"Practically isn't legally."
Deputy Harris nodded.
"That's correct."
Karen looked at the deputies.
"So you're taking his side?"
"No," Deputy Harris said calmly. "We're following the evidence."
He turned to me.
"Do you have the original deed?"
"Yes."
"Survey?"
"Yes."
"Property tax records?"
"Yes."
"Pool installation invoice?"
"Yes."
He looked at Karen.
"Do you have any comparable documents?"
She said nothing.
Deputy Harris closed the folder.
"Then this appears to be a civil property dispute, and based on the documents we've seen, the pool is located on his property."
Karen's face turned red.
"But he drained it!"
"His pool."
"He destroyed my property!"
"Your claim hasn't been established."
Karen stared at him.
Then she pointed at me.
"You'll regret this."
Deputy Harris immediately warned her.
"Ma'am, don't threaten your neighbor."
Karen lowered her hand.
But she wasn't finished.
The Survey
The following Monday, I hired a licensed surveyor.
I wanted the issue settled permanently.
The surveyor arrived with equipment and spent several hours measuring the lot.
He checked the recorded boundary markers.
He compared them with county records.
He measured the fence.
Then he measured the pool.
By the end of the afternoon, he had the answer.
The pool wasn't on Karen's property.
Not even close.
The entire structure was on mine.
There was a narrow strip of land between the pool and Karen's property line.
The surveyor gave me a certified report.
I made several copies.
One went to the county.
One went to my attorney.
And one went to Karen.
I expected an apology.
Instead, she sent me a letter.
It accused me of "intentionally interfering with her property rights."