Jack and Maddie discuss Vlad.
Jack sat with Maddie on the couch again, this time without any wine or fudge. They were too emotionally drained to bother with it. Jazz had gone to bed an hour ago, so it was just the two of them, left alone to discuss their son and old friend.
"How does Danny even know Vlad?" Maddie muttered. "I don't think we've ever mentioned him before."
"We must have at some point," Jack argued. "I send him Christmas cards every year."
Maddie seemed surprised. "You still do that?"
"Of course!"
Maddie shook her head. "Never mind, it doesn't matter. What we should focus on is Danny."
"Do you think he's telling the truth?" Jack watched his wife for a reaction.
"I don't know. Normally, I would say that Danny is a terrible liar, but ghosts aren't honest beings. Everything he says sounds too crazy to be true."
"But it's Danny. We've already proven that he's not like other ghosts."
Maddie stared at him. "Jack, are you telling me that you believe that Vlad is half ghost?"
"I don't know!" Jack defended. "Maybe Danny got frightened and jumped to conclusions. He's still a kid, after all."
"A kid forever..."
Jack winced. He quickly tried to change the subject. "I'm most interested in where Danny's getting his information."
Maddie blinked. "You're right. They might be lying to him, or have false information. It may not be his fault at all."
"So," Jack decided. "Next time we see him, we ask him."
"What about the portal, though?"
"What?"
"Danny said Vlad has a portal. He said he saw it." Maddie frowned. "If that's true, why wouldn't Vlad tell us? He must have known we were still trying to build one. If he had told us that he had succeeded, who knows how long ago, we could have started our explorations long ago."
"But if Vlad has a portal, why haven't we heard about ghosts in Wisconsin?"
Maddie seemed to realize something. She sat up straight. "If Vlad has a working portal, why would he give us blueprints for one without an off switch?"