Layla and I waited on a bench outside the building, my ears and nose trained on his every movement while my eyes scanned the campus.

"Stop fidgeting," I told her again. "It's harder to hear him when you fidget."

"…are you sure it'll work this time?" Layla asked, glancing around at the sound of an animal scampering away from us. "I mean…if he was the one that was supposed to scrub all photos of me before…"

"I intend to ask about that," I told her. "But Rod is one of the best in this field. And out of the best, he is the one I trust the most."

"I thought you said you hated him."

"I said I trust him as far as I can throw him."

Layla gave me a look and I spared her a glance. "I can throw very far."

She let out a small nervous laugh at that and relaxed a little. Good. Relaxed was good. But not all the way was better, the kid still alert enough to be aware of her surroundings. She was learning.

The door swung open and Rod emerged, flicking something off the edge of the front of his coat. He stopped mid-step with a foot still in the air as he caught sight of us. "Oh," he grumbled. "You two again."

"You thought I would simply leave and let you run off without a fight?" I stood, Layla standing with me. "You owe me an explanation, Rod."

He frowned. Glanced at the door to the college before looking back at me. "I thought you said you wanted a deal."

"I wanted to skip the preamble and your attempts to fuck with me."

He held up a hand. "First. I would never attempt to fuck with you. I've seen those teeth in action and ouch. Also I don't swing that way. Second, do you actually want a deal or not?"

I took a breath and let it out. "I need to talk with you. But not here."

He tilted his head and glanced me up and down. "Oh, right. Scene of the crime, ain't it." He gestured with his head. "It's a good night. Want to just walk?"

I judged tone and body language for a moment before nodding. "Fine." I motioned for Layla to follow and we started off down the sidewalk.

"I came to you for help scrubbing her presence off the digital plane," I told him. "You assured me it was solid. But then we were hunted down and they showed me a picture of Layla. They were using it to try and identify her." I shot him a look. "You promised you would get them off my back."

He hummed. "Did I? How interesting."

"You will fix it."

"Did they get this photo off the cloud or was it local on the phone?"

"I recognized the location and the angle as a picture that was taken right before I killed the one photographing her and smashed the phone."

"Okay. Well. Smashing the phone doesn't stop the data from being transferred, especially if the photo was already linked to a digital library. If it was only local on the phone you've got a chance, but most are tied up to some kind of backup. And if you've smashed the phone and they still had the photo…" He mused for a moment more, rubbing at his chin. "I should have been able to nab it before it went anywhere. I'll have to hunt down the program I undoubtedly wrote to corrupt the images. It'll take me a moment. And access to a computer."

"You have a computer in your pocket, do you not?"

"I'm not checking it from my phone," he snorted. "Plus it might not be there. You know how it is."

I grunted. "Unfortunately."

"Speaking of. Why did you come to me about this?"

"As I said. You were closer."

"That's not usually a concern for you, though." He tilted his head. "In a hurry, are we?"

"You could say that."

He paused. Glanced back at Layla before looking back at me. "…you're not sure you shook your tail."

"They found me. They found me and I did not see it in time to escape." I stared ahead. "And now they have proof I am Onishiki."

He groaned. "Oh come on Kashi. You didn't bite them, did you?"

I snorted out a growl. "I am not careless, you stupid imp. They saw me unmask. It was either that or fight."

"Could have fought them."

"I would be seeking you out anyway to deal with the murder investigation. And it would bring more trouble on my head."

He sighed. "True. Keepers would be on your tail too."

"They already are."

"So ditch the kid and do what you do best."

"I cannot."

He shot me a look. "Really?"

"Yes, and I am unwilling to get into this with you again. Do not ask further."

He looked straight ahead and gave a small nod. "Alright fine. Have your secrets." He paused. "Still need a computer though."

"Do they not have computers here?"

He let out a laugh. "I mean sure. But I'd prefer not to use college Wi-Fi." He took his hat off and spun it in his hands. "Got a better idea in mind. Care for a little relocation? Could help get the stalking elkish off your trail."

I sighed. Glanced back at Layla, who looked little more than confused. Then back at Rod.

"Fine. But if this is an excuse to lose me know that I will specifically track you down and kill you."

He nodded. "Noted. Hold tight."

"To what?" Layla asked.

"Yourselves."

Layla glanced at me, confused, but slowly raised her arms and hugged herself. I let out a sigh and glared at Rod. "Don't confuse her. Layla, put your arms down."

Rod let out a laugh, spinning his top-hat once again.