She was descending fast.
Her foot slipped once.
She caught herself.
Then she heard the door.
She looked down.
Saw him.
Everything in her face stopped.
The homeowner stood in navy pajamas, phone raised.
Water ran across the lawn behind him.
Pieces of the tank support lay scattered near the patio.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then the HOA President whispered:
“You weren’t supposed to be home.”
The homeowner’s eyes narrowed.
That sentence mattered.
He knew it instantly.
He repeated:
“I wasn’t supposed to be home?”
Her face changed.
“I meant…”
He kept recording.
“You meant what?”
She climbed down another rung.
“I thought you were traveling.”
“How?”
“You told the board.”
“I told the HOA I would be unavailable for an inspection Friday.”
She swallowed.
“That’s what I meant.”
“No.”
His voice was calm now.
Dangerously calm.
“You said I wasn’t supposed to be home.”
The investigator stepped into view behind the glass door.
The HOA President saw him.
Her hands froze around the ladder.
The homeowner watched the recognition move through her face.
Not surprise at seeing a stranger.
Recognition.
The investigator noticed too.
He opened the door but remained inside the covered area.
“Good morning.”
The HOA President’s face lost color.
“What are you doing here?”
The investigator answered:
“I could ask you the same question.”
She looked from him to the homeowner.
Then toward the destroyed tank.
Her breathing became shallow.
The homeowner said:
“You know him.”
“No.”
“You just asked what he was doing here.”
“I've seen him.”
“Where?”
She did not answer.
The investigator stepped closer.
“Mrs. President, I’m going to suggest you stop talking until local police arrive.”
That frightened her more.
“Police?”
The homeowner looked toward the driveway.
Faint sirens were approaching.
The HOA President started climbing down more quickly.
“Stay where you are,” the investigator said.
“You have no authority over me.”
“Correct.”
He remained perfectly calm.
“But climbing off a wet ladder beside a damaged roof structure is a terrible idea.”
She stopped again.
The homeowner lifted his phone slightly.
“I have a question.”
She stared down.
“Who did you think would be standing beneath that tank?”
Her expression changed.
“There was no one.”