Izzy sighed when Mikey crossed his arms. She supposed she should not have expected anything else, but it had been worth a try.
“Yeah?” she said at her name, and looked to Holden. She straightened as he spoke, considering his words. She had been thinking maybe it had to do just with the kid and his mother, but Holden made a good point.
When he gestured, she looked over to the bike rack just outside the trailhead of the park she and Holden had met at. Her attention returned to him when he stepped closer, her head cocking slightly when he whispered.
She looked at him curiously, then nodded. He had not exactly tried to hide that he did not care for children, but the direct request confirmed it.
“Good idea.” She placed her hands in her pockets to hide them from a chill autumn wind that blew through the street. “Lock’s combo is seventy-four thirty-two.”

Holden nodded gratefully, trotting off to Izzy's bike before riding it off in the rough direction of the abandoned school. Hopefully he remembered where it was well enough to find it again, as Izzy doubted it would come up on a GPS search. Meanwhile, Mikey had taken a seat on the bench where Izzy and Holden had been sitting and chatting just a few hours ago. He had taken his backpack off, setting it between his feet dangling off the bench. He looked content enough, head swiveling around to idly admire the scenery of the park. Perhaps now that it was just the two of them, Izzy could coax more answers out of this kid, and figure out what the deal was.

Izzy watched Holden until he disappeared around a corner. She sighed, hoping they could both get service when they needed it, between the school’s location and the effects of Mikey’s aberration. If worse came to worse, she would just have to wait for him to return.
She turned to find Mikey sitting on the bench further down the trail, and slowly went to join him. She sat down beside him, shivering slightly at the chill of the metal seeping through her pants. She watched him for a short moment before speaking.
“How long has this been going on for? You being ‘the lost calf.’ Do you remember anything weird happening that could have caused it?”