"That's still documented."
Rebecca pointed toward the SUV.
"Then explain the repeated overnight violations supposedly committed by this vehicle."
Patricia flipped through her folder.
"The homeowner has received several notices."
"I'm asking about my vehicle."
"The association links guest vehicles to homeowner accounts."
"That doesn't answer the question."
Patricia's face became colder.
"Who exactly are you?"
Rebecca opened her briefcase and removed a county identification wallet.
She held it up.
REBECCA SLOANCHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEYMARICOPA COUNTY
Patricia's eyes widened slightly.
Marcus saw it immediately.
Rebecca closed the wallet.
"My position isn't relevant."
Patricia recovered.
"If I had known—"
"Stop."
Rebecca's voice remained quiet.
"If this were a plumber's truck, a babysitter's car, or a delivery driver's van, the license plate would still be wrong."
The contractor cleared his throat.
"I agree."
Patricia turned toward him.
"You work for the association."
"No, ma'am. We work under contract."
He pointed toward the work order.
"Our authorization is specifically for CKT-742."
He looked at Rebecca's SUV.
"This is CKT-724."
Rebecca took several photographs.
The plate.
The boot.
The contractor's work order.
Patricia immediately objected.
"Do not photograph internal documents."
"I'm documenting the basis for an action taken against my property."
"You don't have permission."
"I don't need permission to photograph my own vehicle."
Patricia looked at Marcus.
"This is what happens when homeowners deliberately interfere with association enforcement."
Marcus stared at her.
"You still haven't asked why she is here."
"I don't care why she's here."
Rebecca smiled faintly.
"That may be your biggest mistake."
She took out her phone.
"I'm calling the police."
Patricia laughed.
"This is a private parking dispute."
Rebecca looked at the metal device around her wheel.
"No. It's a property dispute involving an incorrectly identified vehicle."
Seven minutes later, a police cruiser entered the street.
Officer Nathan Park stepped out with his body camera recording.
"Who called?"
Rebecca raised her hand.
"I did."
Patricia immediately stepped forward.
"I'm Patricia Whitmore, president of the HOA. We have an authorized parking enforcement procedure, and the homeowner and his guest became confrontational."
Officer Park looked at Marcus.
"Anyone threaten anyone?"
"No."
"Anyone touch anyone?"
"No."
Rebecca pointed toward the SUV.
"The contractor attached that boot using an order for a different license plate."
Officer Park examined the paperwork.
He read the plate.
Then he read the vehicle.
Then he looked at the driveway.
"Is this private property?"
Marcus answered.
"Yes. My driveway."
Park turned toward Patricia.
"Do you have written authority to immobilize vehicles on private residential driveways?"
Patricia opened her binder.
"Yes."
"Show me."
For the first time that morning, Patricia looked uncertain.
Patricia searched through her binder.
Parking regulations.
Guest policies.
Common-area enforcement.
Towing provisions.
Administrative procedures.
But nothing mentioned wheel boots on private residential driveways.
Officer Park waited patiently.
"Do you have the document?"
Patricia pointed toward a paragraph.
"Enforcement remedies."
Park read it.
"Fines, suspension of common-area privileges, and towing from designated common areas."
He looked toward Marcus's driveway.
"Is this a designated common area?"
"No," Marcus answered.
Patricia interrupted.
"The association has supplemental policies."
"Do you have those with you?"
"No."
Rebecca folded her arms.
"Then what authorization was the contractor acting under?"
Patricia's jaw tightened.
"The HOA has enforcement authority."
Officer Park looked at her.
"That's not what I asked."
The contractor, uncomfortable with the confrontation, spoke.
"Our company normally handles private parking lots, commercial properties, and HOA-owned areas."
"Why were you sent here?"
"The work order classified this as association-controlled parking."
Marcus stepped toward him.