"You are making this racial."
"You asked how I could afford my house."
"I would ask any outsider."
"No, you wouldn't."
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Daniel stood.
Slowly.
He buttoned his jacket.
The officers recognized him almost immediately.
Baines straightened.
Mills looked at the state seal on Daniel's credential case.
Daniel opened it.
"My name is Daniel Mercer."
He paused.
"I am the attorney general of this state."
The cabin became completely silent.
Evelyn stared at his identification.
Then at him.
Then back at the identification.
She looked as though someone had just changed the rules of gravity.
"I didn't realize—"
"No," Daniel said calmly.
"You didn't."
The Evidence on the Table
Evelyn recovered quickly.
"This is a local property matter."
"It was," Daniel said.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you entered Mr. Daniels's home without permission and demanded his removal despite knowing he was the recorded owner."
"I relied on information from the board."
"You lead the board."
"I acted in good faith."
Daniel extended his hand.
"May I see the resolution?"
Evelyn hesitated.
Then she gave him the packet.
Daniel read the first page.
Then the second.
His expression barely changed.
"This cites condominium law."
"Correct."
"Braddock Shores isn't a condominium."
"It's a common-interest community."
"That doesn't make condominium statutes applicable."
She crossed her arms.
"The distinction is technical."
Daniel looked up.
"Property ownership is made almost entirely from technical distinctions."
Nobody spoke.
Daniel continued reading.
"This document also identifies Mr. Daniels's cabin as Lot Forty-Two."
"It's adjacent to Lot Forty-Two."
"His property is Parcel 11-074."
"That's a technical distinction."
"Again," Daniel said, "property ownership tends to be."
Evelyn snatched the papers back.
"I am not going to be embarrassed because of paperwork."
"There are no residents here," Daniel replied.
He looked toward the officers.
"Only witnesses."
The word changed the atmosphere.
Evelyn suddenly understood that the room no longer belonged to her.
Daniel turned to Baines.
"Did Mr. Daniels invite Mrs. Harrow inside?"
"No."
"Did she have a warrant?"
"No."
"A court order?"
"No."
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
"Why did you enter?"
"The door was unlocked."
"That's not permission."
"I am the HOA president."
"That doesn't change the answer."
Evelyn's anger rose.
"You cannot use your office to protect your friend."
"I am not protecting him from lawful enforcement."
"There is lawful enforcement."
"Not here."
She pointed at me.
"He doesn't belong here."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Say that again."
Evelyn immediately changed her wording.
"I mean he doesn't belong because ownership is contested."
"By whom?"
"The association."