Chapter 4: The Complaint She Filed
The letter arrived four days later.
It came in an official-looking envelope from the city's Neighborhood Code Compliance office.
I stood at my mailbox and read it twice before I went inside.
A complaint had been filed against my property.
The allegation: an illegally installed electrical meter and an exterior-mounted surveillance device in potential violation of residential privacy ordinances.
I sat down at the kitchen table with the letter in front of me.
Monica had actually done it.
I called the number on the letter that afternoon.
The officer I spoke to was polite and methodical.
He explained that a neighbor had filed a formal complaint and that an inspector would need to come out and assess the installation.
"Is the meter permitted?" he asked.
"I had a licensed electrician install it," I said.
"I have the receipt and his license number."
"And the camera?"
"It's mounted on my garage wall.
It faces my driveway and the outlet on my property.
It does not point at any neighboring window or interior space."
A pause.
"That should be straightforward, then.
We'll send someone out Thursday."
I thanked him and hung up.
Then I called my electrician, Ron, who had done work on my house for fifteen years.
I explained the situation.
"She filed a complaint?" he said.
"She did."
"I pulled the permit for that installation myself," he said.
"Everything is documented.
You want me to come Thursday?"
"Please," I said.
Thursday came.
The inspector — a young man named Curtis with a clipboard and a measuring tape — spent twenty minutes examining the meter, the camera mount, and the outlet.
Ron stood beside him and answered every technical question without hesitation.
Curtis made notes.
He measured the camera angle.
He checked the permit paperwork.
Then he looked up at me.
"Everything here is compliant," he said.
"The meter is permitted and correctly installed.
The camera is within your property boundary and does not capture any protected private space." He made a final note.
"I'll close this out as unfounded."
"Thank you," I said.
He was packing up his clipboard when Monica came out of her front door and walked across the driveway.
"Well?" she said to Curtis.
"What did you find?"
Curtis looked at her evenly.
"The installation is fully compliant.
The complaint has been closed."
Monica's eyes went to me.
"There must be something.
The camera alone—"
"Is within her property boundary and within legal guidelines," Curtis said.
He was not unkind, but he was final.
"Ma'am, I'd encourage you to review the city ordinance before filing future complaints.
Unfounded filings are noted on the record."
Monica's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Curtis nodded to me and walked back to his truck.
I turned to go inside.
"This isn't over," Monica said behind me.
I stopped.
I turned around slowly.
"Monica," I said, "I have a permitted meter, a compliant camera, and a check from your husband for ninety-four dollars.
What exactly are you planning to do next?"
Her chin came up.
"I have friends on the HOA board."
I looked at her for a moment.
"So do I," I said.
I went inside and closed the door.
I poured myself a glass of water and stood at the kitchen window.
I could see her still standing in the driveway, arms crossed, staring at my house.
My phone buzzed on the counter.
A text from Pat next door.
*I saw the whole thing.
Curtis told her off.
You okay?*
I typed back: *Fine.
Thank you.*
Another buzz.
*She's been telling people on the street that you installed the camera to spy on her kids.*
I set the phone down on the counter.
May you like
I picked it up again.
*She said what?*
