The Illinois Detective Agency : The Counterfeiters

By: Al Lamanda

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

When counterfeit money is reported in large amounts from thirteen towns and cities across the country and the U.S. Secret Service is at a loss as to its origin, President Cleveland turns to The Illinois Detective Agency for help.

Old friends with Charles Porter, founded of the Illinois Detective Agency, Cleveland brings James Duffy and Jack Cavill, principal owners of the agency to Washington DC, where they accept the assignment.

Duffy, Cavill and the rest of the agency members, Miss Potts, Quill, Harvey, Joseph Goodluck and Lester Holt start the investigation by visiting the thirteen cities and towns where the counterfeit money was first reported.

In San Francisco, Cavill discovers a handbill for a traveling circus and carnival show and the thirteen tour dates match the timeframe when the counterfeit money was discovered.

The agency devises a plan. Duffy and Cavill will go undercover and join the circus. Owned and operated by a man who calls himself Colonel Steven Beauregard, the circus winters in Pensacola, Florida and Duffy and Cavill travel there to seek jobs.

Beauregard is a highly educated and personable man and hires Duffy as a barker and Cavill as the show strongman. The off season is three months and that time gives Duffy and Cavill the time needed to investigate Beauregard and his circus.

During the coming weeks, it is discovered that Beauregard’s father once worked as an engraver for the government, was sentenced to fifteen years for counterfeiting and was released just a year ago.

Before the next season starts, Goodluck joins the circus as a trick rider and Sato as a knife thrower. The season begins with a fifteen city tour. After every stop, counterfeit money is discovered after the circus leaves.

The Illinois Detective Agency has to put every agent at risk in order to stop the flood of counterfeit money that is plaguing the entire country.