Two hours later, my phone rang.
It was Brenda.
I answered.
"Hello?"
"You did that deliberately."
I knew exactly what she meant.
"The trash can?"
"The concrete."
"It's on my property."
"You knew I was going to hit it."
"I didn't know you were going to hit it."
"You set a trap."
"No."
"Yes, you did."
I stayed quiet.
She breathed heavily.
Then she said:
"You're going to regret this."
I didn't respond.
She hung up.
I immediately forwarded the recording to Rachel.
Her reply came fifteen minutes later.
"Do not respond to Brenda. Save the voicemail."
I did.
That afternoon, Brenda's insurance company called.
A claims adjuster asked whether I knew how the concrete structure had been installed.
I said yes.
He asked whether I had intentionally placed it in a location where vehicles could collide with it.
"No."
He asked whether I had known Brenda was likely to strike it.
"I knew she had repeatedly struck my previous trash containers."
There was silence.
Then he asked:
"How many times?"
"Fifty-seven."
Another silence.
"I'll call you back."
He never did.
Instead, Rachel received a letter.
The insurance company was disputing Brenda's claim.
Apparently, their own investigation had reviewed the video.
The adjuster had concluded that the collision appeared consistent with Brenda turning directly toward the structure rather than accidentally drifting into it.
The insurance company wasn't going to cover damage resulting from intentional conduct.
Brenda was furious.
And now she had a bigger problem.
The HOA board had a conflict-of-interest issue.
Rachel sent a formal demand for records.
All financial records related to fines against me.
All meeting minutes concerning my property.
All communications concerning my complaints.
All communications between Brenda and the HOA's management company concerning me.
All records of prior complaints about board members.
The board had thirty days.
Brenda tried to fight it.
But Linda Harper didn't.
Linda called me privately.
"Marcus?"
"Yes?"
"I need to tell you something."
"What?"
"I don't agree with Brenda."
I said nothing.
Linda continued.
"I never did."
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
"Because you don't understand what it's like."
"What?"
"Brenda."
I waited.
"She makes everything personal."
"She's made everything personal with me."