Chapter 1: The Outlet
“Don’t touch that!”
Karen Whitmore yanked the extension cord against her chest just as Daniel Reed, the property manager, reached for the plug.
The red windbreaker stretched across her broad shoulders as she planted herself between him and the clubhouse wall. Behind her, a portable heater hummed beside a phone charger, a small cooking appliance, and several other devices connected through a maze of power strips.
“I pay HOA fees,” Karen snapped. “So this electricity is mine too.”
Daniel stared at the overloaded outlet.
“Your HOA fees do not give you permission to take electricity from the clubhouse.”
Karen scoffed and tightened her grip on the cable.
“I live here. I pay to maintain this place. You people waste more electricity than I ever could.”
Daniel pointed toward the electrical meter.
“Then explain why the clubhouse bill has nearly tripled.”
For the first time, Karen stopped talking.
A gust of evening air moved through the landscaped courtyard. Somewhere behind the clubhouse, a sprinkler clicked on.
Daniel held up the latest utility statement.
The numbers were difficult to argue with.
Karen recovered quickly.
“You’re exaggerating.”
“I checked the meter myself.”
“That doesn’t prove anything.”
“It proves somebody is drawing a lot more power than usual.”
Karen reached for the paper.
Daniel pulled it away.
Then Margaret Ellis, a seventy-year-old resident who had been walking toward the clubhouse, appeared at the edge of the walkway.
She looked from Karen to the bundle of cords.
“I knew something was wrong,” Margaret said quietly. “My water aerobics room has been freezing every Tuesday and Thursday.”
Karen turned sharply.
“Mind your business, Margaret.”
Margaret didn’t answer.
Daniel stepped toward the electrical panel beside the clubhouse door.
Karen moved with him.
“What are you doing?”
“Shutting down the unauthorized connection.”
Karen blocked his path.
“You touch my things, and I’m calling the board.”
Daniel looked past her toward the clubhouse window.
One thick extension cable disappeared through the partially opened window.
His expression changed.
He had assumed everything was outside.
Apparently, it wasn’t.
Daniel pulled open the electrical cabinet.
Inside, several breakers were labeled for different clubhouse areas.
He followed the cable with his eyes.
Then he noticed something that made him stop.
The cord entering the window wasn’t connected to the outlet outside.
It ran toward a different circuit.
Daniel slowly looked back at Karen.
“What exactly is plugged in inside that building?”
Karen said nothing.
And for the first time that evening, she didn’t look angry.
She looked worried.
