The HOA President swallowed.
The Homeowner raised the phone.
“And the cameras recorded everything.”
That was when she ran.
Not far.
She reached the gate.
Tried the handle.
Locked.
In her panic, she had forgotten she had relocked it after entering.
The Homeowner did not approach.
“Use your copied key.”
She glared.
Then fumbled with her handbag.
Before she could find it, sirens sounded from the street.
The HOA President froze.
The Homeowner had triggered his monitored security alarm when he stepped outside.
The system categorized the event as unauthorized entry because the rear gate had been opened with an unregistered key sequence.
The security company called.
He had confirmed an intruder was present.
Police were already coming.
The first cruiser stopped in front of the house.
Then another.
The HOA President stared toward the fence.
“You called police before you even talked to me?”
The Homeowner looked at her.
“You entered before talking to me.”
Red-and-blue light flashed across the side of the house.
The HOA President finally found the key.
She unlocked the gate.
An officer was already standing on the other side.
“Ma’am, stay where you are.”
She stopped.
The Homeowner remained several yards away.
The python disappeared back into the enclosure.
The officer opened the gate.
Another officer entered.
“What happened?”
The HOA President answered immediately.
“I’m the HOA President.”
The officer looked at her.
“That wasn’t my question.”
The Homeowner almost laughed.
He did not.
He explained.
Unauthorized entry.
Copied key.
Unknown substance placed in an animal area.
Security footage.
The officers separated them.
One remained with the HOA President.
The other followed the Homeowner toward the porch monitor.
The Homeowner played the video.
The officer watched without comment.
Gate.
Key.
Patio.
Handbag.
Bait.
Bowl.
Then the confrontation.
The officer looked toward the enclosure.
“That’s the animal?”
“Yes.”
“Secure?”
“Yes.”
“Can it access us?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Animal control was called.
So was a county officer trained in exotic-animal incidents.