Counterfeit Christmas by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Chapter

Nine

GOSH!” GEORGE CRIED OUT. “I think we’ve got our counterfeiter!”

“This looks bad, George, but it’s not solid evidence,” Nancy lamented.

“I see what you mean,” George responded. “Somehow we’ve got to catch Marco in the act.”

“If he’s guilty, that is,” Nancy pointed out as she shut off the computer.

“I just know there’s something here we’ve missed, but I can’t put my finger on it,” Nancy said as they walked back to the car.

“Let’s sleep on it and come back tomorrow,” George offered as she stifled a yawn.

• • •

Nancy awoke early the next morning, determined to return to the studio.

She showered, then dressed in black leggings and an oversize turtleneck sweater.

Carson Drew was sitting in the breakfast nook reading the newspaper when Nancy came downstairs. Hearing his daughter’s footsteps, Carson said good morning. “You certainly got in late last night. How was the dinner?”

Nancy gave him the details of the previous evening, describing everything from the centerpieces to the food and the award. She tried not to mention Stuart too much in her stories.

“I have something to report back,” Carson said, folding the paper thoughtfully and tucking it under his plate. “This could be interesting for you. I’ve checked on that Swiss firm you mentioned to me, the Geissbuhler Company. They manufacture ink—the kind of ink that’s used to print money. You’ll find Geissbuhler products at a security printing plant.”

“Hmm,” Nancy said. “That is interesting. And I’m dying to know what Stuart Teal has to say about it!” She jumped up from her chair.

“Where are you off to without breakfast?” Nancy’s father asked.

“To find a couple of guys who have an awful lot to answer to!” Nancy replied. The time had come to confront Mr. Diani and Mr. Teal.

Nancy’s mind whirred. Stuart’s involvement with the Geissbuhler Company certainly seemed suspicious. But the evidence against Marco was even stronger. To make matters worse, she still had no reason for Chloe’s check to Celeste or Pamela’s huge payments to River Heights’s finest clothing stores.

• • •

Nancy pulled into George’s driveway and honked the horn. George bounded out the front door and into the Mustang.

“It’s freezing! I think the Ice Age is coming!” George said, pulling off her gloves and holding her hands up to the heating vent.

“It’ll probably snow in the next couple days,” Nancy commented. “I hope in time for a white Christmas.”

She told George about Stuart and the Geissbuhler Company. Then she continued, “The light on my answering machine was flashing three times, so I thought there were three calls. But when I listened to the tape, each one was a hangup. Someone’s trying to get through to me. It could be a warning.”

When they pulled up to the studio, Nancy and George noticed only one car in the parking lot. Nancy parked next to it and killed the ignition.

“That’s strange. The lot looks awfully empty.”

George glanced at her watch. “It is only eight forty-five, Nan.”

Nancy rang the studio bell, and Chloe answered it in an instant.

“It’s you!” she exclaimed, disappointed. “I—I mean I was waiting for Marco.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.