They started asking questions.
Saturday night, the community clubhouse was packed.
Vivian sat at the front table.
Perfect hair.
Perfect suit.
Perfect smile.
She looked at me.
"Mr. Reed has requested this meeting because he is unhappy with the HOA."
I stood.
"No."
I placed a laptop on the table.
"I requested this meeting because I have evidence that our HOA president has been using her position to manipulate property owners."
The room erupted.
Vivian slammed her hand down.
"This is outrageous."
I pressed play.
The screen showed Vivian entering my yard.
At 6:12 a.m.
The room went silent.
She walked toward the pool.
Opened the gasoline container.
And poured.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The video ended.
I turned toward Vivian.
"Would you like to explain?"
She stared at me.
Then smiled.
"I was responding to a hazardous situation."
A woman in the audience shouted:
"You created it!"
Vivian snapped:
"That's your interpretation."
I played the next clip.
It showed Vivian speaking to the man at the gate.
Her voice was faint but audible.
"Once he receives the violation, he'll either sell or he'll be forced to spend."
The room exploded.
Vivian stood.
"You illegally recorded me."
I shook my head.
"The camera is on my property."
She turned toward the board.
"End this meeting."
Nobody moved.
Then one board member slowly stood.
"I think we need to hear him."
Vivian stared at him.
"You work for me."
He shook his head.
"No."
He looked around.
"I work for this community."
I opened the property records.
Then the development plans.
Then the acquisition contracts.
One by one, I displayed them.
The same company.
The same signatures.
The same pattern.
A neighbor raised her hand.
"She told me my home was unsafe."
Another said:
"She told me my property would be condemned."
A third stood.
"She offered me $1.2 million."
I looked at her.
"How much is it worth?"
"Nearly two million."
The room erupted.
Vivian tried to speak.
Nobody listened.
Then the back doors opened.
Two investigators walked inside.
Behind them was a county prosecutor.
Vivian's face changed.
The prosecutor approached the table.
"Ms. Caldwell?"
She stared at him.
"Yes?"
"We need to speak with you regarding several property transactions."
Vivian looked at me.
Then back at him.
"You can't be serious."
"We have records."