The real problem are bank accounts, credit cards, and utilities, which even in a small town are difficult to avoid. Apparently, all of that information is easily accessible to a skilled, unscrupulous PI, which Vinnie was, and he's now got the power of the law behind him. If he wanted to make Keith an issue, he'd have a lot of resources to track them down, and a successful prosecution with a lot of publicity would cement his job as sheriff of Neptune for life. The other big issue is finding a job without providing accurate identity. For my work, I do a lot of one-shot deals, and you *always* have to fill out an I9 form now, and provide identity. Even as an independent contractor, you have to provide a SS#, but then again...someone on the run can change a digit or two and fly under the radar. Think of it as a personal battle between Keith and Vinnie, each of them trying to outsmart the other, with an axe to grind as well.

Google yourself, and see what comes up. Then google your SS#, your phone number, your address: then tell me if you feel anonymous in Illinois. Then add in every Google search you've ever done, and all your Facebook wall posts and tweets. For me, it shows all my old addresses, my jobs, a NYT article that mentioned me, all sorts of things, and we all know what a privacy nut I am! The Google searches tend to skew things a bit because of all the research, but still: Creepy.

NOTE: Vanessa does not recommend the methods in this fic. Geez, I don't need the FBI at my door. This is all in fanfictional fun!!

Thank *you* for reading and commenting. I hope it continues to be interesting for you. Thanks for this comment: it focused a few thoughts for me, and some of this stuff is probably going to show up in a future chapter.