The new chapter is here! Horatio gets several answers on the kidnappings with an old friend of his...guess who? ;)

Chapter 11

Contacting the NYPD

When the meeting ended Yelina, Natalia and Calleigh took Danielle out to lunch. The men stayed and ate their lunch at the lab. Horatio looked through the mail and found the package that Eric mentioned earlier. 'The NYPD must have sent this yesterday after Calleigh and Ryan contacted them.' Walter filled Horatio in on what he found about Amity Park. Horatio's thoughts went back to Freakshow. He was arrested over a year ago; around the same time Phantom changed his ways. Horatio wondered if there was a connection.

Horatio opened the package. Wrapped in newspapers was a high-tech soup thermos. Horatio quirked an eyebrow. A packet was found underneath the Thermos. 'How to Work the Fenton Thermos' was the title on the front page. A small note was clipped to the front as well:

'Heard you had some ghost problems. Hope this helps.'

Doctor Sheldon Hawkes, ME of the NYPD

P.S. When you're done with it, please mail it to this address.

An address to Fenton Works was written beneath the message. Horatio has never heard of it. Hopefully he'll be able to learn how this odd device worked before another girl gets captured.

"YOU WHAT?" Freakshow shrieked. The Vultures just returned. They failed again at capturing Dani Phantom.

"You weren't there!" argued the Leader. "If you were surrounded by police officers what would you do?"

Before Freakshow could argue, his disposable cell phone started ringing. He sighed and then answered it. "WHAT!"

"Good afternoon to you too," a cold voice answered.

"Vlad Masters, I still do not have the ghost girl. Those turkey brains you sent to me are anything but useful! If you want this girl so badly, why don't you just get her yourself?"

"Oh my! The rumors were true then," Vlad exclaimed sarcastically. "You do have ghost envy!"

"SHUT UP! I DO NOT HAVE GHOST ENVY!"

"Whatever. You can't do anything without attracting the authorities' attention. I'll send someone to assist you but if you do not catch her by tomorrow, I'll notify authorities about your whereabouts," Vlad warned. He then ended the call.

After having lunch at Panera Bread, the CSI women took Danielle to a nearby clothing store. Unlike most girls, Danielle was anything but thrilled to go clothes shopping. She made it clear that she did not want anything involving dresses or skirts. Eventually, they bought a variety of clothes that Danielle approved of (mostly t-shirts, hoodie sweatshirts and a variety of shorts).

By mid-afternoon Natalia and Calleigh brought Danielle back to the lab. Yelina went back home with Danielle's new clothes.

Danielle was having fun teasing Calleigh about her relationship with Eric.

"So, has Eric ever kissed you?" Danielle asked giggling.

"Now that is none of your business," Calleigh mockingly scolded.

"Oh come on, Calleigh," Natalia said. "Even Wolfe knows that there's something going on between you two."

Calleigh blushed. "Oh my God! Even Ryan? Is it that obvious?"

"Ever since Horatio killed Clavo Cruz," Natalia stated matter-of-factly, "I knew you two lovebirds would get together eventually."

'Déjà vu!'

They entered the building and looked for everyone else. Naturally, they started with Horatio. They found him in one of the labs looking over a strange soup thermos.

"Hey H," Calleigh greeted as she, Natalia and Danielle entered the room.

Horatio looked up and greeted them with a half smile. "Ladies…"

Natalia got a closer look at the Thermos that Horatio was looking at. "What's this? A self-heating soup thermos?"

Calleigh giggled. "That's actually a good idea. Have they actually invented something like that?"

Danielle giggled too. "Maybe it's in one of those magazines you find on airplanes."

The three laughed. Danielle thought she saw Horatio silently chuckle.

"This, ladies, is called the Fenton Thermos," Horatio explained. Danielle's ears perked up at the word Fenton. "It's a product of Fenton Works. The New York Crime Lab sent me this device to help us find the missing girls."

Ryan came in carrying the packet of instructions. "H, this gizmo is probably the weirdest one I've ever stumbled on to. Whoever thought of a thermos as a ghost catching device? Why not use those vacuum devices like in the movies?"

Horatio chuckled. "So you know how to turn it on?"

