She raised her phone.
"They're coming."
Marcus nodded.
"Good."
Victoria expected fear.
Instead, she saw relief.
That bothered her.
"You don't seem worried."
Marcus looked at the brick.
Then at the shattered glass.
"I'm not."
"Why?"
He closed his portfolio.
"Because when the police arrive, they're going to ask one question."
Victoria smiled.
"And what's that?"
Marcus looked at her.
"Whose property is this?"
The first patrol car arrived seven minutes later.
Victoria immediately walked toward the officers.
"Thank God you're here."
Officer Daniel Brooks stepped out.
His partner followed.
"What happened?"
Victoria pointed at Marcus.
"That man broke into the property."
Marcus said nothing.
"He refused to leave."
Still nothing.
"He threatened me."
Marcus finally spoke.
"I didn't."
Victoria turned.
"Officer, he's lying."
Daniel looked at the broken window.
"Who threw the brick?"
Victoria froze.
"What?"
"The brick."
She looked at it.
Then at Marcus.
"He provoked me."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Did you throw it?"
Victoria hesitated.
"I was defending the neighborhood."
"That's not what I asked."
Silence.
Marcus remained still.
Daniel approached him.
"Sir, do you own this property?"
"Yes."
"Can I see identification?"
Marcus handed over his driver's license.
Daniel looked at it.
Then looked again.
Something changed in his expression.
His partner noticed.
"What?"
Daniel quietly said:
"That's him."
Victoria frowned.
"What does that mean?"
The second officer stepped closer.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Mr. Reed?"
"Yes."
The officer straightened.
"Sir."
Victoria stared.
Why had his tone changed?
Marcus nodded.
"Officer."
Daniel looked at the deed Marcus had handed him.
Then at Victoria.
"Ma'am, you need to step back from the property."
Victoria blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"This is private property."
"But—"
"And you damaged the owner's building."
Victoria pointed at Marcus.
"He doesn't even live here!"
Daniel answered calmly.
"He doesn't have to."
Victoria's face reddened.
"But I'm the HOA president!"
Daniel sighed.
"That doesn't give you authority over privately owned commercial property."
Marcus watched quietly.
Victoria suddenly realized something.
She had made a mistake.
A very public mistake.
But she still didn't know how serious it was.
Marcus unfolded the deed.
It was older than Victoria expected.
The property had changed hands several times.
But the legal description was unmistakable.
The gas station parcel was separate from the residential development.
A narrow strip of land separated it from Oak Valley.
Victoria stared at the document.
"No."
Marcus looked at her.
"Yes."
"Our attorney reviewed this."
"Then your attorney missed something."
"What?"
Marcus pointed to a paragraph.