Free Diamond Deceit by Carolyn Keene Page A

give you a little while ago?”
    Rachel nodded. “He wanted it to be a surprise. Please don’t tell Marcia.”
    Taking the charm bracelet from his assistant, Cy Baxter carefully examined it. “Here’s Marcia’s sea otter,” he said, holding out the charm for Nancy to see.
    Nancy carefully inspected the small gold loop connecting the charm to the bracelet. It was slightly tarnished, not shiny the way it would be if it were new. “Are you sure the sea otter charm was on there when Len gave the bracelet to you?” Nancy asked. “You didn’t put that one on today?”
    â€œOh, no,” Rachel answered with a firm shake of her head. “The only new charm is the logo of Len’s new business, Peninsula Pine Landscaping.”
    Baxter fingered through the charms until he came to the right one. When he held it out,George grabbed Nancy’s arm. Nancy did a double-take when she looked at the charm.
    The charm was of a gold pine tree with white-tipped branches that looked like waves. It was identical to the logo on the truck that had nearly run them off the 17-Mile Drive that morning near Joanna Burton’s house!

Chapter

Ten
    N ANCY COULD hardly believe her eyes. There was a very good chance that she and George had seen Len speeding away from the murder scene.
    â€œNancy, are you thinking what I’m thinking?” George asked softly.
    â€œMaybe, but let’s not jump to any conclusions.” Turning to Cy Baxter, she asked, “Do you know if Len has a pickup truck with this logo on the side?”
    Baxter nodded.
    Okay, slow down, Drew, Nancy cautioned herself. She and George hadn’t actually seen Len leave Joanna Burton’s house. But she couldn’t think of a reason for him to be driving so recklessly—unless he had been up to no good and wanted to get away fast.
    Nancy thought back to her encounter with Marcia that morning. If Marcia knew or even suspected that Len had been at Joanna’s that morning, that could explain her refusal to answer Nancy’s questions.
    Nancy knew George was dying to talk this over, but they couldn’t in front of Cy Baxter and Rachel.
    Nancy was about to say goodbye when Baxter asked, “What about Gigi?” Seeing the girls’ perplexed expressions, he added, “Joanna’s dog. Who’s going to take care of her?”
    â€œThe police probably took charge of her. Or maybe Joanna’s agent took her home,” George said.
    â€œStephanie Cooke?” Baxter’s face turned sour as he mentioned the agent’s name. “I can’t imagine that she’d go out of her way to help anyone—especially if the person is dead and can’t do anything for her. I’d better call the police and check on the dog myself.”
    Nancy was surprised at Cy Baxter’s critical tone. It had seemed to her that the agent was very concerned for her client. “Weren’t Joanna and Stephanie close?” Nancy asked.
    â€œNot really. Stephanie’s specialty is to take an older actor or actress whose career has fallen off and build it back up.” With a quick look at Rachel he added, “I think she represented Michael Davis in his comeback, in fact.”
    Rachel smiled stiffly and quickly placed the photo of Michael Davis in her drawer. She seemed uncomfortable talking about the actor, but then, why keep his photo on her desk?
    After thanking Cy Baxter and Rachel for their time, Nancy and George headed for the door. The clocks in the showroom chimed the hour as they passed through the showroom. Nancy started at the sound. It reminded her of the smashed cuckoo clock that had been delivered to her at the Provence Inn.
    A quick glance at the wall of clocks told her that Cy Baxter’s cuckoo clock was in the same place it had been the day before. The clock that had been sent to her hadn’t come from him—unless Baxter kept a supply of them.
    â€œThat’s a