The wheel-lift was now under the Porsche.
Daniel looked at him.
"Stop."
The driver didn't move.
Daniel stepped directly in front of the truck.
"Stop."
Patricia scoffed.
"Don't interfere."
Daniel ignored her.
He slapped his palm hard against the tow truck's side panel.
The metallic sound echoed through the driveway.
"Take one more inch and you're towing stolen property."
The driver immediately released the controls.
The truck stopped.
The amber lights continued flashing.
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then Patricia stepped closer.
"You are making this much more difficult than it needs to be."
Daniel looked at her.
"You brought a tow truck onto my property."
"Because you refused to comply."
"Comply with what?"
"The HOA."
"The HOA isn't a police department."
Patricia laughed.
"Don't embarrass yourself."
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"Get the lift away from my daughter's car."
Patricia pointed at the Porsche.
"That car is not appropriate for this neighborhood."
Emily whispered, "Why?"
Patricia turned toward her.
"Because not every girl needs to be handed everything she wants."
Emily stared at her.
"I saved for accessories. My dad bought the car."
Patricia shrugged.
"Exactly."
Daniel's voice became quieter.
"What exactly are you saying?"
Patricia didn't hesitate.
"I'm saying that your daughter doesn't need to be driving around in a Porsche."
Daniel stared at her.
"That's your opinion."
"It's the community's concern."
"No."
Patricia raised the paper again.
"It's an HOA enforcement matter."
Daniel looked at the tow truck.
Then at the logo on the driver's uniform.
Then at the company name printed on the truck door.
He stopped.
The driver noticed.
His expression changed.
Daniel reached into his pocket.
Patricia frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Daniel pulled out his phone.
"Calling someone."
"You're not calling the police."
"No."
He looked at the tow truck again.
Then at the driver.
"Actually, I don't need to."
Patricia crossed her arms.
"Then what are you doing?"
Daniel looked directly at the driver.
"What's your name?"
The man swallowed.
"Marcus."
"Marcus, are you the driver assigned to this truck?"
"Yes."
"Who dispatched you?"
Marcus glanced at Patricia.
"The HOA."
"Which HOA?"
"Lakeview Estates."
Daniel nodded.
"Did they give you a work order?"
"Yes."
"Does the work order identify the property owner?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Yes."
"Who?"
The driver looked at the paper.
Then at Daniel.
"Daniel Carter."
Patricia stepped forward.
"That doesn't matter."
Daniel's gaze remained on Marcus.
"Read the company name on the door."
Marcus looked toward the truck.
Then his eyes widened.
He looked back at Daniel.
"Oh."
Patricia frowned.
"What?"
Marcus slowly raised the wheel-lift.
The metal arms moved away from the Porsche.
Patricia's voice sharpened.
"Why are you doing that?"
Marcus didn't answer.
Daniel slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Patricia looked between them.
"What is happening?"
Marcus stepped away from the controls.
"Ma'am..."
"What?"
He pointed at the logo on his uniform.
Then at the company name on the truck.
"Mr. Carter owns the company."
Patricia froze.
Emily blinked.
Daniel said nothing.
Marcus continued.
"Ma'am, you just hired his company to tow his daughter's car."
Patricia stared at Daniel.
"No."
Daniel calmly nodded.
"Yes."
She looked back at the truck.
"No."
Marcus rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yes, ma'am."
Patricia's face turned red.
"That's impossible."
Daniel finally smiled.
"Is it?"
She stared at him.
"You own Carter Recovery?"
"I founded it."
"But..."
"I've owned it for seventeen years."
Patricia looked at the tow truck again.
The name was printed clearly across the door.
CARTER RECOVERY & TRANSPORT.
Below it was a phone number.
And beneath the phone number was a small line.
Locally owned and operated.
Patricia's lips parted.
"You never told us."
Daniel shrugged.
"You never asked."
Emily stared at her father.
"You own a towing company?"
Daniel looked at her.
"You didn't know?"
"No!"
He laughed.
"Your mother knew."
Emily looked toward the house.
"Mom knew?"
"She helped me with the accounting for years."
Emily looked back at the truck.
"Then why do we have this tiny old SUV?"
Daniel grinned.
"Because I don't drive company trucks to the grocery store."
For the first time, Emily laughed.
It was a nervous laugh.
Almost a sob.
But it broke the tension.
Patricia did not laugh.
She stepped toward Daniel.
"This doesn't change the violation."
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"Actually, it changes quite a lot."
"No."
"Yes."
"You are still violating HOA standards."
"Which standards?"
"The vehicle appearance policy."
"Show me where it says pink cars are prohibited."
Patricia hesitated.
"The regulations..."
"Show me."
She looked at the paper.
"The board has discretion."
"That's not the same thing."
"We have enforcement authority."
"Not over private vehicles."
"We do."
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Did you see any court order?"
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
"Police authorization?"
"No."
"Repossession order?"
"No."
"Anything other than an HOA work order?"
Marcus shook his head again.
"No, sir."
Daniel nodded.
Patricia stepped closer.