Soon the gals are in the office of Edwin Pecunia, Director of the California Federal Reserve Bank.
"So, Mr. Pecunia, you have some of these counterfeit bills here?" asks Sam.
"Yes, Sam. Take a look." Edwin provides the gals with a phony $100 bill. The gals check for the special thread in the weave of the paper to note the denomination, check for the hologram, which is present, and check for the color shifting ink, which does shift.
"How can you tell these are counterfeit?" asks a puzzled Alex.
"Wet your fingers, Alex, and brush a corner of the bill", Edwin responds. Alex does, and the ink smears a little.
"That is the only way to tell!"
"But Mr. Pecunia, how could they get a hold of the special paper used?" asks Clover.
"Clover, we don't know. The US Mints in Denver and Philadelphia print the bills. All we do is distribute them. But I do know that they only use one supplier of the paper, for security purposes."
"Then we'd better check that supplier! Do you know who the supplier is, Mr. Pecunia?" asks Sam.
"The Specialty Paper Company, located in Fargo, North Dakota."
"Ok, gals! It looks like we're going to Fargo," says Sam.
"Fargo? From where?" asks Alex.
"Don't start, Alex!!!" says Clover. Alex shoots a glance at Clover and responds "Hmm!"
The gals leave K.I.R.T.T. at WOOHP and load their voice cycles on their jet/copter before they leave for Fargo. They then cycle to the Specialty Paper Company to meet with the Plant Manager, Sven Oldrikson.
"Mr. Oldrikson, we are investigating the potential theft of the special paper used to print US currency on. We understand you are the sole source supplier," says Sam.
"Ya! That's true!" replies Sven.
"How often do you inventory this special paper?" asks Alex.
"Ve don't! Ve don't make any until ve receive an order from the Mint. Then ve only make enough to fill the order!"
"So there is no stock on hand, per se?" ask Clover.
"That is correct, young lady! It is a security feature, so that none of the paper can be stolen!"
"Do you have an order now we can watch being processed?" asks Sam.
"Ya, ve do. But you vill haf to vatch from the security cell!"
With that Sven takes the girls to the security cell. It is a room with bulletproof glass for the upper section of four walls. There are 10 armed guards stationed within the cell as well as outside the cell at all times during the process. The guards are wearing gas masks to prevent from being overcome with any kind of gas. They are also wearing 100 percent bulletproof clothing.
The gals watch as the special thread gets weaved into the paper, and watch as the paper gets cut into sheets. The order is for 1,000 sheets. The machine automatically does the weaving, the cutting and the counting. No human intervention occurs until the paper is bound for shipment. They return to Sven's office.
"It sure looks like there isn't any way to get the paper here," says Sam.
"Ya, and the number of sheets, vith the seal number on the truck are transmitted to the US Mint automatically by the machine. In this case, it is going to the Denver Mint. If the seal numbers don't match, the FBI is called in!"
"Has that ever occurred?" asks Alex.
"Not in the 5 years I have been on the yob! I don't think the company has ever had mismatched seals!"
"Thanks, Mr. Oldrikson!" says Clover, and the gals leave.
The gals discuss this information as they head to New York in their jet/copter.
"Where could the counterfeiter be getting the paper? Human intervention doesn't occur until after the paper is made and bundled at Specialty Paper," ask Clover.
"With the seal system and automatic notification, there is no way for paper to disappear enroute, either!" exclaims Alex.
"But the counterfeiter has to be getting the paper from somewhere! We'll need to check the two US Mint printing offices after we check out New York! Did you note the seal number on that shipment to the Denver Mint, Alex?"
"Sure did, Sammy! We can check it when we go to Denver. They should have received the paper by the time we get there!"
The gals go to the New York Federal Reserve Bank to investigate. They end up with the same information as they did from the California branch: bills so close to the real thing, with only the inks smudging slightly if brushed when wet.
"While we're here on the East Coast, let's check the Philadelphia Mint," says Sam.
"Good idea, Sam! Let's call Jerry so he can get us clearance!" says Clover. Clover then calls Jerry who quickly gets the gals full access clearance to the Philadelphia Mint and the Denver Mint.