At the end of the minutes, there was a brief report from the treasurer, and a link to the quarterly financial statement. Like the nerd I was, my heart beat faster and I sat upright.
“Come to mama, you sexy spreadsheet,” I murmured as I clicked to download the Excel file.
It wasn’t a complicated spreadsheet. Just a few rows and columns, and for a moment, I was bummed at the paltry amount of data I could sift through. But as I stared at one figure in particular, awareness pricked at the back of my neck.
That couldn’t be right.
The number in the ‘fines collected’ column was too low. It was barely three digits for all of April through June, which had to be wrong. The Woodsons had racked up over three hundred in fees in June alone when their AC units didn’t match. Plus, there was no way Nina and Scott’s house was the only one in the entire subdivision—for three whole months—who’d been fined.
Was it a typo?
I dug back through the posts until I found the previous quarter’s statement, and when I saw the figure for collected fees, I tilted my head. I’d moved into the house in April, so I didn’t have firsthand knowledge, but this sum also felt low. There were forty-five houses in this subdivision, and since I’d read the entire rulebook, I now knew how expensive most of the fines were.
This figure accounted for one or two houses at most.
So, I went back farther, looking at the previous year, and discovered more of the same.
The HOA had gotten out of control over the last two years, Scott had said. Fining the homeowners for every little thing, and it had grown bad enough that some of the owners tried to recall the board.
But these figures didn’t reflect that.
It looked a hell of a lot like there was some creative accounting going on. Maybe a second set of books? I was so busy considering that, I almost ignored the voice in my head telling me to keep looking. My subconscious had recognized a pattern and wanted me to take note.
One of the line items was for legal services, and the numbers from each statement gradually increased in perfect increments. It meant the monthly retainer they were paying now was more than double what it’d been two years ago, and still seemed to be trending up. How did that make any sense?
The overall fund seemed low, and Scott’s gripe from two months ago echoed in my head. With all the ridiculous fines they collect, how do they not have enough money already?
I thumbed out a text to Scott.
Madison: Weird question for you. When the homeowners tried to recall Judy, did someone put together a list of fines the HOA had imposed?
Scott: Yeah.
Madison: Could you get me a copy?
Scott: I think so. Why?
Madison: I want to check something.
I had a hunch money was missing, but I wasn’t going to say anything until I had more data, or even better . . .
Proof.
The union was one of the only places open for lunch during the summer semester, and Jenn sat across from me as we ate. Every so often, the conversation would lapse, and her skeptical gaze would drift over to Colin, who sat beside me. She was still trying to come to terms with him being my boyfriend, which I understood.
Four months ago, if you’d told me I’d be here, I never would have believed it. He wasn’t known for being with the same girl twice, and after the tournament he was one of the last people I would want to date.
Of course, I wouldn’t have believed I’d be a growing adult film star either.
She dipped her carrot in her hummus and was about to take a bite when she abruptly froze. Her eyes widened and she melted down into her seat, clearly trying not to be seen.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
She was halfway under the table. “I had too many White Claws at a house party a few weeks ago, and in a moment of weakness, I went home with that guy. It was supposed to be a ‘one night only’ engagement, but he’s been blowing up my phone ever since.” Her tone was dry. “This is what I get for being so good at sex.”
Colin nodded in understanding. “It’s a curse.”
I pressed my lips together to hold in my laugh. “Who is it?”
“The Pike.” She subtly pointed him out.
I nonchalantly glanced over my shoulder to take a look. There were several guys in the area she’d pointed to, but only one who I recognized from Pi Kappa Alpha. He was kind of cute.
But Colin’s tone turned serious. “You mean Parker?”
I turned back around and exchanged a knowing look with my boyfriend. This was the guy he’d seen leaving Judy’s house.
“Don’t judge me.” She was almost completely under the table now. “It was the White Claws, and sometimes I like my guys big and stupid.”