The Green Ring Conspiracy

The clues now point toward Uncle Archie's carnival. Monty reasons that a traveling carnival could distribute counterfeit bills across the country, while its final auction could conceal large boxes of fake money among the equipment being shipped away. Against Whit's concern for his health, Monty insists on joining the investigation. He disguises himself as a balloon-selling clown so he can search the grounds without being recognized.

Connie and Penny meet Wooton at the college and discover that he and Penny share an enthusiastic love of comic-book art and peculiar questions. Wooton invites both women to the carnival. Once there, he and Penny eagerly hurry from ride to ride, while Connie begins to feel left behind by their instant friendship.

Matthew leaves Dirk's Appleberry connected to Eugene's password-recovery program in Whit's locked workshop. He then goes to the carnival, hoping to make peace with Emily. Katrina also attends so she can meet Skint and obtain his signature on Buck's employment forms, though both she and Eugene find the unusual meeting place suspicious.

Whit and Polehaus question Archie Haggler in his carnival office. The description of the long-haired, bearded man could fit many carnival workers, and Archie claims that local people handled the poster commission. He promises to search his records but produces no name. Polehaus remains convinced that the Haggler family is involved, while Whit warns him against judging an entire family by its reputation.

Behind the Hall of Mirrors, Skint meets Katrina and gives vague answers about his work and how he became Buck's guardian. He signs the forms, and Katrina tells Buck that he may begin at Whit's End the next day. Skint's behavior still troubles her, especially the formal way Buck addresses him. Afterward, Katrina persuades Eugene to visit the address on the application. The pleasant house appears ordinary from outside, but it does not ease her concern.

As Monty searches the carnival in his clown disguise, he recognizes Skint as the man from the dock. Skint recognizes him too. Monty tries to question him, but Skint distracts him and has him struck from behind. Monty is loaded into the back of a truck before Whit or Polehaus knows he is missing.

Wally confronts his brother Archie and demands that Archie keep him out of whatever is happening. He mentions the suspicious equipment that Skint delivered to the junkyard, but Archie denies knowing anything about it. Polehaus overhears only enough of the quarrel to deepen his suspicions about both brothers.

Buck befriends Emily at the carnival, impressing her at the games and drawing her away from Matthew. He tells her that his mother disappeared when he was a baby and that his father was killed, then asks for her help locating a cell phone he claims to have lost in the woods. Emily agrees to meet him at Whit's End the next morning. Matthew feels deserted, and Jay warns him that Buck cannot be trusted, though he cannot yet explain why.

When Monty fails to return, officers search the grounds. Whit finds Monty's abandoned balloons and clown hat near tire tracks, along with white face paint smeared on the grass. He realizes that his grandson has not vanished willingly. As the search begins, Whit asks God to protect Monty.