"Yeah, but for some reason Jo left a sticky note saying to not press the release button. Apparently, Phantom thought it would be funny to send the New York Chief of Detectives a 'surprise' with members of Mac's team that returned yesterday."

Danielle giggled. "That sounds like Danny alright!"

Ryan continued. "So what do think? Should I press the release button?"

"Best to take Jo's word for it and not do it," Horatio replied. He turned his attention to Danielle. "Are you familiar with this device?"

Danielle nodded. "Yeah. Danny uses that all the time to catch ghosts. Sometimes he even gets stuck in it!"

"I'm not even going to ask how that's possible," Natalia muttered.

"Do you think we can contact Danny?" asked Horatio.

Danielle's face fell. "I don't want to pull him into this. I promised him I'd be careful while I traveled. I can't have him coming to my rescue every time I'm in trouble."

Horatio nodded. "Okay. How about we try contacting the NYPD first? If they aren't much help, then we'll try contacting your cousin. Does that sound good to you?"

Danielle thought about it. She knew that if she contacted Danny he'd get worried about her and, ultimately, come to her rescue. On the other hand, if she contacted his friend, Mac, first then maybe she can avoid calling Danny altogether.

"I guess it's worth a shot," she hesitantly said.

Eric then came in. "H, Ryan got an e-mail from Mac Taylor. He's back in New York."

"Get the video connection ready. Danielle and I will be there in a moment."

"There's ANOTHER Ghost Child on the loose?" asked Skulker.

"Did I stutter?" Freakshow inquired. "You need to catch this girl by tomorrow or I'll feed your true form to the gators."

Skulker huffed. "Fine. Do you know where she's at?"

"According to your bird-brained friends, she's currently with the Miami-Dade Police Department. I'm sure you and the Vultures will be able to find her."

"No way!" the Leader shouted. "There's no way we're going against that girl again!"

Freakshow released another frustrated sigh. "Fine! Then you three stooges can distract the CSI's while Skulker here finds the girl. DOES THAT SATISFY YOU?"

The three Vultures shrugged and then nodded. They followed Skulker out of the cabin towards Miami.

Freakshow, annoyed by the sniveling girls still held captive in the back room, called to Lydia. "Lydia! Find something edible for these girls so they can shut up!"

Horatio led Danielle to the same room Calleigh and Ryan contacted the NYPD before. A few keystrokes and a mouse click later the connection was on. Mac Taylor's image popped up on the screen.

"Horatio Caine," Mac greeted. "It's been awhile."

"Detective Mac Taylor, it's good to hear from you again," Horatio greeted back.

"Who is that young lady with you? A niece?" asked Mac.

"I'm Danielle. And no, I'm not Horatio's niece." Horatio chuckled.

Mac squinted at Danielle, trying to get a closer look at the girl. "You look a lot like someone I know."

"Would that someone happened to be named Daniel Fenton, aka Danny Phantom?" asked Horatio getting right to the point.

Mac was surprised that Horatio knew the name. "Yeah. How do you know Daniel?"

"I don't," Horatio said. He nodded his head in Danielle's direction. "She does."

"Alright. How do you know Daniel, Danielle?" asked Mac. For some reason that didn't sound right. Probably because the names are practically the same.

Danielle looked nervous and looked to Horatio. "It's okay, sweetie. You can tell him," he assured her.

Danielle gulped and changed into Dani. Mac was shocked beyond belief.

"I think I've officially entered the Twilight Zone," Mac finally said. "Let me guess, your name is Dani Phantom…with an 'i'. I know that DP insignia anywhere." 'Wow! He's good!'

Dani looked down in shame. She knew this would be a bad idea. Horatio then stepped in to explain. "She is actually a human clone of both Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom. You and I both know that human cloning is illegal, Mac."

Mac looked around to see if anyone was listening. "Does anyone else know about this?"

"Other than myself, my team, and Mr. Fenton himself, no one else knows about this girl's identity," Horatio answered. "I intend to keep it that way. I'm asking you to not tell anyone about this girl or the Feds will hunt her down."

Mac nodded. "You have my word. How can I help you?"

Dani changed back into Danielle as Horatio took over. "You've obviously met Mr. Fenton, his sister and his friends before. Tell me: what do you know about ghosts?"

