Patricia's cheeks flushed.

“You think you know everything because you used to work for the state.”

The room went silent.

Ethan had never told most of the residents that.

He looked at Linda.

She shook her head.

She hadn't said it.

Patricia continued.

“You've been investigating us from the beginning.”

“No.”

“You've been setting us up.”

“No.”

Daniel stared at Ethan.

“When were you going to tell us who you are?”

Ethan almost laughed.

“That I used to have a job?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, I don't.”

Patricia stepped toward him.

“You deliberately baited my husband.”

“I asked whether he was acting as a police officer while demanding my property.”

“You recorded him!”

“Yes.”

“That was a trap!”

“No.”

Ethan's voice remained calm.

“It was a question.”

He paused.

“If the truthful answer to a question creates a problem for you, the question wasn't the trap.”

Before anyone could respond, headlights appeared through the clubhouse windows.

One vehicle.

Then another.

Then another.

People turned toward the parking lot.

Three state vehicles.

Two county units.

One internal-affairs sedan.

Patricia's expression changed.

“What is this?”

Nobody answered.

The clubhouse doors opened.

A group of investigators entered.

The woman leading them held a folder.

“Patricia Voss?”

Patricia stared at her.

“Yes?”

“We're executing a search warrant for Pine Hollow Homeowners Association financial records, computers, storage media, and specified communications.”

The room erupted.

Patricia shook her head.

“This meeting is private.”

The investigator held up the warrant.

“Not the records listed here.”

Daniel stepped forward.

“I'm Sergeant Voss with—”

A man entered behind the investigators.

Captain Robert Ellis.

Daniel's commanding officer.

Daniel stopped speaking.

Ellis looked at him.

“Daniel.”

Silence.

“You've been placed on administrative leave effective immediately.”

Daniel's face went pale.

“Here?”

Ellis remained expressionless.

“Your department-issued weapon, credentials, and vehicle access will be collected pending internal review.”

Daniel looked around.

For months, his uniform had made him powerful in that room.

Now the room made his humiliation public.

Patricia pointed at Ethan.

“He did this!”

The lead investigator looked toward Ethan.

Then back at Patricia.

“This investigation is based on bank records, vendor records, HOA documents, witness statements, department logs, and financial subpoenas.”