The contract instructed security personnel to pay special attention to:
"repeat visitors, temporary vehicles, construction-related movement, and non-owner activity."
Naomi looked at me.
"That's broader than ordinary parking enforcement."
The sheriff had reached the same conclusion.
He subpoenaed additional records.
The security company initially resisted.
Then one employee cooperated.
He provided internal instructions.
Celeste had personally requested enhanced monitoring around several properties.
Mine was one of them.
The retired teacher's was another.
The older couple's was another.
Naomi looked at the dates.
Every enhanced-monitoring request followed a failed private negotiation.
That was significant.
But it still wasn't the whole story.
The developer's name appeared repeatedly.
And then we found a payment.
Not directly to Celeste.
That would have been too obvious.
Instead, the HOA's management company had hired a consulting firm.
That consulting firm had received money from a company connected to the developer.
Suddenly the baseball bat looked like the smallest piece of the puzzle.
The emergency HOA meeting was packed.
Residents filled every chair.
People stood along the walls.
The board members looked uncomfortable.
Celeste was absent.
She had been released pending further proceedings concerning the damage to the sheriff's vehicle.
The interim president tried to control the room.
"We are here to discuss governance concerns."
Someone shouted:
"Then discuss the surveillance!"
Another homeowner yelled:
"Discuss the development deal!"
The room erupted.
I sat quietly.
Naomi sat beside me.
She had advised me not to make accusations without documents.
That was exactly what we did.
We presented documents.
Violation records.
Security invoices.
Construction proposals.
Email correspondence.
Photographs.
Dates.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing invented.
Just evidence.
A board member raised his hand.
"I had no idea we were tracking residents this closely."
Another said:
"Neither did I."
A third admitted that she had voted for the security contract without reading the specifications.
Then Naomi placed one document on the table.
"This is the original enforcement directive."
The room became quiet.
It contained a section identifying specific properties for enhanced monitoring.
Mine was first.
The retired teacher's property was second.
The older couple's was third.