Mac's expression became grim. "Besides the basic knowledge everyone knows about ghosts, a lot."

"Explain, Mac."

"Ghosts can be the spirits of the deceased, as a lot of people know. I should know too; two of my former officers are ghosts as well as a dead serial killer Phantom just recaptured."

This information seemed interesting to Horatio. His thoughts quickly went to his dead wife, Marisol, before he continued. "Go on."

"It also seems that there are some ghosts that were not part of the living to begin with. My partner, Jo Danville, once caught a robot that was powered by a green Smurf ghost," Mac continued. "Weird but true."

"He must be talking about Skulker, the Ghost Zone's self-proclaimed greatest hunter," Danielle briefly explained.

"Mac, are you referring to that heist that occurred in your lab a few months ago?" asked Horatio.

"If you're talking about when a bunch of ghosts turned my lab into the Nakatomi Building a few months then yes," Mac replied bitterly. "The media said that it was a bunch of gangsters that took over. Chief Sinclair said it was best that the public thought that humans tried to take over the lab. He didn't think anyone would believe that ghosts tried to attack the lab."

"I see," Horatio stated. "Mac, does the name 'Freakshow' ring a bell?"

Mac thought for a moment. "Can't say that I have. Why?"

"Freakshow, or Frederich Isak Showenhower, escaped from federal prison last week and we have reason to believe that he's linked to a series of kidnappings all over Miami," Horatio explained.

"Now THAT name sounds familiar," Mac said. Looks like he follows people by their real names instead of their nicknames. "If I recall correctly he was arrested last year for theft and reckless endangerment."

"Did you know that he was arrested in Amity Park, Indiana?" asked Horatio.

Mac frowned. "Amity Park? No, I didn't. And I just got back from there today, long story."

"Did you see Danny?" asked Danielle.

Mac half-smiled. "As a matter of fact I did."

Horatio went back to the main topic. "Mac, we believe that ghosts are abducting young girls with black hair and blue eyes. I have reason to believe that they're targeting Danielle here."

Mac furrowed his eyebrows. "Why are they after Daniel's clone?"

Danielle beat Horatio at answering that question. "I think it's because Vlad hired him to find me for some reason!"

That got Mac's attention. "Vlad? As in Vlad Masters, mayor of Amity Park and known as Vlad Plasmius?"

"Yeah," Danielle answered bitterly. "In a way, he's my father. He created me in an attempt to clone Danny. He's tried to kill me twice! I hate him!"

"If that's the case, then Vlad is the real ringleader behind this whole circus," Mac said grimly.

"He's in Indiana. Neither of us can touch him," Horatio said just as grimly. "However, I want to find these missing girls and serve Freakshow to the Feds on a silver platter."

Danielle stepped in again. "Horatio and everyone else won't be able to fight Freakshow because of his ghostly henchmen."

Mac chuckled. "Well, that shouldn't be a problem for you, Danielle. If you really are Daniel's clone then that should also make you a halfa."

Horatio looked at Danielle questioningly. "Halfa?"

"Half-human, half-ghost," Danielle explained.

"You should also have a Fenton Thermos with you if you want to catch those henchmen," Mac added.

"That, we already have," Horatio replied. "We have Dr. Hawkes to thank for that."

"So that's where it went," Mac said. "Do yourself a favor and do NOT press the release button. There's already a ghost in there and he's the biggest pain in Phantom's ass."

"Danielle, we found you and Molly Novak in the Everglades," Horatio stated. "If my hunch is correct, then Freakshow is probably hiding somewhere in there." Danielle nodded in agreement.

Mac sighed. "If that's all you have to ask, then I better get going. I'm exhausted."

"Thank you for enlightening us, Mac," Horatio thanked.

"Bye Mac!" Danielle called. "Nice meeting you!"

"Likewise. Good luck," The connection then ended.

Awesome! Horatio and Mac: a fierce combination! And a halfa and they're unstoppable! Good thing they both know one!

Skulker is back with a vengeance! Now he knows about Dani! This is about to get good!

I wonder what the CSI's would look like as a Butch Hartman cartoon...

Review, people!