Free Diamond Deceit by Carolyn Keene

said. “And I’m certainly going to speak to Joanna about you. I don’t see any reason why she should cooperate with you, either.”
    Nancy was surprised to hear him mention Joanna’s name. Apparently he hadn’t heard what had happened to her yet. Then again, there hadn’t been much time for the news to get around, “Mr. Baxter, Joanna Burton died this morning,” she said softly.
    The jeweler blinked, and his hand went to his chest. “Joanna—dead?” he echoed.
    Rachel was just as surprised. Her face turned a pasty, unhealthy color. “But—how?”
    Nancy took a deep breath before answering. “She fell down her terrace steps. The police suspect she may have been pushed. When they found her she was holding a charm—a sea otter charm, like the ones you make.”
    â€œOne of my charms?” Baxter asked weakly.
    Nancy nodded, then asked her next question. She had a feeling Baxter wasn’t going to like it. “Where have you been all morning?” she inquired.
    Baxter opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out were sputtering noises. “Why are you asking me?” he finally demanded.
    â€œYou sell charms like the one the police found in Miss Burton’s hand,” George answered.
    â€œI sell charms, but I don’t wear them. And I assure you I was nowhere near Joanna Burton’s house this morning,” Baxter said defensively. “My Jaguar stalled when I was driving to work this morning. I had to have it towed all the way to the dealership in Monterey. The mechanics there are the only ones I trust. Monterey Imports—you can call them if you don’t believe me.”
    His alibi would be easy to check, Nancy thought. She doubted that he was lying. “Do you know who else might have visited her?” she asked. “Someone who wears one of your bracelets?”
    â€œI really couldn’t say,” Baxter replied. “Joanna Burton loved my charms. She gave them as gifts all the time.”
    â€œWhat about the charm bracelet your assistant was working on when we came in?” Nancy knew it was a long shot but hoped it would work.
    â€œYes,” George said, picking up on Nancy’s reasoning. “If you don’t mind, we’d like to see if there’s a sea otter missing from it.”
    Baxter appeared completely baffled. “Charm bracelet?” He turned to Rachel and asked, “What’s this all about?”
    Rachel looked panicky, and all the fight seemed to go out of her. Stepping over to the workbench where she’d been sitting before, she sank onto the stool.
    Cy Baxter stood next to her while she opened the drawer in the work desk.
    â€œWhat’s this?” he asked, picking up a photograph of a man from the desktop.
    Nancy moved closer to see who it was and immediately recognized Michael Davis. He was an older actor who was enjoying a comeback following the release of his latest movie.
    Something was written on the back of the photo, Nancy noticed. Apparently Baxter saw it, too. He flipped the picture over and read, “ ‘Rachel—In every future there is a past.’ And it’s signed.” He laid the photo down in front of Rachel, shaking his head. “Honestly, Rachel. This is a place of business. It’s unprofessional to keep pictures of movie stars piled on your desk.”
    When Rachel saw the photograph, her face went completely white. “Oh, no!” she murmured.Then she added, “I-I’m sorry, Mr. Baxter. I promise I’ll get rid of it.”
    â€œGood. Now, where’s that bracelet?” Baxter asked, getting back to business.
    Rachel opened her work desk drawer and slowly took out a charm bracelet. “Len wanted me to put on the charm that you made for him—the one that’s the logo from his landscaping business.”
    George stepped forward to look at the bracelet. “So that’s what Nancy saw Len