Diamond Deceit by Carolyn Keene

think?” Marcia looked up at Len apologetically.
    â€œI always rant and rave when I’m upset,” Len said. “It’s just the way I let off steam.”
    Marcia smiled at him. “I guess I should know, but so much was at stake—my whole business.”
    Turning to Nancy, Marcia said, “That’s why I wouldn’t talk to you this morning. I had to talk to Len first, and he didn’t show up here until after lunch.” She let out a nervous laugh. “I’m just glad I talked to him before the police picked meup for questioning. At least I could tell them what really happened. And when the police called, Mrs. Kohler confirmed that Len was there until just before ten o’clock.”
    Marcia still didn’t have proof that she had been where she claimed to be, but her story seemed to ring true. Also, Nancy’s instincts told her that the same person was probably involved in both crimes. If Len and Marcia hadn’t killed Joanna, they probably hadn’t stolen her diamonds.
    The wheels in Nancy’s mind were turning. Assuming that Len and Marcia weren’t involved, that left Cy Baxter, his assistant Rachel, and Morgan Fowler as suspects. Cy Baxter had an alibi for the time of Joanna Burton’s murder, but Nancy wondered about the other two.
    â€œYou must be scaring the person who’s responsible,” George put in. “Someone shoved that boulder at you this afternoon. And if Marcia was at the police station, it couldn’t have been her.”
    Nancy quickly explained what had happened to the others. “And that’s not all. Last night I received a ‘gift’ of a smashed cuckoo clock with a warning note,” she concluded.
    â€œThat’s awful,” Len said. He nodded at Nancy’s bandaged ankle. “I was so caught up in what we had to tell you that I didn’t even notice that you were hurt. Is it serious?”
    He seemed relieved when Nancy told him she’d be okay.
    â€œNancy needs to get home and rest that ankle, though,” Bess said, getting up from her chair. “Let me get us something for dinner first.”
    â€œWe need to be going, too,” Marcia said, standing up.
    When Bess returned with a huge paper bag a few minutes later, Ted fixed her with stony dark eyes. “Are you going to be gone all day tomorrow?” he asked her. The annoyance in his voice was clear.
    â€œTed, you’ll do just fine,” Bess said simply.
    This was the Bess Nancy knew—the one who wouldn’t let Ted or any other guy push her around.
    Turning back to Nancy, Bess said, “I’ll go get the car. I have to go right by a video store on the way, so I think I’ll rent a movie, too. We can borrow your VCR, can’t we, Ted?” Bess asked.
    â€œUm, sure,” Ted said, but his expression told Nancy he wasn’t happy about anything.
    â€œI’m going with you to pick out the movie, Bess,” George insisted. “I don’t want to watch one of those silly romantic things you always rent.”
    Nancy started to get up, but Bess only shook her head. “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not moving an inch until we come back with the car.”
    â€œWe’ll only be a few minutes,” George promised. Then she and Bess hurried out of the restaurant.
    Ted stared angrily after Bess and George, then stormed back into the kitchen. Nancy was glad, though, that Bess had stuck up for herself.
    After a few minutes Nancy got fidgety. “I’ll just walk down and find Bess and George,” she murmured, getting to her feet.
    She tried to ignore the incessant throbbing in her ankle as she left the café and started down Ocean Avenue. Spotting the video store Bess had mentioned about halfway down the block, she limped over to it and peeked in through the window. Bess and George were there, all right—talking to Morgan Fowler!
    Great, Nancy thought. This was a chance to find