Short, direct, exactly like his brother. He typed back: Understood.
He stepped to the window, drawing the curtain aside. The HOA grounds were bathed in the early blue-gray of dawn: sprinklers danced across the lawns, maintenance lights flickered on along the walkways. The world woke the same way it always did here: clean, polished, predictable. But today, the truth was woven through its foundations, waiting for the right amount of pressure.
He unlocked the door and stepped into the hallway, grabbing his maintenance toolkit. Being seen working early would help keep Vivian's guard down. She expected him to stay in his place; let her expect it. Underestimation was always his greatest ally.
He walked the long path toward the clubhouse, pausing occasionally to adjust sprinklers, check a flickering lamp, or tighten a loose bolt. Residents began emerging from their units in slippers and robes, heading toward morning walks or early commutes. Some glanced at him with tentative interest—something between curiosity and guilt. The shift was subtle, but real: people who hadn't met his eyes yesterday now looked at him with quiet hesitation, as if they sensed something moving beneath the surface.
At the clubhouse entrance, he heard footsteps behind him. "Ethan?"
He turned slightly. It was Mr. Boone, hands shoved nervously into his jacket pockets. The man glanced around before speaking. "There were conversations last night. People are starting to ask what Vivian really did."
He waited.
Boone swallowed. "After you spoke at the meeting, something felt wrong. And when the power went out earlier, people panicked. They're blaming her. They're saying she's slipping."
He nodded once. "She is."
Boone exhaled shakily. "If you need someone to speak on your behalf, I can."
"Not yet," he replied. "Wait."
Boone blinked. "Wait for what?"
"For the truth to land where it needs to."
Boone didn't fully understand, but he nodded and stepped back, relieved to have done something, even if it was small.
Ethan turned and unlocked the clubhouse maintenance door with steady hands. Inside, the building hummed faintly. The security room remained sealed, federal lock engaged after last night's discovery. He moved past it, checking switches and control panels, ensuring nothing would raise suspicion. The day needed to appear normal, even as pressure built inch by inch.