"Put it down."

She lifted it higher.

That's when Marcus looked at the timer.

"Twenty-four seconds."

And the rest became history.

The Board Turns

Karen stared at Elaine on the phone.

"You cannot vote without me."

"The bylaws require the president to recuse herself when the motion concerns her own conduct," Elaine replied.

"I was never notified."

"You were."

"I received nothing."

The association attorney lifted a document toward the camera.

"You signed for the certified letter yesterday at 10:14 a.m."

Karen's mouth tightened.

"I sign dozens of envelopes."

Marcus gave a faint smile.

"That has always been your defense."

Karen looked at the shattered Lamborghini.

"This vehicle is still in violation."

Elaine shook her head.

"Karen, your authority ended thirty seconds ago."

Karen dropped the hammer.

It struck the driveway with a heavy metallic crack.

Marcus kept the phone pointed toward her.

"You all saw her release the weapon."

"We did," Elaine replied.

Karen started walking toward the street.

Marcus stepped into her path without touching her.

"You need to stay."

"You don't control where I go."

"No."

Marcus looked toward the road.

"But the police do."

In the distance, sirens began to rise.

Karen's face changed.

"You called the police?"

"I called them after you entered my property with a sledgehammer."

"I was enforcing the rules!"

"You destroyed private property."

"You don't understand what that car represents."

Marcus looked at the broken windshield.

"Oh, I understand."