Richard's pleasant expression disappeared.
“You think this is about your little shelter?”
“No,” Daniel said. “I think it's about the questions nobody has answered.”
For a second, Richard said nothing.
Then he looked past Daniel into the hallway, as though expecting to see Sophie.
“Your daughter is getting older,” he said. “You should consider what it means to drag a child through a dispute like this.”
Daniel felt anger rise in his chest, but he kept his voice level.
“Do not bring my daughter into this conversation.”
“I'm simply suggesting that you think about your priorities.”
“My priorities are none of your business. Send your documents to my attorney.”
Richard stepped back.
“Fine. But don't pretend you weren't warned.”
He turned and walked down the steps.
Daniel closed the door and immediately sent Laura a written account of the conversation. He included Richard's exact words as closely as he could remember them, without adding interpretations.
A few minutes later, Laura called.
“Did he enter the property?”
“No.”
“Did he threaten physical harm?”
“No. He suggested I could face legal consequences and made comments about Sophie.”
“Put the exact wording in your notes. We will preserve it, but we shouldn't characterize it beyond what he actually said.”
“Understood.”
“Now, I have spoken to the county. They have not issued an inspection order and cannot confirm any county crew scheduled to attend today. They are contacting public works to determine whether a private survey has been authorized under an existing agreement or permit.”
“So the surveyors may be acting on Westbridge's instructions.”
“That appears possible, but we don't yet know the full scope of their work. They may be conducting measurements from a public right-of-way. That is different from entering private land or opening an access cover.”
Daniel watched the men near the road.
“What should I do?”
“Nothing unless they attempt to cross your boundary. Continue documenting from a lawful location. If they ask for permission, you can decline until you've reviewed the documents. If they claim a legal right of access, ask them to provide the basis in writing and direct them to me.”
“Richard is standing over there telling them what to do.”
“His presence does not establish what authority they have. Nor does it prove they lack authority. We need the documents.”
At 9:30, the survey crew packed up the tripod and moved farther along the service road. They stopped near Thomas Reed's retaining wall, where a strip of vegetation concealed the metal cover marked AP-3.
Daniel watched as the surveyor took several measurements and photographed the ground. No one touched the cover.
Then the man with the tablet appeared to receive a call.
He listened, glanced toward Richard, and shook his head.
Richard approached him again.
The conversation lasted less than a minute. When it ended, the surveyor folded his plans and began loading the equipment into the vehicle.
Daniel could not hear what was said.
He could only see that the crew was leaving without opening any of the access points.
At 9:47, the white utility vehicle pulled away. The surveying company's vehicle followed. Richard remained by the roadside, staring toward the eastern corridor.
He took out his phone and made a call.
For several minutes, he paced beside the SUV. Then he climbed into the driver's seat and drove away.
Daniel did not feel triumphant.
The survey had not happened, at least not in the way he had feared. But no one had explained what the crew intended to do, who had authorized the work, or why Richard had appeared to expect access near the shelter.
The unanswered questions remained.
At 10:12, Thomas Reed called.
“They came to my wall,” he said. “They measured the ground and took pictures. One of them asked if I knew whether the metal cover was part of the old drainage system.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him I'd found it there and that I wasn't qualified to identify it. Then I asked if they had a permit to open it.”
“And?”
“He said they weren't opening anything today.”
Daniel looked through the window toward the service road.
“Did they show you any documents?”
“No. I asked for a copy of their work order, and the man said he didn't have authority to give me one.”
“Did you let them onto your property?”
“No. They stayed outside the retaining wall. I told them they could photograph the ground from the road, but I wasn't granting access to the yard.”
“Good. Did Richard say anything?”
“He told me the association was coordinating a routine inspection. I asked him to identify the company responsible for the work. He didn't answer.”