"Did the full board approve it?"
"No."
William looked confused. "How was a deposit that large sent without board approval?"
Charles turned the laptop. "Phase Three had an acquisition reserve."
"Approved for how much?"
"Two million."
I stared at him. "The residents approved two million?"
"No, the board."
"Not exactly."
"What does 'not exactly' mean?"
Charles rubbed his forehead. "The board approved a financing framework. Linda and Steven treated it as authority to fund acquisition steps."
Rachel leaned forward. "Did the minutes authorize a specific purchase?"
"No."
"A specific seller?"
"No."
"A specific parcel?"
"No."
"Then someone stretched the approval very far."
Charles looked sick. Then he showed us internal emails:
*Steven Cole to Linda: Board wants proof owner is serious before next funding vote.*
*Linda: Deposit will establish momentum. Use Blue Ridge to hold funds until seller closes.*
*Steven: Treasurer may ask why funds aren't going to title company.*
*Linda: Tell him acquisition structure requires intermediary.*
Rachel looked at me. "Intermediary."
I knew what that meant now: her husband's company sitting between HOA money and a ranch owner who had never agreed to sell.
Then another email:
*Steven: Daniel rejected 6.8 verbally.*
*Linda: He rejected direct terms. Blue Ridge has flexibility.*
I stared at the screen. "Rejected direct terms?"
Charles looked at me. "You did reject 6.8?"
"Yes, personally. Linda called me, I said no. So how did that become flexibility?"
"It didn't."
Rachel continued reading:
*Linda to Steven: Do not mark file declined. Seller resistance expected until control area is established.*
There it was: *seller resistance expected*. My "no" had not been recorded as an answer; it had been recorded as a stage, something to overcome.
Charles scrolled farther. Another message:
*Bank needs visible control before funding. Greenbelt maintenance must look continuous.*