Ali
"Hello, Sheriff," Ali said, answering her phone with the fake sweetness that used to make Cottonmouth's eye twitch when she was sixteen.
"Alison."Cottonmouth’s voice carried that familiar mix of authority and condescension."I just received a very interesting report about some photographer causing a disturbance at Moonbeam's Truck Stop."
Of course he did.Cottonmouth had informants everywhere, especially in supernatural communities he considered "problematic."Ali caught Tim's questioning look and mouthed 'speaker phone' before switching the call.
"Just doing my job," she said."Documenting hardworking truckers going about their business."
"Is that what you call it?"Cottonmouth's laugh held no humor."Because from what I hear, you've gotten yourself mixed up with Timothy McGraw and his little medical supply operation."
Tim's knuckles went white on the steering wheel at the mention of his real name, and Ali could practically feel the tension radiating from him.His scent spiked and it made her think of territorial animals preparing for a fight.
"Medical supply operation?"Ali kept her voice light despite the way her heart was hammering."That's interesting.What makes you think legitimate medical deliveries are suspicious?"
"Alison, you have no idea what you've stumbled into."Cottonmouth's tone turned paternal, which was somehow worse than when he was being openly hostile."These people are criminals.They're using you to legitimize their operation."
"Which people, exactly?"Ali glanced at Tim, whose jaw was clenched so tight she was surprised his teeth didn't crack."The yeti running a legal medical supply business?The sasquatch with a perfect driving record?Or are you talking about supernatural communities in general?"
The silence stretched long enough that Ali wondered if the call had dropped.When Cottonmouth spoke again, his voice had dropped to the dangerous register she remembered from childhood.
"Where are you?"
"Working," Ali replied."Like I said."
"Alison, I'm going to ask you one more time.Where are you?"
Tim reached over and ended the call, his expression grim."That was a mistake."
"Was it?"Ali stared at her phone as it immediately started ringing again."Because now we know he's been watching the supernatural trucking network, and he's specifically targeting medical supplies."
"We also just told him you're with me and you're not leaving."Tim ignored the ringing phone and focused on the road ahead."He's going to escalate."
As if summoned by his words, Ali's phone buzzed with a text message:Come home now, and we can forget this happened.Stay with him, and you'll both regret it.
"Well," Ali said, showing Tim the message, "that's not ominous at all."
"Your stepfather doesn't make idle threats, does he?"
"Never."Ali turned off her phone completely."Which means he's probably already calling in backup.Cottonmouth doesn't like to get his hands dirty when he can get other people to do it for him."
Tim was quiet for a moment, his hands steady on the wheel despite the tension in his shoulders."There's something you should know about this delivery."
"What?"
"It's not just medical supplies for one community.We're the lead truck in a convoy."Tim checked his mirrors before continuing."Luna's pack is hauling related medications to three other communities.Snowman has specialized equipment heading to a supernatural medical clinic in Colorado.When word gets out that Cottonmouth's actively hunting us..."
"The whole network will respond," Ali finished."How many trucks are we talking about?"
"Could be twenty, maybe thirty by the time we hit the state line.Every supernatural trucker within two hundred miles who's tired of watching communities suffer."
Ali stared out the windshield, trying to process the implications.This wasn't just about one medical delivery anymore.This was about to become a rolling symbol of resistance against systematic discrimination.
Scrolling through her camera, she selected more pictures to upload.Ali touched each photo before uploading, weaving a subtle truth-revealing charm into the images.Anyone who looked would see not just trucks, but the desperation of the communities waiting for supplies, the integrity of the drivers.Magic that made people FEEL the story, not just see it.
"Your stepfather's going to see this as a direct challenge to his authority," Tim said."He won't let it slide."
"Good," Ali said, surprising herself with the vehemence in her voice."I'm tired of his authority going unchallenged."
