“You’re right, Nancy. I do know something about the case that I haven’t told you. Frankly, I’d rather not tell you now. But if you’ve pieced together this much, I’m sure you’ll learn the truth soon enough.”
Marisa took a deep breath. “I know who the counterfeiter is.”
12
Truth or Snare?
“You’re probably not going to believe this,” Marisa began. “My grandmother was the head of the counterfeiting ring.”
Bess’s eyes widened. “Emmaline Whitby? That nice, sweet, old—”
“Blind lady?” Marisa finished for her. “Yes.”
“But your grandmother died a couple of months ago—before any of the old counterfeit money resurfaced in River Heights,” Nancy said.
Marisa nodded. “I know. I can’t explain that—and I certainly didn’t know the truth when I asked you to work on the case, Nancy.”
“Are you sure about your grandmother’s involvement?” Nancy asked Marisa.
“Oh, yes.” Marisa leaned forward. “I never knew why my mother and grandmother were estranged. Neither one of them would talk about it. I found out this week when I was reading my grandmother’s journal. Twenty-five years ago, Devon’s father was dating my mother,” Marisa explained. “I never knew that before.” She paused.
“Go on,” Nancy said gently. “I know this must be difficult for you.”
“Somehow, Mr. Marshall accidentally came to possess some of my grandmother’s counterfeit money. He was arrested when he tried to spend it, and he nearly went to jail. My mother was furious when she found out that my grandmother—her own mother—was the counterfeiter.”
“She had no idea?” George asked.
Marisa shook her head. “Apparently not. My grandmother was a very clever woman, you know.” Marisa reached down to massage Misty’s neck. “My mother loved my grandmother, but she couldn’t forgive her. Still, she didn’t want her own mother to go to jail. Rather than reveal the truth, my mother broke up with Devon’s father, moved away from River Heights, and never talked to any of her friends or family again. She married my father, had me, and tried to forget the past.”
Marisa bit her lip. “My grandmother was devastated to lose touch with her only child. She wrote her so many letters . . . but they were always returned unopened.” Marisa’s voice wavered.
Bess snatched a handful of tissues from the box in the kitchen. She gave some to Marisa and used one to dab at her own eyes.
“I assume your grandmother gave up counterfeiting for good?” Nancy said.
“Yes.” Marisa blew her nose. “She wrote in her journal that becoming involved in the counterfeiting ring was her deepest regret in life. She felt responsible for the two men who were arrested when they were caught taking counterfeit money to Chicago. She supported their families while they were in jail, and then, after they were released, she gave them money for the rest of their lives. And she made charitable contributions to repay all the bad money. Even after she felt her debt was paid, she donated huge amounts of her money to worthy causes—like the Guiding Eyes. The Guiding Eyes school was her legacy to me. That’s what she always told me.”
Bess handed Marisa another tissue.
“I understand why my mother felt the way she did,” Marisa said, “but I’m grateful that I got to spend time with my grandmother this past year. I grew to care for her very much. When I found out the truth, I only wanted to protect her.”
“If your grandmother was so determined to change her life, I wonder why she left the counterfeit money in her house,” Nancy said.
Marisa cleared her throat. “I don’t know. Maybe she thought it was safer than trying to get rid of it. It would have been difficult after she lost her sight. Anyhow, she knew I’d learn the truth after she died. She left me her journal.”
“And what about the counterfeit twenty-dollar bill that Casey found?” Nancy asked.
“It was with my grandmother’s things,” Marisa explained. “My money identifier wouldn’t read it, and I figured it was probably counterfeit. I stuck it in my pocket and planned to get rid of it, but Casey beat me to it.”
Marisa shook her head. “I can’t believe I was so stupid. I almost got all of us in trouble. Now I understand why Mr. Marshall doesn’t want me and Devon to date.”
“What do you mean?” Bess asked. “He doesn’t know about any of this, does he?”
“No,” Marisa said. “And he has no idea why my mother broke up with him, either. But I’m sure he was upset when I started dating Devon. I know he thinks I’m terrible for Devon.”
“He’s wrong,” Bess said firmly.
Marisa shook her head. “I’m not so sure. My life’s a mess. Devon and I aren’t even together.” She sniffled. “I know it sounds dumb, but my birthday’s tomorrow, and I just feel so—depressed.”
Bess smiled. “Just wait until—”
Nancy hoped Bess wasn’t about to ruin the surprise party that Eric was throwing for Marisa. She silenced Bess with a stern look.
“Wait until what?” Marisa asked. “I hope no one’s planning a surprise party. I threw a party for Eric a few months ago, and he swore he’d get even with me. You guys would tell me if he was planning to ruin my birthday with something so embarrassing, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course,” Bess said quickly. “I was just going to say, ‘Wait until tomorrow.’ I’ll bet you’ll have a great birthday.”
Nancy cleared her throat. “Marisa. We may have one mystery solved, but we still have no idea how Eric or anyone else wound up with your grandmother’s counterfeit money.”
“I do have an idea,” Marisa said.
“Really?” Nancy sat up straight. “I’m all ears.”
“None of the counterfeit money resurfaced until the Guiding Eyes came to River Heights,” Marisa said. “Now, Penny Rosen reads Braille, and my grandmother’s papers were there for her to see, too. She could have been dipping into the supply of fake money. And she’s spent a lot of time at the university, meeting with me and buying supplies for the school. Maybe that’s why most of the money turned up at Westmoor.”
“The hidden money we found at the inn hadn’t been touched in years,” Nancy said. “It was covered in dust. And Penny seemed as surprised as we were when we found it,” Nancy said.
“She probably was,” Marisa said. “My grandmother never mentioned the hidden room in any of the documents I read. But if Penny knew that there was money to be found, maybe she searched the inn. She’s been the only sighted person there on a regular basis. If I found the phony twenty stuffed in a drawer, she may very well have come across more money.”
