“I like the house.”
“Then fight for the house.”
“I am.”
“No.”
Simone paused.
“You're building a case.”
Darnell laughed.
“That is how I fight.”
She became quiet.
“Just don't forget you live there while you're proving you deserve to.”
That sentence hurt.
Because it was true.
The Inspection
Bettina scheduled the property inspection for January 15.
Darnell's attorney responded immediately.
Cecily asked the association to identify the recorded covenant authorizing entry onto private portions of the property.
No answer came.
Instead, Bettina hired Terrence Boyle.
Terrence was a private property inspector who had previously worked for Greer Community Services.
He walked the sidewalk and public easement.
He photographed visible features.
Darnell watched from his porch.
Terrence never crossed onto the private property.
Later, the inspector called.
“Mr. Okafor?”
“Yes?”
“I was retained by the association president to document visible code concerns.”
“Understood.”
“I'm telling you because I found nothing obvious.”
Darnell paused.
“Will you put that in your report?”
“That's what reports are for.”
“Thank you.”
Terrence added:
“For the record, private compliance isn't the same thing as county code compliance.”
Darnell smiled faintly.
“I know.”