“The service request was prepaid.”
“By whom?”
He swallowed.
“Whitmore Community Services.”
Karen's face changed.
For the first time, I saw something other than anger in her expression.
Fear.
The Black Vehicles
We didn't have to wait long.
Two black government vehicles turned onto Cedar Grove Lane.
No lights.
No sirens.
They stopped directly outside my house.
Three people stepped out.
The woman approached first.
“Nathan.”
“Morning, Valerie.”
Valerie Shaw worked in security compliance for the federal contracting office overseeing our project.
Beside her was Special Agent Martin Keene.
The third man introduced himself as Investigator Paul Reese.
Martin looked at the open utility box.
Then at the disconnected cable.
“Who authorized this?”
The technician pointed toward Karen.
“I received a service order.”
Karen stepped forward.
“I was enforcing HOA rules.”
Martin looked at her.
“What HOA rule?”
“My security-camera regulation.”
He followed her finger toward the camera.
“That camera?”
“Yes.”
Martin looked at me.
I nodded.
He turned back toward Karen.
“That camera is part of an active investigation.”
Karen went completely silent.
She stared at the camera.
Then at me.
Then at the federal agents.
“What investigation?”