#10
Stacey and the Mystery Money
by Ann M. Martin

Counterfeit money is showing up in Stoneybrook - and someone gave Stacey a fake ten dollar bill.

I smiled down at Charlotte, and she grinned up at me. "This is Charlotte Johanssen," I said. "I'm baby-sitting her. She's my little sister for the day."

"Maybe she'd like a pair of these stick-on earrings," Betty said, handing them over the counter.

"Oh, they're so cute," said Charlotte, looking at the little pink hearts. "And they match my skirt. But I don't have very much money left."

"Consider them a gift from me," Betty said, smiling. "Here, I'll show you how to put them one." she came out from behind the counter and knelt down in front of Charlotte.

I walked over to the spinner rack to check out the pierced earrings. I had been looking for a pair to go with my purple jumpsuit. Right away, I saw some that looked just right. They were big purple button-shaped earrings with zigzags of pink on them. I held them up to my ears and looked in the mirror. "These are great," I said. I checked the price. Four ninety-five. No problem. I pulled out my wallet and walked back to the counter.

"How do these look?" asked Charlotte, showing me her stick-ons.

"Terrific!" I said. "They look really real. I hope your mother doesn't think I let you get your ears pierced today."

Charlotte giggled. "I feel grown-up in these," she said. "Maybe I'll ask my mom if I can get more, so I can wear them to school."

Betty smiled at me. "Uh-oh," she said. "Looks like I've started something."

I showed her the earrings I wanted and gave her the ten dollar bill I had left to spend.

Betty took it and turned to the register. Then i saw her shoulders stiffen. She turned and gave me a funny look. She looked again at the bill. She rubbed it with her fingers. She held it up to the light. "Stacey," she said in an odd voice. "I think this bill is counterfeit."

Stacey and the Mystery Money
Published by Scholastic Inc. 1996
ISBN: 0590456962