“We’re fraternity brothers,” Eric said. “I don’t have anything to hide from you.”
“Okay, Eric,” Mr. Drew said. “Why don’t we start from the beginning?”
“Yes, Mr. Drew.” Eric took a deep breath. “I was at the mall, buying a present for Marisa’s birthday, which is on Friday.”
“At which store?” Mr. Drew asked.
“Close your ears, Marisa,” Eric said.
Marisa obligingly plugged her ears with her fingers.
“Ledbetter’s Jewelers,” Eric whispered. “I was buying a silver bracelet.” He reached over and gently pulled Marisa’s hands from her ears. Nancy saw a dark look cross Devon’s face.
“Okay,” Eric told Marisa. “You can listen now. I paid for the gift, but the clerk kept stalling. Finally, two mall security officers came and told me they thought two of the twenty-dollar bills I had given them were counterfeit. They took me to the security office, and then the police came and brought me to the station.”
“Any idea where you got the counterfeit bills?” Mr. Drew asked.
Eric shrugged. “I went to the bank on campus yesterday morning. I also got change at the Westmoor bookstore when I bought some school supplies.”
“You’re a student at Westmoor University?” Mr. Drew asked.
“Yes, sir,” Eric replied.
“And your major?”
“I’m a junior majoring in architecture,” Eric said. “My minor is business.”
“Do you get good grades?”
“Mostly A’s,” Eric replied.
“Do you have a part-time job?”
Eric shook his head. “Nothing steady. I do a few odd jobs here and there. And I volunteer.”
“Anything else you’d like to add?” Mr. Drew asked.
Eric shook his head. “No, sir. That’s all I know.”
Mr. Drew handed Eric his business card. “If you think of anything else, call me. Otherwise, I’ll be in touch with you tomorrow.”
Eric stood up. “Thank you for your help.”
“The chief said you’d be released shortly,” Mr. Drew said. “Please don’t answer any questions about the case unless I’m with you.”
“Yes, sir,” Eric said. “I mean—no, sir. Thank you, Mr. Drew.” Eric stood up and pumped Mr. Drew’s hand.
Back in the lobby, Nancy said goodbye to Marisa and Devon. Marisa gave Nancy her phone number. “Please call me if you get any new information.”
“I will,” Nancy promised.
Nancy rode home with her father. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and the windshield wipers made a comforting, swishing sound.
“I’ve been following this counterfeiting business pretty closely in the newspapers,” Mr. Drew said. “How about you?”
Nancy shook her head. “Not really. I’ve read one or two articles.”
“Well,” Mr. Drew said, “there’s been quite a bit of counterfeit money in circulation in River Heights recently. Most of it has turned up at the mall, the Westmoor campus bookstore, Café Olé . . .”
“The Mexican restaurant on University Boulevard?” Nancy asked.
Mr. Drew nodded.
“So a Westmoor student must be the most likely suspect,” Nancy said.
“Yes. A couple of Westmoor students have been picked up for questioning after passing phony bills, but they were released.”
“Chief McGinnis said the evidence against Eric was fairly strong,” Nancy said. “What do you think he meant?”
“Besides being caught in the act of passing the phony bills, Eric’s an architecture student—an A student,” Mr. Drew said. “I would imagine he has the drafting skills one would need to pull off a convincing forgery.”
“Drafting skills?” Nancy turned to her father. “Dad, don’t most counterfeiters use laser printers or photocopiers? I didn’t think they drafted the bills themselves.”
“That’s generally true,” Mr. Drew said. “But I’ve read that the police feel this is an old-fashioned and well-executed job. I presume that means the bills were drafted by hand.”
“You asked Eric if he has a job,” Nancy said. “I guess you’re wondering where he got the money to buy an expensive birthday present for Marisa. And did you see those designer clothes he was wearing?”
Mr. Drew chuckled. “Were they designer clothes? My sense of young people’s fashions is not too keen. But you’re right. Most college students are strapped for cash.”
