She seemed frightened.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it."
She looked over her shoulder.
"My husband borrowed money."
"That's not my problem."
"He used the property as collateral."
I waited.
"The bank discovered the old utility corridor. If the city recognizes it, the value of our property collapses."
"So you tried to make my backyard unsafe."
She looked down.
"I thought if the city condemned part of your property, the corridor would become public access."
"You dumped garbage on my garden."
"I needed evidence."
"Evidence of what?"
"That the land was contaminated."
I stared at her.
"You created the contamination."
She began crying.
"I didn't know what else to do."
I almost felt sorry for her.
Then I remembered my roses.
"You could have asked."
"I knew you'd say no."
"Maybe."
She looked at me.
"And now?"
I answered:
"Now I definitely say no.
Chapter 7 — The Real Contamination
The city excavated the area two days later.
They discovered something neither Brenda nor I expected.