Read Online Diamond Deceit by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online

asked.
    â€œI don’t know.” Marcia continued to stare at her bare wrist. “I guess I didn’t put it on this morning. I left home so early.” She opened a drawer under the counter, then pushed it shut. “No, I remember putting it on, because I took it off when I got here. I was doing some sketches, and it was getting in the way. Maybe it’s in the workroom—”
    Marcia turned to check back in the workroom. Nancy and George followed. “Maybe I didn’t put it on this morning after all,” she decided after a thorough search.
    â€œThe police think that Joanna was pushed down the stairs,” Nancy said, fixing Marcia with a sober gaze. “She was holding a charm in her hand when we found her.”
    Marcia stared blankly at Nancy, then sat down in a chair. “You don’t think—I wouldn’t—I couldn’t—”
    â€œJoanna Burton’s agent, Stephanie Cooke, claims that Miss Burton said you were calling and annoying her, asking to come see her about the necklace,” George added.
    â€œWhy would I do that?” Marcia asked, confused. “You were going to talk to her, so Why would I?”
    Nancy raised a question. “You didn’t go out to Miss Burton’s this morning?”
    â€œI—I was with a client here at the store thismorning, working on a design,” Marcia replied. Nancy noticed that her eyes shifted nervously and couldn’t help wondering if the young woman was hiding something.
    Before she could ask Marcia anything else, the front door to the shop opened. “Hello?” a woman’s voice called out.
    â€œI’ll go see what it’s about,” George offered.
    Through the open doorway Nancy heard the woman inquire about a bracelet she’d left to be repaired. “I came by at ten-fifteen to pick it up, but the shop wasn’t open yet,” the woman was saying.
    Nancy glanced at Marcia with narrowed eyes. “I thought you said you were here this morning,” Nancy said in a low voice.
    â€œWell, I wasn’t at Joanna’s. That’s all you need to know,” Marcia said. Turning away from Nancy, she went into the shop.
    Nancy watched as Marcia retrieved a package from under the counter and held it out to the woman. “Your bracelet is ready, Mrs. Ortiz.”
    This case is getting more complicated every second, Nancy thought. Marcia had seemed genuinely surprised by the news of Joanna’s murder. Either she was a very good actress or she was telling the truth and hadn’t been there. But if she hadn’t been at the actress’s home, why wouldn’t she say where she had been?
    After Mrs. Ortiz had left, Marcia came out from behind the counter. Instead of rejoiningNancy in the workroom, Marcia went to the front door. “I don’t feel like answering any more questions,” she said, her lips trembling. “I think you two should go now.”
    Nancy was irritated now. “Marcia, you and Len asked for my help. But I can’t work for you if you don’t tell me everything,” she said.
    Marcia let out a long sigh before looking at Nancy. “Please, I need some time to think this through,” she said wearily. “Could you come back later?” She must have seen the disapproval in Nancy’s face, because she quickly added, “Look, I didn’t kill Joanna, but I can’t talk about it now.”
    Marcia opened the shop door and stood there. Nancy didn’t have any choice but to leave.
    â€œI’ll be back later,” Nancy said to Marcia, but the door had already been shut, cutting off her words.
    George rolled her eyes. “Talk about weird!” she said. “Well, we might as well see if Bess is done working.” George started across the street.
    Nancy automatically checked for traffic on Ocean Avenue. She noticed Len about half a block down the hill at the corner, talking to a dark-haired woman who