The gals fly down to Philadelphia and cycle over to the US Mint. They are taken to the office of the Director, Myra Stendt.
"What can I do for you?" Myra asks after everyone is introduced.
"Ms. Stendt, we are investigating the counterfeit bills in circulation. We noticed that they are printed on the same paper as regular currency. We we're wondering if you have any of that special paper missing?" asks Sam.
"As I'm sure you've guessed, we keep a tight control on the paper we print money on. It is inventoried three times a day: Once in the morning, once in the evening, and then a random check at any time of the day or night. In fact, we are about to do a random check; would you like to observe?"
"Yes, please!"
With that the gals accompany Myra to the vault. The paper inventory is kept in a locked vault that requires two keys and passwords from two different people to enter. Myra will provide one key and password, and Darryl, a section head will provide the other. They are also accompanied by a GAO auditor, who observes the count, records it, and all three sign off on it. They inventory 5,000 sheets of unopened special paper. There are no unopened packages of special paper.
"How many people have keys and passwords for access?" asks Clover.
"Five in total. Our four section heads and myself", answers Myra, as she signs off on the count.
"What is the procedure if a package of paper is found open?" asks Alex.
"Those taking inventory must hand count each sheet, and record the amount."
"Does that happen often?" asks Sam.
"No. We've only used less than a package once in the last eight years!"
The girls thank Myra and leave the Mint. They board their jet/copter and fly to Denver to check the Mint there.
"There doesn't seem to be a way to steal paper from that Mint!" exclaims Alex.
"Our last lead is the Denver Mint!" says Sam.
The gals land in Denver and travel by cycle to the US Mint. They want to note the receiving procedure for the special paper, which should arrive today. They are in the office of the Director Harry Elsworth.
"Mr. Elsworth, what is your procedure for receiving special paper from the Specialty Paper Company?" asks Sam, after introductions.
"Well, why don't we watch it in action. We just received a shipment by truck and have held up receiving it until you three arrived!"
So the four go to the receiving dock. There are four armed guards there with a section head, Phyllis, a GAO auditor, Kyle and a worker, Chad waiting for them. As soon as they arrive, the metal seal is cut from the truck trailer by Chad and given to Phyllis. She checks it against the seal number provided by Specialty Paper. Alex also quietly checks it against the seal number she noted. They agree. The trailer is then opened and the delivery counted. Again the quantity is checked against the quantity provided by Specialty Paper. On verification by Phyllis and Kyle, and quietly by Alex, Chad picks up the shipment by hand tow motor and takes it to the locked vault. Once again two keys and passwords are required to open the door. Chad puts the pallet in the vault, where all of the paper is now inventoried. The total number is noted and bought off by Phyllis, Harry and Kyle. The safe is then secured.
"Thanks, Mr. Elsworth!" says Alex, as the gals leave.
The gals drive their cycles back to their jet/copter and set the autopilot for home. They are confused and frustrated.
"I don't get it! It's virtually impossible to steal any of that special paper from the US Mints, from Specialty Paper, or from the truck transporting it. How does the counterfeiter do it?" asks Sam.
"Unless everyone in the receiving channel is in on it, there is no way!" says Alex.
"But we can dismiss that theory! I had that same hunch and asked Jerry to run all the people we have talked to or saw, through the WOOHP computers. They are all clean as a whistle! Just some parking and speeding tickets! Nothing else!" says Clover.
"We have to be missing something, but what?" asks a befuddled Sam.
Back at WOOHP, the girls report to Jerry what they have found out.
"…so Jerry, we really didn't find out anything that can help!" says Sam.
"We know the supplier and the Mints have tight controls and security, but that's all!" says Clover.
"I see… Well ladies, you may as well go back home until we can dig up some fresh leads," says a sad Jerry.
It's Friday, and the girls are at the Mall, but their mind isn't on shopping, as they sip their lattes.
"What are we missing, gals?" asks Sam.
"Unless the machines spirit away the paper!" says Alex wistfully.
All of the sudden, Sam's face lights up. "Alex! You're a genius!!"
"I am? I mean of course I am. How am I a genius?"
"Think about it! Everything is mechanized so that human intervention is eliminated! What if someone tampered with the machines themselves so that the machines steal the paper?" replies Sam.
"That might work, Sam! But where would that occur?" asks Clover.
"It would have to occur at the US Mints, because the paper counts wouldn't agree to those shipped!"
"But how would you get the paper out? Security there is tighter than WOOHP!" says Alex.
Sam is now deflated! She's right! There's no way to get the paper out of the Mint!
"I have an idea," says Clover. "Why don't we follow the paper from creation through the process of becoming money? We can use our analyzer sunglasses and our contacts!"
"That looks like all we have, so let's do it!" says Sam.