Helen’s expression turned uncomfortable.
“He died a few months later. Everyone moved on.”
Nia said nothing.
Helen looked at her.
“There have been little incidents.”
“Little for who?”
Helen nodded slowly.
“Exactly.”
That sentence stayed with Nia.
Little for who?
By noon, management had sent the first set of records.
Nia opened them at the kitchen island.
Her homeowner profile had been created forty-three days earlier.
Property: 18 Hawthorne Lane.
Owner: Nia Carter.
Status: Active.
Vehicle authorization: Active.
Guest permissions: Active.
Gate credential: Active.
Then, at 1:06 p.m. the previous day, something had changed.
Status: HOLD.
Reason: OWNER VERIFICATION PENDING.
The change had been made by an administrative account.
BHW-PRES-01.
Nia stared at the screen.
She did not need anyone to explain what the letters meant.
Bellweather Heights.
President.
Account one.
Her phone rang.
The management company.
“Ms. Carter?”
“Yes.”
“This is Elena Foster with Westbridge Community Management.”
“Hello.”
“I wanted to speak with you before sending the second portion of the records.”
Nia sat down.
“Okay.”
Elena sounded nervous.
“We confirmed that your access status was manually changed yesterday.”
“I saw.”
There was a pause.
“Yes.”
“Who used the account?”
“We’re still verifying individual login data.”
“Elena.”
“Yes?”
“Pamela uses that account.”
Another pause.
“It is an account assigned to the board president.”
“Does anyone else have access?”
“Potentially our site manager for emergency administration.”
“Did your site manager change my status?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly to misunderstand.
Nia looked out the kitchen window.
“Why was my status changed?”
“That’s what we are reviewing.”
“Was there a complaint?”
“We have not found one.”
“Payment issue?”
“No.”
“Document problem?”
“No.”
“Closing issue?”
“No.”
“Then why would anyone place my account on hold?”
Elena exhaled.
“I don’t want to speculate.”
Nia appreciated that.
“Then don’t.”
She looked at the record again.
“Tell me what you know.”
Elena did.
At 12:52 p.m., Pamela had called the management office.
She asked whether eighteen Hawthorne had completed transfer registration.
The employee confirmed it had.
At 12:58, Pamela accessed the board administration portal.
At 1:06, Nia’s credential was placed on hold.
At 1:11, Pamela sent a message to Bellweather gate security.
Elena read it aloud.
“Possible unauthorized occupant connected to eighteen Hawthorne. Previous resident no longer on property. Verify all attempted entry until ownership status is confirmed.”