“Sorry.”
The homeowner shook his head.
“It just keeps getting better.”
The Officer returned his attention to the HOA President.
“Did you see him remove mail from someone else’s box?”
She hesitated.
“I saw him at the mailbox.”
“Which mailbox?”
She pointed.
“His.”
Silence.
The Officer stared.
The HOA President heard how it sounded.
She tried again.
“But I believe some of those letters aren't his.”
“Based on what?”
“They look unusual.”
The Officer looked at the thick laboratory envelope.
Then at her.
“Unusual mail isn't stolen mail.”
The HOA President became defensive.
“I've been on the board for years.”
The Officer nodded politely.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
The Black Homeowner watched.
For the first time, the President seemed uncertain.
She looked toward the open document.
“This one isn’t normal.”
The Officer stepped closer.
“Did you open it?”
The homeowner answered.
“Yes.”
The President turned.
“It fell open.”
“No.”
The homeowner’s voice hardened.
“You pulled it out.”
The Officer looked at the body camera.
Then at both.
“Let's slow down.”
He reached toward the document.
“May I?”
The President hesitated.
Then handed it over.
The Officer glanced at the header.
His expression changed.
DNA PARENTAGE ANALYSIS.
The Officer looked toward the homeowner.
“Sir, this is yours?”
“Yes.”
“Private medical or genealogical record?”
“Genetic relationship report.”
The Officer nodded.
He began folding it closed.
Then stopped.
His eyes caught the first line of the result section.
He read silently.
Then looked toward the HOA President.
His expression changed again.
More serious.
Confused.
He looked back down.
The homeowner noticed.
“What?”
The Officer did not answer immediately.
The HOA President looked irritated.
“What does it say?”
The Officer looked at her.
Then at the homeowner.
Then back at the page.
“Ma’am.”
“What?”
“Read the first line.”
The HOA President frowned.
“I don't need to.”
“I think you do.”
The homeowner’s pulse quickened.
The Officer handed the paper back.
The President took it reluctantly.
Her eyes moved down the page.
The first line beneath the laboratory result stated:
The tested sample attributed to the deceased male subject is biologically consistent with paternity of both comparison individuals.