The officer’s posture changed immediately.
The homeowner almost laughed.
The woman continued.
“I work here.”
The older officer looked toward the seated man.
“Do you know him?”
The woman frowned.
“Of course.”
“Who is he?”
The homeowner spoke before she could.
“You do not need my employee identifying me to you like I am a guest.”
The officer looked back.
“That attitude isn’t helping.”
The homeowner’s jaw tightened.
“My attitude is not evidence of trespassing.”
The woman on the balcony looked shocked.
“He owns the house.”
The younger officer turned.
The older officer looked upward.
“You’re sure?”
The woman stared.
“Yes.”
“How long have you worked here?”
“Four years.”
“You’ve seen him before?”
The homeowner finally laughed.
Not loudly.
Not kindly.
The older officer turned toward him.
“What’s funny?”
The homeowner shook his head.
“You just asked a woman who has worked in my house for four years whether she has seen me before.”
The younger officer looked away.
The older officer’s face reddened.
“Sir, I need you to stand up.”
The homeowner’s expression hardened.
“No.”
The backyard went quiet.
The officer stepped closer.
“What?”
“No.”
“You’re refusing a lawful instruction?”
“I’m asking you to articulate the legal basis for ordering me out of a chair on my property after a witness just confirmed I own the property.”
The younger officer finally spoke.
“Maybe we should verify the address.”
The older officer did not turn.
“We will.”
The homeowner looked toward him.
“When?”
The older officer stared.
The homeowner continued.
“Before or after you arrest me for being at my own pool?”
The officer reached toward his cuffs.
The woman on the balcony gasped.
The younger officer immediately stepped forward.
“Hold on.”
The older officer looked at him.
“What?”
“He’s not trying to leave.”
“He’s not cooperating.”
“With what?”
The question surprised everybody.
The older officer turned fully toward his partner.
“With identification.”
The younger officer looked toward the house.
“We have the address.”
“We can run property.”
The older officer’s jaw tightened.
“Go do it.”
The younger man nodded and moved toward the gate.
The homeowner watched him leave.
Then looked back at the officer.
“There.”
“That should have been the first thing.”
The officer pointed toward him.
“Do not tell me what I should have done.”
The homeowner’s eyes narrowed.
“Then stop giving me material.”
The officer took another step.
The distance between them was less than six feet.
The homeowner stayed seated.
That seemed to bother the officer more than if he had stood.
Power looked strange when one person refused to perform fear.
The officer said:
“We got a credible call.”
The homeowner replied:
“From whom?”
“Anonymous.”
“What did they say?”
“That a suspicious male entered this backyard.”
The homeowner looked around.
“Entered how?”
“Through the side gate.”
“So did you.”
The officer’s nostrils flared.
The homeowner continued.
“Did the caller say I broke the gate?”
“No.”
“Climbed the fence?”
“No.”
“Damaged anything?”