Adrian looked at them.
"Because I'm sitting by my pool?"
Harris didn't answer immediately.
Adrian understood.
"Someone thought I was trespassing."
"That's what the call indicated."
Adrian sighed.
He had dealt with this before.
But not here.
Not in a neighborhood where he had paid nearly two million dollars for a house.
He looked toward the neighboring windows.
Curtains moved.
People were watching.
Harris noticed.
He lowered his voice.
"Are you okay?"
Adrian nodded.
"I'm fine."
"Do you want us to leave?"
Adrian looked at him.
"Yes."
Harris handed back the license.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you."
Adrian nodded.
"Thank you."
The officers walked away.
Adrian sat back down.
But he didn't close his eyes.
The peaceful afternoon was gone.
Across the street, Karen smiled.
She believed the police had confirmed her suspicion.
She was wrong.
The next morning, Adrian's attorney received a strange voicemail.
It wasn't from Karen.
It was from the Bellmont Ridge homeowners association.
They wanted to schedule a meeting.
Adrian agreed.
The meeting took place in a small conference room near the clubhouse.
Five board members sat around a table.
Karen was there.
So was Richard.
Adrian immediately understood.
"This is about yesterday."
The HOA president, Margaret Ellis, nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian sat down.
Margaret looked uncomfortable.
"We received a complaint."
"I know."
"We're required to review security concerns."
Adrian nodded.
"Of course."
Karen leaned forward.
"I saw him."
Adrian looked at her.
"Excuse me?"
"I saw you."
"I know."
"You were outside alone."
"Yes."
"Without any guests."
"Yes."
"Which is unusual."
Adrian looked at her.
"Why?"
Karen paused.
"Because..."
She looked toward the board.
"He didn't look like he belonged."
Silence.
Adrian's expression remained calm.
"Could you explain what you mean by that?"
Karen became defensive.
"I mean the property is normally occupied by people who..."