My father’s car might still exist. But I was careless. I underestimated what unchecked power does to people. That mistake doesn’t excuse what Christine did, but it taught me how predators like her operate. They count on people being too busy to read the fine print, too authority, too convinced that systems have reasonable limits.

Christine had been doing this for 18 years because people like me made it easy. We assumed the rules protected us. We didn’t realize that protection only works when someone enforces it. I showed Jason the insurance documentation, $1.8 million in coverage, updated annually, $340,000 in restoration receipts, photographs of every stage of the work, including my father 2 months before he died, leaning into the engine compartment with a wrench in his hand, video of the car running, shot 3 weeks before Christine had it destroyed, and comparable auction records.

Three similar Shelbys have been sold in the past 18 months, $1.8 million, $2.3 million, $2.4 million. The appraisal wasn’t inflated. If anything, Mason Torres had been conservative. Jason collected everything into a folder. He would assign the case to someone outside our unit, a detective with no connection to me, independent interviews with Pamela and David, subpoenas for Gerald’s business records, and HOA financial statements.

Every detail verified from the ground up. When charges were filed, there would be nothing for defense attorneys to exploit. No procedural shortcuts, no conflicts of interest, no gaps. One more thing, I said as Jason prepared to leave. The HOA meeting next month. I want to be there when this ends.

Jason paused. That’s complicated. If you’re present during an arrest, it creates questions. I had anticipated this objection. Not during the arrest before. I want to ask Christine questions on the record in front of the community. Let her answer. Let everyone hear what she says when she still thinks she’s untouchable. Then you make the arrest.

Jason considered this for a moment. If the investigation supports it, if the warrants are ready, if the prosecutor signs off. Three conditions, three variables I couldn’t control. Understood, I said. But if it’s possible, that’s how I want it to happen. Jason nodded slowly. I’ll see what I can do. No promises.

He stood and tucked the folder under his arm. Terry, you know this might not go the way you want. Juries are unpredictable. Defense attorneys will make her look like a dedicated community servant who made a mistake. They’ll make you look like a cop with a grudge. I knew I had seen it happen before.

Good cases that fell apart because one juror decided the defendant seemed nice. Slam dunk prosecutions that ended in a quiddle because the defense found one procedural flaw to exploit. Nothing was guaranteed. But I had spent 10 years restoring a car with my father. I had learned that the only way to do something right is to do every step, not just the ones that seem important.