Then he opened a folder on his laptop.
HOA.
Inside were fourteen letters.
The first was dated eight months earlier.
WELCOME TO CEDAR HILLS ESTATES.
The second informed him that homeowners must keep landscaping consistent with community standards.
He had responded by certified mail.
MY PROPERTY IS NOT SUBJECT TO CEDAR HILLS HOA COVENANTS.
The third letter claimed otherwise.
He sent a copy of the deed.
Then came another.
And another.
Eventually, he stopped responding.
Now he read them differently.
Not as annoying mistakes.
Pressure.
At 8:12 that evening, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
A man's voice.
"Is this the homeowner on Brookhaven Court?"
"Who's asking?"
"My name is Daniel."
Pause.
"I used to live two houses from you."
The homeowner sat up.
"How did you get my number?"
"The neighbor who recorded today."
He immediately became cautious.
"What do you want?"
"I heard what happened."
"So?"
The man exhaled.
"The HOA did the same thing to me."
The homeowner went still.
"What do you mean?"
"Not the pool."
"Everything else."
The homeowner looked toward the folder.
"Notices?"
"Constant."
"Fines?"
"Yes."
"Threats?"
"Eventually."
The man continued.
"They wanted an easement through my side yard."
"For what?"
"Drainage."
"Did they have one?"
"No."
The homeowner leaned back.
"What happened?"
"I sold."
Silence.
"I couldn't take it anymore."
The homeowner looked toward his backyard window.
The pool reflected moonlight.
The caller continued.
"They kept sending violations."
"Some were fake."
"Some were technically real but selectively enforced."
"They complained to the city."
"They contacted my insurance."
"They even accused my dog of attacking someone."
"Did it?"
"No."
The homeowner closed his eyes.
"Who was board president?"
A pause.
"The woman who climbed your fence today."
That settled it.
The next morning, the homeowner called the attorney from the business card.
The attorney already knew the HOA president's name.
That was not comforting.
"How much documentation do you have?"
"Months."
"Security footage?"
"Everything."
"Witness?"
"Several."
"Police report?"
"Pending."
The attorney paused.
"You may have more than a trespass issue."
"I figured."