Diamond Deceit by Carolyn Keene Page A

out more about what he knew about the diamond theft and Joanna Burton’s murder.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Bess asked as Nancy joined them. “You shouldn’t be walking.”
    â€œI wanted to help you pick out a movie,” said Nancy. “Hi, Morgan.”
    The actor smiled a hello. “I’m surprised to see you up and around after your fall this afternoon,” he said. “But it looks like your friends picked out a good movie for you,” he said.
    George held up a videocassette. On the cover was a young woman peering through a magnifying glass. The title of the movie was Diamond Deceit, and the woman on the cover, Joanna Burton. She was playing Trish Tottenham, a detective.
    â€œI go for action-adventure movies myself,”Morgan said, holding up a box with a warrior dressed in space-age fighting gear.
    As the group headed for the counter, Bess said, “Morgan has some great news,” she said. “He got a part in a movie!”
    Morgan turned to Nancy, flashing her one of his winning smiles. “I just quit Seaside Security. Stephanie Cooke thinks she has a part for me in a movie, and she’s agreed to be my agent.”
    â€œThat is good news,” Nancy said, but her mind wasn’t really on what he was telling her. She was trying to think of a way to turn the conversation to the case.
    Morgan paid the girl at the counter for his movie, then turned back to Nancy. “Stephanie was involved in a big comeback deal for Joanna,” he said. “That’s the movie she has in mind for me. You know Michael Davis?” When Nancy nodded, he continued. “Stephanie thinks she can get Joanna’s movie rewritten for a male lead. Michael Davis is one of her clients. If he agrees to do the movie, she thinks there’s a part in it for me,” Morgan finished with a proud smile.
    He waved his videocassette at Nancy, Bess, and George. “Well, see you later.” Before Nancy could think about how to turn the conversation to the missing diamonds, he was gone.
    â€œThis ankle must be making me lightheaded,” she muttered to herself.
    â€œYour ankle hurts?” Bess asked worriedly.
    â€œWe’d better get you back to the inn,” Georgeadded, stepping away from the counter with their videocassette.
    Bess gave Nancy a stern look. “You wait here, and I’ll go get the car,” she said.
    The three of them walked out of the shop together. Spotting a bench a short way down the hill, Nancy went to it and sat. George stopped in a newsstand next to the video store and picked up a paper.
    â€œThis will give us something to read while we wait for Bess,” George said, joining Nancy at the bench.
    George pulled out the sports section of the newspaper and handed the rest to Nancy. Nancy immediately scanned the headlines.
    â€œPolice Seek Clues in Death of Movie Queen,” the headline read. “George, here’s a story about Joanna Burton.” Nancy held out the paper so they could both read the article.
    The story didn’t give many details, saying only that the actress’s body had been found on the beach behind her house, and that foul play was suspected. Most of the article focused on Joanna Burton’s film career.
    â€œIt says she was going to do another Trish Tottenham movie, a mature Trish,” George said. “That must be the movie Morgan was talking about. He may be getting his hopes up a little soon, though.” George pointed to a part of the story Nancy hadn’t read yet. “It says that thefuture of the picture is in doubt because Joanna was providing a portion of the financing.”
    Nancy sat up straight. That didn’t make sense. “She didn’t have any money of her own. Cy Baxter said she didn’t pay her bills, and we saw how worn her house was. Where would she get the money to invest in a movie?”
    In a flash the solution suddenly became clear to Nancy.