The homeowner looked toward the severed fibers.
He understood only part of what had just been said.
The line was not simply carrying neighborhood broadband.
It was part of a larger network.
One that apparently served customers whose connections were not ordinary residential accounts.
The HOA president still did not seem concerned.
"Then reroute it."
The technician looked at her as though he had misheard.
"What?"
"You people have backups."
The homeowner closed his eyes.
The operator turned away, shaking his head.
The technician said nothing else.
He returned to his truck.
Five minutes later, the police officer received a call over his radio.
The homeowner could not hear all of it.
Only fragments.
"...infrastructure disruption..."
"...federal contact..."
"...do not clear scene..."
The officer looked toward the HOA president.
Her confidence finally flickered.
"What?"
He ignored her.
The second officer walked toward the subdivision entrance.
Then came the vehicles.
The first was a dark SUV.
The second was another.
Then a third.
No sirens.
No flashing lights.
They moved quickly but cleanly through the neighborhood.
Neighbors who had been talking stopped.
The vehicles parked in a staggered line near the curb.
Several people stepped out.
Dark jackets.
Credentials clipped at the waist.
One of them walked directly toward the police officers.
He showed identification.
The homeowner saw three letters clearly.
FBI.
The HOA president saw them too.
For the first time all afternoon, she said nothing.
The federal agent spoke quietly with the local officers.
Then he looked toward the trench.
Another agent joined him.
A third remained near the vehicles.
The HOA president took one step backward.
The homeowner stayed where he was.
The lead agent approached.
"Who owns the property?"
The homeowner raised his hand.
"I do."
"Did you authorize excavation?"
"No."
"Who did?"
The homeowner pointed toward the HOA president.
"She brought the contractor."
The agent looked at her.
"Ma'am?"
She straightened.
"I represent the homeowners association."
"That was not my question."
The local officer looked down for a moment.
The wording was almost identical to what he had asked earlier.
The HOA president answered more carefully.
"I authorized corrective work on behalf of the association."
"Did you have permission from the owner?"
She glanced toward the homeowner.
"We have authority under community covenants."
The agent waited.
"No," she finally said.
"Did you have a court order?"
"No."
"Did you contact the utility locator before excavation?"
She hesitated.
"The area had previously been marked."
"Did you request a new locate?"
"No."
"Did anyone warn you that underground fiber was present?"
Silence.
The excavator operator raised his hand.
"I did."
The older contractor spoke too.
"So did the homeowner."
The agent looked at the HOA president.
"Did you operate the excavator yourself?"
Her mouth opened.
Then closed.