Within forty-eight hours, the HOA's attorney responded.
The records were "temporarily unavailable."
Daniel laughed when he heard that.
"Records don't become temporarily unavailable."
Michael nodded.
"Not unless someone removes them."
They contacted the county recorder.
That was when the second shock arrived.
Six months earlier, someone had attempted to file a lien against Daniel's property.
The filing had been rejected.
But the paperwork contained a strange attachment.
A survey.
It showed a narrow strip of land behind Daniel's garage.
Daniel stared at it.
"That's mine."
Michael nodded.
"Yes."
"And?"
Michael pointed.
"There's an easement."
Daniel's eyes widened.
"What easement?"
"One that doesn't appear on your original deed."
They studied it.
Someone had created an access corridor leading from the street directly to Daniel's garage.
Daniel suddenly understood.
"The Camaro."
Michael nodded.
"Exactly."
The car wasn't merely sitting in a garage.
The garage sat on land someone wanted.
And whoever controlled the easement could potentially control access to it.
Daniel leaned back.
"Who owns the lot behind mine?"
Michael checked.
"The HOA."
Daniel stared.
"So the car was never the real prize."
Evelyn Hart had inherited the HOA presidency from her father.
Her father had also owned several undeveloped lots around Briarwood Estates.
After his death, the property was transferred into a private company.
That company was controlled by Evelyn.
Daniel's attorney discovered this through public records.
But there was something more.
The company had recently entered negotiations with a luxury developer.
The developer wanted to build a private clubhouse and expanded parking area.
Daniel's garage stood directly in the way.
The project couldn't proceed unless the access corridor was obtained.
Daniel stared at the documents.
"So she needed my land."
"Yes."
"Then why the Camaro?"
"Because forcing you to surrender the vehicle created leverage."
Daniel shook his head.
"She could have offered to buy the property."
Michael smiled bitterly.
"She tried."
Daniel remembered Evelyn's visit months earlier.
Her offer had seemed strangely generous.
He had refused.
Now everything made sense.
She hadn't wanted to buy the land.
She wanted to make it appear Daniel no longer had control over it.
The forged bill of sale was only the beginning.
Then Daniel found something that changed everything.
A photograph.
It showed Evelyn standing beside the developer.
Behind them was Daniel's garage.
The photograph had been taken three months earlier.
On the back was a handwritten note:
Phase Two — Remove Mercer.
Daniel stared at those words.
Then folded the photograph carefully.
"We're going to court."
Michael nodded.
"No."
Daniel looked at him.
"You're going to court."
Michael smiled.
"I'm beginning to like the way you think."
Daniel installed a camera inside his garage.
Three nights later, someone entered.
At 2:14 a.m.
The camera captured a hooded figure.
The person walked directly toward the Camaro.
They didn't touch the vehicle.
Instead, they opened a cabinet.
Daniel watched the footage repeatedly.
The cabinet contained old military documents.
Photos.
Awards.
Letters.
His brother's papers.
The intruder removed one folder.
Then left.
Daniel called the police.
But he also called an old friend.
"Frank?"
"Daniel?"
"I need a favor."
Frank was a retired investigator.
He arrived the next morning.
They examined the footage frame by frame.
Frank paused.
"Look at the shoes."
Daniel leaned closer.
Black boots.
Small silver buckle.
Frank nodded.
"That's not random."
Daniel remembered something.
Evelyn always wore the same style of boots.
But that wasn't proof.
Then Frank noticed something else.
A reflection in the Camaro's polished side panel.