Turning the thought of Sam's lie over and over in his head only made Danny realize how serious this situation could be. Sam had people looking for her, obviously. What happens when they find a millionaire's daughter at a juice joint like the Ghost Zone when selling any kind of alcohol was illegal. His parents would be in trouble, he would be in trouble, they'd have to close the place.

Danny didn't turn around when he heard footsteps approaching him from behind. He was still down at the bar at six AM, thinking. He'd decided that he couldn't sleep with the anger churning in his stomach making him feel ill. Though he felt tired as hell, the dark shadows beneath his eyes being proof of that, there was no way he could go to sleep now. He still had to get to work in an hour--something that would be a welcome distraction.

"Danny?" Sam's voice made him wince, and he was glad that she couldn't see his face. "You're up early."

Hm," Danny's tone was bored as he traced his fingers in circles on the surface of the bar, "didn't notice. Thank you."

Sam was surprised and offended that he hadn't even bothered to face her when he replied. "Are you okay?"

"I suppose not," Danny said, "couldn't sleep. Came down here and read the paper. Take a look at it--it's old news but interesting."

Sam gave Danny an odd glance as she approached the bar and Danny push the paper towards her. All she did was glance at the headline on the page and her picture before speaking.

"Hm. Horse named Whiskery won the Kentucky Derby this year." She said evasively. "Didn't know you liked horse racing."

Sam flinched when Danny finally turned towards her, his blue eyes cold. "It seems like I don't know much about you either, do I?"

Sam shook her head. "Danny, you don't understand--"

"I understand enough," Danny cut her off, "you run away from the fancy life you have, you come to the rundown part of town because the drunks and poor folk must be easier to fool than anyone else around here. You hide out here like a coward while people are looking for you and everything's Jake, right?"

"Danny--"

"Not even considering the fact that if those search parties of yours decide to barge in here, a nice little speakeasy, get the rich girl and get a little reward for shutting down the place and leaving a mess of people without jobs or places to stay."

Sam mentally slapped herself for not thinking of that part, and didn't dare to look Danny in the eye.

"And of course an uneducated boy like myself won't notice when you feed him a line and say you're staying here because you like it."

"I do like it, and that is why I'm staying," Sam was now growing angry at him too, "do you have any idea how hard it is to come by friendly people in Chicago? It's not like here."

"How so?" Danny asked, his lips formed a thin, flat line and his brow furrowed, "according to this paper you've got a lot to live off of there, what's your problem?"

"Okay, take you and Tucker. What do you get out of being friends with him? Money? A good image? A 'business relation'?"

"I don't get none of that stuff," Danny told her, "he's just my friend. I like him, he's a good guy."

Sam gave him a cool look, and he sighed.

"It…it's not that simple where you come from, is it?" He realized.

"If I could choose where I wanted to spend my life, Danny, it'd be a place like this. I'm sorry I lied."

Danny's gaze softened, but he didn't smile. "But it's true…it's not good for you to stay. I really like you Sam, but if they find you here it's gonna be bad. You don't want that."

"I don't," Sam sighed, "I'll leave if you really want me to."

Danny looked away, hoping she would read his expression. He didn't want her to leave. He wanted her to stay with him, more than anything. If it was up to him she would stay as long as she wanted to, but it wasn't his decision to make alone, it didn't affect only him.

"You should go soon," Danny sad, his voice low, "it'll be easier than at night."

Sam stifled the request in her throat. Come with me, she ought to have said, it'll be easier if you're with me. She knew she couldn't ask him to give up anything for her, but the desire to just ask him--to tell him to come with her was choking her. All she could get out of her mouth was a shaky, "all right."

Sam wanted to thank Danny for everything he had done, but the look on his face made it clear that he didn't want to hear any more from her. When she adjourned to her room to get her things, the word goodbye sounded like it had scratched his throat raw on its way out of his mouth.

Vlad had always preferred the name 'Boss.' Vlad was a mortal's name, given to him by his mortal parents, and it was a name that just didn't fit. He was referred to as Boss because he was the boss. He knew what few people dared to admit--he could do anything. With his power he could do as he pleased without consequence, but being the humble half-ghost he was, he used his power only for the necessary things. Punishing those who defied or displeased him was a necessary evil, as was gaining the things that had been previously off-limits to him. He had servants, loyal hit men that did as they were told without question. If there was anything Boss took pride in, it was his ability to make even the most unruly ghost unquestionably obedient. Boss had everything a man could ever need.

And yet he always wanted more.

Young Daniel was the bane of Boss' existence, his only mistake. The son of the love of his life had been the one person (a young boy no less!) that refused to obey any command given. Even when Boss had given him a gift that matched his own, Daniel had turned down any offer of help or guidance that Boss had so kindly offered. The stubborn boy grew strong and more defiant, leaving Boss at a complete loss for what to do with him. Daniel could not be persuaded to denounce his current parentage and offer his loyalty to Boss ghostly mob.

Then the girl entered the picture. The young woman had captured Daniel's interest the moment she'd arrived in town, and made his fondness of her easily known. His claim to be content with just friendship was false from the start, even if neither of them noticed it right then. The girl who made Daniel's heart swell had made the gears in Boss' head turn as he observed quietly. The fact that the girl was wealthy made it easier to find a volunteer for the new job.

"Skulker, I have a proposition for you," Boss began as he sat at a surprisingly normal office desk in a shockingly mundane office, "if you're not terribly busy." Boss offered a well-dressed ghost with shocking green flames for hair a vicious grin, letting him know that it would be a very bad idea to refuse the offer.

"I am never to busy for you," the ghost called Skulker replied automatically, "what do you need?"

Boss pushed the newspaper from the previous day towards Skulker, Samantha Manson's picture adorning the page, "what do you see here?"

"Seems as though a horse named Whiskery won the Kentucky Derby this year," Skulker observed, "but what--"

"The picture, you idiot!" Boss growled, then regained his composure, "you see this girl?"

"Ah, yes," Skulker averted his eyes after a glance at the photo, "isn't that the Fenton boy's girl?"

"It is," Boss nodded, "fetch her."

"How will I do that?" Skulker asked, "the boy's always with her, I…" Skulker paled as he saw Boss' lips curve into a scowl, "I-I'll do it, though. Sir."

"Good," Boss' gaze was hard, "I would be rather…disappointed if you were to fail. Besides, it's not like there's nothing in it for you. She's being searched for--and I'm sure her family is willing to pay whatever price you choose."

Skulker smirked. "You don't say?"

"Bring the girl to me, pick a price, and then wait. Daniel comes to her rescue, we exchange banter, we make an…agreement that's been put off for far too long, her parents pay her ransom, and the girl is free to go. I'm sure not even you can mess that up."

Skulker nodded, as though that alone would prove his worth. Boss gave him a long stare.

"Well?" He finally said, his voice turning hard, "get to work."

FYI, a horse named Whiskery did win the Kentucky Derby in 1927. Wikipedia is good for some things.