OK, Our Ghostbuster, visiting "Mrs. Gardner", went to her Grandson's room upstairs, started his souped up ghostbuster vacuum (presumably to cover any noise), seemed to have a "flash" of some sort and communicates with the "Grandson." Which leads him to a revelation- move the bookcase and find the hiding place of a sack of drugs and money. He seems to take the money (It's a bit vague that the money is in his hand- not 100% sure), but (almost certainly) returns the drugs to the sack and puts them back in the hiding place. Why would he not have taken it all? Was he just looking for the money and/or drugs- or something else? What was this scene all about???

There may be more to it, but it basically shows us a character who has an ability to communicate with the undead but it very shady and morally challenged. In other words, he uses his powers for "bad". He's better watch it on our judgmental island!

Well...he heard a sound that brought his attention to the bookcase.

He wasn't looking for the drugs, and put them back while keeping the money. But he obviously didn't care too much about the grandmother's state of mind, either. He left the drugs there with no care as to whether she would find them or not. Chances are, if she finds them in the future, she'll be devastated.

I think Miles is a Grade-A jerk, and a selfish money-grubber. He's on the island for money, I have no doubt about it.

It seems like if someone was this shady, to be going through all this- entering a house with fake(?) ghost detection scheme- to find some known/ suspected, presumed hidden, MONEY, that finding DRUGS along with it would be icing on the cake! Take it ALL- MAJOR WINDFALL! Why leave the drugs? OK, I'm grasping for a meaning... but this *is* LOST!

Why would he take the drugs, though? What purpose would that serve him?

(I'm not fond of this character much, either, but I'm interested to see more of his backstory, especially *how* he got his special power.)

Why would he take the drugs, though?

If he was after money, he could turn the drugs into more money by selling them.

Yeah, but then that's just a risk in terms of possible arrest and prison time. If he's not exactly on the up-and-up, he might not want to attract more trouble.

Uh, yeah. Heroin is kind of ridiculously illegal, but there's nothing inherently illegal about money. Even though it is drug money.

I thought the return of the drugs and the partial refund to the Gma was just to show us that he was not a 100% jerk and that- like our other characters there are both flaws and some positives in him.

Miles seemed to know that the dead boy had money hidden in the house. As soon as he made contact he asked "where is it?" or something to that effect. He had to have some prior knowledge about the boy's situation to know he was hiding a wad of cash.

But why would he charge twice the fee initially if he knew there was that much cash in a hole in the wall? Why would he refund the grandmother a portion of the fee?

Sometimes Parapsychologists, or "ghost busters" will ask that question (with a little more tact) about what is keeping them there.
I spent 20 years studying Parapsychology. Sometimes spirits will stay until something is fixed that bothered them, so much in fact, they won't leave.
Maybe Miles had done this for so long, he just got "right to the point". As in "Where is the thing that's bothering you."
Or, he knew about the kids story. Maybe the news mentioned he was a big time dealer.

what if the ghost told him something to the effect of 'i'm still alive and trapped on an island with all these dharma people" and then that is why Miles asks "where is it".
maybe the money in the vent was just found on accident.
i dunno, just guessing.

btw, i've been lurking for years but havent posted before. hi to everyone!

Funnier is that he has a cop that told him about the kid getting murdered but he doesn't even wince at the drugs? The money I understand pocketing, but seeing the drugs there makes me question who really led Miles to that house and why? Heroin (looks like it to me) seems to be familiar on the show. Some have suggested a connection to the boy and Eko, let's go ahead and add heroin to the possible connections.

I got the impression that he knew something in advance. I don't see a ghost hunter immediately asking a "where" question right off the bat without knowing any circumstances. Maybe a "why" or "who" question unless he immediatley walks in and has the ghost talking to him right away telling him all his deep dark secrets. I would think there would have to be some prying before getting to that point. I immediately though of Eko as well when they showed the picture then the drugs but it's hard to place why he would be connected to these people.

Well I think its simple...

Cop: Yah this kid was into selling drugs etc, murdered in a bad deal
Dan: OK cool thanks.

Since it is theorized that murdered people are the most restless of spirits, and to Daniel who is obviously familiar with such things, it is not hard to draw a line from point A to point B. This is where he told the mother that "My police source told me he was murdered", which would imply a more difficult situation to exorcise.

My guess is that his little instrument somehow amplifies his ability to more easily interact with the spirits. The other obvious thing is that why would he bother with the drugs, if he doesnt use them? Much easier to take a wad of unmarked bills and be done with it.

ANd what was up with that dust buster thing? What was that for? To hide the sound of him talking? Maybe?

He seems to have no problem talking with spirits (as he did it with Naomi without a machine), which makes me think the machine does something else, like purge them a la ghostbusters.
100%
I also think he is someone who has powers but is not too honest/nice and uses them to help himself more than as a tool to help others.

btw, i've been lurking for years but havent posted before. hi to everyone!This is totally off-topic, but hi there. :) I've been posting for years, but not consistently (hence my post count). Are you a lurker from back in the days when the old board was around? Ah, season 1 memories..... too bad we all lost our post counts when the new board was created!

Okay, back to the topic before I get in trouble. :)

Course, the thing I'm most interested in is why did the mother think his ghost was there in the first place?

This is totally off-topic, but hi there. :) I've been posting for years, but not consistently (hence my post count). Are you a lurker from back in the days when the old board was around? Ah, season 1 memories..... too bad we all lost our post counts when the new board was created!

Okay, back to the topic before I get in trouble. :)

HUH? Switching to vBulletin had absolutely no effect on the post counts! :confused:

I had to completely re-register and my post count started over again at 0. I had close to 500 before the change.