Chapter 43

"What are you guys doing here?" Jazz asked, chuckling nervously, as she answered the front door, barely cracking it open.

"The teachers wanted us to bring Danny his homework," Sam explained, waving some papers.

Jazz came outside and closed the front door behind her. "Oh right. Thanks. I can take those!"

"Is Danny okay?" Tucker asked.

"Oh Danny? Oh yeah! He's fine. He has a pretty bad stomach bug. Lots of vomiting."

"Enough said…"

The front door opened, and Maddie smiled. "Sam! Tucker! Great to see you. Where's Danny?"

Jazz gulped.

"We assumed he was here," Sam said, confused.

Maddie furrowed her brows and was about to say something when Jazz interrupted.

"Oh wow! Look at the time! Mom, I need your help like right now! Bye Sam and Tucker!" She said, going back inside with her mom.

"Jazz, what's wrong?"

"I – um – we were…assigned to conduct an interview on the most influential person in our lives, and I chose you!"

"Aw sweetie! I'm so flattered. Unfortunately, I'm far too busy trying to catch that ghost boy! Maybe you can choose one of your old teachers?"

"Oh yeah, that's right. Thanks, Mom."

"No problem!"

Jazz breathed a sigh of relief. "That was close."

Jack cranked up the volume of the TV.

"This just in! Phantom was seen yet again at the sight of the crime. At 10:48 AM this morning, another bomb exploded, completely demolishing the police station and injuring several people."

"Can you believe this ghost kid?" Maddie cried.

The sheriff came on the screen, shaking his head. His arm was in a sling. "Now, I know what we've all been hearing: that Phantom is one son of a gun. However, he saved us all. I have reason to believe he has not been setting off these explosions. Rest assured we are doing everything within our power to find who is and bring them to justice."

Jazz smiled.

"However, later today, the sheriff rescinded that comment and made a statement to the public," the newscaster said.

The sheriff was back on the screen. "It looks like I spoke too soon, and for that, I apologize. Phantom must be taken down at all costs. He's caused too much damage to account for and hurt too many innocent lives. The department won't rest until he's captured. If you have any information, please call our office at –"

"That ghost boy is always up to no good!" Jack said defiantly.

"Yep!" Maddie agreed. "Though I have to admit, his methods are strange. Why demolish that building then save the people inside?"

Jack just shrugged. "That's ghosts for ya."

Jazz shrugged. "I better go upstairs and do some homework."

Maddie nodded. After turning off the TV, she walked outside. She was happy to see Sam and Tucker were still outside of the house.

"Sam! Tucker!"

"Oh, hi again, Mrs. Fenton," Sam said.

"So Danny isn't with you?"

They shook their heads. They almost told her that he said he was sick – but they weren't about to go telling on their best friend to his mom.

"That's strange. Have you talked to him today?"

"Maybe a short text this morning," Tucker said.

"What did he say? Was he at school?"

They gulped.

"He wasn't at school? The school didn't call…" Maddie said, putting a hand to her chin. "Well, he stayed over at your place last night. Right, Tucker?"

Tucker's eyes widened.

"He didn't," she realized, eyebrows raising. Then she got very serious. "Tell me everything you know."

"JASMINE FENTON!"

"Uh oh…"

Jazz hesitantly walked downstairs to see her mom, pacing. "Yes Mom?"

Jack was on the couch, arms crossed. Sam and Tucker were sitting there too, nervous expressions on their faces.

"Have you talked to Danny today?" Maddie questioned.

Jazz swallowed hard. "Well –"

"Just tell us where he is, Jazz. We can talk about punishment later."

Jazz had no clue what to say. They hadn't exactly talked over what to do if they found out he wasn't with Tucker.

There was a knock on the front door – saved by the bell.

Maddie breathed in sharply before answering it.

"Vlad – thank you for coming," she said.

"Of course, Maddie," he said, walking in with a smirk.

Jazz's eyes darted to Sam and Tucker who rolled their eyes as he entered. She gulped. It felt a little precarious not having Danny there to protect them if Vlad pulled anything. She knew he would never reveal himself, but there was that small sense of doubt. On top of that, Vlad finding out Danny was stuck as Phantom was leverage that he could use against him.

"Young lady, you have to tell us where he is," Maddie told her.

"I – I –"

"Jazz," Jack said, sternly. He rarely brought out his stern voice, but when he did, Jazz knew she was really in trouble.

When she locked eyes with Vlad for a split second, she shifted her gaze to the floor.

"I'm not sure—" Jazz's phone began ringing in her pocket.

"Give it," Maddie demanded.

Jazz groaned as she handed over her phone. Maddie put it on speaker phone.

"Danny?"

"Mom? Oh, hey! I'm with Tucker. We are just doing some homework."

"That's funny. I'm actually with Tucker right now."

"Hey, dude," Tucker said, awkwardly.

Danny's heart sank.

"Where are you?"

He gulped. "Um…"

"Danny."

"I'm sorry, Mom. I can't tell you."

"What?! Can't tell me? Danny, come home this instant."

Danny began tearing up. He'd love nothing more than to come home to his family – sleep in his own bed, go back to school, be with his friends, but he couldn't.

"I've gotta go," he said, voice cracking.

He hung up. Sitting on the tallest building in Amity Park, he took a deep breath, feet dangling as he looked at the town below – the town that hated him.

There was nowhere for him to go. He had never felt so isolated.