Ali stalked to the dining table and picked up her journal. Molly trailed behind her. "Ali, what are we going to do? I mean we're here for Micha, but beyond that?"
Ali's ears were back and flat as she sketched on a blank page. "First I want to place this guy," she showed Molly the sketch of the man recording with his phone. "He's familiar, but I'm having trouble putting a name to him."
"That's Ronnie, Julio's 'assistant'. I think you met him once when we joined Molly at last year's holiday party. Why…?"
"He filmed it on his phone." The words were flat, low, and clipped.
"Oh fuck…" Molly looked back down the hall. "Fuck…" The panic permeated her voice. Fear and concern for her sister coloured her voice.
"I'm going to the hardware store." The statement was flat, final.
Molly spun around. "What!" She consciously kept her voice low, but the shock was on her face.
"I am going to go to Julio's hardware store. I am going to confront Ronnie. I am going to make sure that recording goes nowhere." She ticked each point off on her fingers.
Molly finally registered Ali's body language. Ears back and tight to her skull, eyes narrowed, tails held stiff with bristling fur. She was angry, angrier that Molly had ever seen her. "Love, you—"
Ali quietly snapped. "I c'n hold a perception alterin' spell. People'll ignore me. 'Til they can't."
"Ok. But this isn't our job, it's—"
"The cops?" The word was almost snarled. "Have ’er actually repeat what happened. T' them, then the prosecutor, then in court. Uh-uh. Our sister is hurt and needs some immediate, serious justice. I'm goin' to do what I c'n. And right now, that's a lot."
Molly blinked, "It is now, isn't it? Ali, love, I get it… and I'm with you. But, I'm worried. For Micha. And for you." She stepped closer to her wife and gently touched her furry cheek and muzzle. "Keep yourself safe. Keep yourself, yourself."
Ali nodded and turned. As she slipped out the front door, Molly turned to the stove, breaking out the soup-making pot. "We're going to need this… chicken, I think." She started to get the ingredients ready.
—«—»—
As she slipped down the stairs, Ali's clothes flowed. A tighter dull green top, black leggings, mukluks. Utilitarian clothes suited for the situation. Under her breath she muttered, "感知过滤" (Spell: Filter Perception—Chinese).
