"Doubtful," Philip responds. "In a population of this size composed of randomly assigned people, networked organically through social structures of convenience, it's highly unlikely that a chance meeting of any two otherwise unrelated parties would share a common link between them, particularly considering the theory of pertinent of association posited by--"

I shut him up with one palm. "What Philip means to say is, we appreciate the offer, but it's unlikely and we also would prefer to search on our own. There's a matter of some personal delicacy involved, you understand."