"Of course," Sato nodded, dejected. "Of course, yes, you're right.
She glanced around, unsettled, as if expecting the necessary evidence to materialize on the pavement. "I really don't know what--ah."
Inspiration lit her face. Quickly, Sato scrambled in her coat pocket, pulling out a cell phone and flipping it open. She thumbed the keypad, seeming rather bemused if hopeful, muttering "I, well, I don't know if this is enough exactly but..." before extending the phone to Dev.
They weren't, in all honestly, very good pictures. The phone itself was glaringly deluxe and superior but the operator of the camera had clearly been nothing of the sort. A snapshot of what was clearly someone's ear was testament to the fact. Indeed only five of the stored photos were feasible.
Alex staring at a kitten with the kitten staring back, the latter seeming a great deal less confused by the proceedings.
Alex, mouth caught open, eyes curious, head partly turned to the black haired woman--who looked significantly more composed and neat than her current flustered state--near him.
Alex tangled up in a multi-colored scarf, clearly loosing the fight.
Alex offering a piece of chicken to the kitten, chopsticks balanced precariously between his fingers.
Alex smiling, headphones clamped over his ears, eyes closed in near happiness.
"I'm not very good with pictures," Sato said apologetically. "But Alex, he seems to like them. The photos. I don't know if that proves what--well, what you need. But they're, that is the photos have dates. Right there in the corner, see?"
There was a, miraculously, a bench near them; Sato sat down heavily, an impressive effect for someone who looked to have sugarspun bones.
"It's the strangest thing," she murmured, lost. "He looks at them, the photos, as if surprised to see his own face. I-I haven't a notion what to think about it." Sighing, she looked back at Dev. "No, his father didn't contact me about Alex but--but about two months ago he, the father, I mean, came to see me. He was clearly distressed. And, you must understand, he's not the sort of personage inclined to panic or worry. He's rather, ah, well, established. Or experienced, I suppose is the better word. He's seen a lot because of his...work."
The woman's brows crumpled again, clearly torn about what she wasn't saying. She swallowed uncertainly. "I'd like to explain better, to explain everything, only...oh, my. There are certain...unusual...aspects to Alex's background. I wouldn't--oh, dear, I really don't want to disturb you. Because it's, well, the kind of thing that disturbs some people to learn. About the sort of...the type of...people...in his father's, er, family."