"Because I haven't done anything wrong."
Before Eleanor could answer, a small voice came from behind her.
"Dad?"
Marcus's expression changed instantly.
Eleanor turned.
A girl of about nine stood near the clubhouse doors.
She wore a yellow swimsuit and carried a pink towel.
She looked from Marcus to Eleanor.
"What's happening?"
Marcus smiled.
"Nothing, Ava."
The girl walked toward him.
"Why is that lady talking to you?"
Marcus glanced at Eleanor.
"She thought I didn't belong here."
Ava frowned.
"But you do."
Marcus smiled.
"Not exactly."
The girl's confusion deepened.
Eleanor stared at him.
"You said you lived here."
"I said I might."
"No, you said—"
Marcus gently interrupted.
"I said I knew this place."
That was different.
Eleanor suddenly realized that she had filled in the blanks herself.
Ava took Marcus's hand.
"Are we still going to Grandma's?"
"After I finish something."
"What?"
Marcus looked at Eleanor.
"Work."
Ava sighed.
"You always say that."
Marcus laughed softly.
Eleanor watched the exchange.
There was nothing threatening about it.
No hidden menace.
No criminal confidence.
Just a father trying to finish a difficult afternoon.
Then the security guard approached.
His name was Daniel Cross.
Eleanor turned toward him.
"Daniel, thank goodness."
Daniel stopped.
He looked at Marcus.
Then at Eleanor.
"What's going on?"
"I found him here."
Daniel glanced at Marcus.
"You found Mr. Reed?"
Eleanor's face changed.
"You know him?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you tell me he was a resident?"
"He isn't."
Eleanor stared.
Marcus sighed.
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Reed is here on business."
"What business?"
Daniel glanced at Marcus.
Marcus nodded.
Daniel answered.
"He's meeting with Mr. Vance."
Eleanor's stomach tightened.
Harold Vance was the president of the Bellwood Homeowners Association.
He was also the person who had personally approved the installation of every camera and security system in the neighborhood.
"When?"
"Five o'clock."
Eleanor checked her watch.
4:37.
"Then why is he at the pool?"
Daniel shrugged.
"Mr. Reed arrived early."
Eleanor looked at Marcus.
"What kind of business?"
Marcus picked up his briefcase.
"Property records."
"Property records?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
Marcus looked at her.
"Bellwood."
Something about the way he said the word made Eleanor uncomfortable.
"What about Bellwood?"
Marcus didn't answer.
He simply checked his watch.
"Mr. Vance will explain."
Then he walked toward the clubhouse.
Ava followed.
Eleanor remained beside the pool.
She watched them disappear through the glass doors.
For several seconds, she couldn't move.
Then she noticed something.
Marcus had left his book behind.
She walked toward the chair.
The book was old.
A paperback with a cracked spine.
She picked it up.
A small white card slipped from between the pages.
Eleanor caught it before it touched the ground.
There was handwriting on it.
Six words.
Do not trust the cameras.
Eleanor stared at the sentence.
Then she looked toward the clubhouse.
For the first time since moving into Bellwood, she wondered whether the cameras were there to protect the residents.
Or to watch them.
Chapter Two
The Board President
Harold Vance was waiting in the conference room when Marcus arrived.
He was sixty-one years old, silver-haired, carefully dressed, and possessed the kind of smile that never quite reached his eyes.
He had lived in Bellwood for nineteen years.
He had been president of the HOA for twelve.
To most residents, Harold was the face of Bellwood.
He negotiated landscaping contracts.
Approved security upgrades.
Handled disputes.
Spoke at community meetings.
He knew which houses were being renovated and which families were thinking about moving.
He also knew exactly how much Bellwood's property values had increased over the previous decade.
Marcus entered the room.
Harold stood.
"Mr. Reed."
"Mr. Vance."
They shook hands.
Harold's grip was firm.
Eleanor watched through the glass wall.
She hadn't meant to stay.
But after finding the note in Marcus's book, leaving suddenly felt impossible.
She stood near the hallway.
Daniel Cross saw her.
"You're going to get yourself into trouble."
Eleanor turned.
"What does that mean?"
"You shouldn't involve yourself."
"Why?"
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Because I don't know what Mr. Reed is investigating."
"You said he was here about property records."
"I did."
"And?"
Daniel looked toward the conference room.
"And I didn't say everything."
Eleanor folded her arms.
"What aren't you telling me?"
Daniel sighed.
"Three weeks ago, we had a problem with the east gate."
"What kind of problem?"
"Someone accessed the security system."
"Someone broke in?"
"No."
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Someone used an administrator password."
Eleanor's expression changed.
"Who?"
"We don't know."
"Then how do you know?"
"Because the system logs showed it."
"What did they access?"
"Camera footage."
"Which cameras?"
Daniel looked directly at her.
"All of them."
Eleanor felt a chill.
"For how long?"
"Four hours."
She looked toward Marcus.
"And nobody told the residents?"
"Harold didn't want to create panic."