Chapter 3

"It looked like her ecto-weapons exploded on her," Maddie said, looking through the pictures and notes they had taken at the scene. She repositioned the phone as it slipped away from her shoulder and held it with her left hand so she could still use her right hand to find a note. "The things that can cause that is a list of things anywhere from a high pitched frequency to a spark just right on ecto-plasm."

Danny walked down the stairs to see his mom talking to the police through the phone. She was already dressed in her normal hazmat suit with a cup of coffee sitting on the table in front of her. He gave her a smile only to see her eyes hadn't noticed him as she focused on what the police detective was saying.

"She's been up all night," Jazz informed as Danny walked into the kitchen to grab himself something for breakfast. He saw her sitting at the kitchen table, eating waffles, already dressed for the day.

Danny glanced back through the small window in the wall separating the two rooms as her voice traveled to him.

"Uhm, yeah, I believe it could," Maddie nodded her head as the papers fell to her lap. "But that would mean someone was targeting her."

"Who would be targeting Valerie?" Danny mumbled, confused at what his mother was implying with only hearing half the conversation. He turned to Jazz as he realized something. "Well, other than ghosts, but most ghosts don't attack like that."

"The ones you deal with don't," Jazz pointed out. "What if she's found others that don't bother you?"

"I'll head over in just a few minutes," Maddie's voice said before she closed her cell. "Why on earth did she have ghost hunting weaponry?"

Danny quickly went to the fridge and pulled out the milk, hoping to hide the worry that appeared inside him. Even if Valerie didn't share his feelings, he still liked her. He didn't want her secret to come out. He poured himself a glass and put the carton back in the fridge next to the samples.

"Hey kids, I'm gonna go to the police," Maddie said as she walked into the kitchen to see her son still in his pajamas and her daughter almost done with her breakfast. "Your father's still asleep in the lab."

"Don't you need some sleep?" Jazz asked.

"I will, in a bit," Maddie nodded her head as she went over to the cabinet and pulled out a travel mug. After quickly putting some coffee in the cup and twisting the lid, she turned and walked out.

As soon as the door shut Danny turned to Jazz. "I'm gonna patrol real quick and then see how Val's doing,"

"Tell her hi for me," Jazz said, standing up to clean off her plate in the sink. "And don't forget to get dressed."

"Ha ha, I'm not that scatter brained." Danny rolled his eyes before downing his milk. He turned to a cabinet and pulled out the poptart box, grabbing one before hurrying back to his room.

-.-.-.-

"Here's what's left of her cell," Detective Stottlemeyer said, handing Maddie the evidence bag that held the melted remains of the phone. The two stood in his office, surrounded by open blinds on all side that let his force see him talking.

Maddie looked at it closely, surprised it was only melted on the edges with a splash of what had been burnt ecto-plasm across the outer case. She looked up and asked, "Have you found out who last called her?"

The mustached man walked over to his desk and pulled out a piece of paper from the mountain of work he had strewn over the place. "A pay phone on Washington and Franklin." He sat the paper back on the table and added, "We're trying to get the security footage from the gas station across the street right now."

"Have you asked the girl why she had ecto-weapons in the first place?" Maddie asked, sitting the phone on his desk.

"My partner and I are gonna pay her a visit once he gets back," the man said, taking a glance out of his office to the man in question's desk.

"And if she's got the weapons, she could be making enemies out of already dangerous ghosts," Maddie pointed out.

"I hope not, ghosts aren't in my jurisdiction and I'd have to call in the GIW," Stottlemeyer admitted. "I'm sure you've worked with them before."

"Once or twice," Maddie nodded her head. "Honestly too much red tape."

"Actually, you might be able to make my life a little easier," Stottlemeyer thought aloud. "Come with us when we go talk to her and her father. You are a consultant on the case."

"Okay."