There wasn't.
Claire checked the county records.
Everything was clean.
But now we knew Evelyn was looking for something.
The question was what.
CHAPTER 4 — THE CLOSED BOARD MEETING
Evelyn called an emergency board meeting without telling most homeowners.
We found out because one board member quietly forwarded us the agenda.
The first item was titled:
“Removal of Noncompliant Occupant.”
The occupant was Claire.
The board claimed that her professional status created a “community safety concern” because police vehicles had occasionally stopped outside our house.
The accusation was absurd.
Claire attended the meeting.
Evelyn expected her to become angry.
Instead, Claire placed a folder on the table.
“I've brought every notice you've issued against this address.”
She opened it.
“Twenty-seven notices in five months.”
Then she placed another folder beside it.
“These are county records showing that every alleged violation was either corrected or unsupported.”
Evelyn leaned forward.
“This isn't a courtroom.”
Claire nodded.
“No. But falsifying records is still a problem outside one.”
The room became silent.
Then Claire added one more document.
It was an email from a board member who had resigned.