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looked vaguely familiar. Nancy lingered on the sidewalk a moment, hoping the woman would turn so she could identify her.
    Len was speaking intently to the woman. Finally he handed her what appeared to be a smallenvelope. The woman glanced around warily before she stuffed the envelope in her pocket.
    Something about their furtive behavior aroused Nancy’s suspicions. Suddenly Len glanced up the hill, and his eyes landed on Nancy. He quickly looked away and said something to his companion. A moment later he moved briskly away, turning down a side street.
    What was going on? Nancy wondered. Why did Len become so nervous when he saw her?
    Nancy started toward the corner, hoping to catch up with Len. She had taken only a few steps when the woman Len had been talking to turned in Nancy’s direction. Nancy immediately recognized her.
    It was Cy Baxter’s assistant!

Chapter

Nine
    N ANCY ’ S MIND RACED . What secretive business could those two have together? Could it somehow be related to Joanna Burton’s death?
    Nancy recalled the smashed cuckoo clock. Maybe the assistant had sent it. Nancy took off down Ocean Avenue toward the woman.
    â€œNancy, where are you going?” George called from across the street.
    Nancy motioned for George to come with her, then turned back to look at the dark-haired woman. She had disappeared!
    Nancy ran to the corner. Shading her eyes with her hand, she glanced in both directions, then frowned. Neither Len nor Cy Baxter’s assistant was in sight.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” George asked breathlessly, catching up with Nancy.
    â€œWhen we came out of Marcia’s shop, Len was standing down here, talking to the woman we saw in Cy Baxter’s shop yesterday,” Nancy explained. “Len handed her a package, but when they saw me, they both hurried off.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to fit the pieces of information she had together. “Do you think it’s possible that she and Len worked together to steal the diamonds from Joanna Burton’s necklace?” she wondered out loud. “Len could have taken the necklace from the safe without Marcia knowing about it. Then he could have given the necklace to the woman to make the switch. She has access to all the right tools at Cy Baxter’s store. And she must know where to get cubic zirconia.”
    â€œIt’s possible,” George agreed. “I mean, Len did say they’ve been working hard to get their businesses off the ground. Maybe he stole the diamonds because money is tight.” Then she frowned, running a hand through her short, dark curls. “But the diamond switch happened days ago. I still don’t get what Len could be handing over to that woman now.”
    Nancy had been wondering the same thing. “It’s possible there was money in the envelope. Maybe Len gave her a cut after he sold the diamonds.”
    Nancy absently fingered the hem of her blazer. “Let’s face it. Marcia, Len, Cy Baxter, and his assistant are all still suspects, and we’re no closerto figuring out who’s guilty than we were yesterday.”
    George flicked a thumb back in the direction of the Café de Carmel. “Well, let’s give up for now and see if Bess is through working. Maybe we can get in some sightseeing,” she suggested. “After a break, maybe all of this will seem a little clearer.”
    â€œMmm,” Nancy said noncommittally. “I want to go back to Baxter’s jewelry store, though. I want to check out both Baxter and his assistant more.”
    â€œAfter lunch,” George insisted, pulling Nancy toward Café de Carmel. “All we’ve been through this morning has made me hungry!”
    When the two girls entered Ted’s restaurant, there was already a sizable lunch crowd. Libby, the waitress Bess had spoken to the day before, was rushing around taking orders and delivering food.
    â€œI guess Bess is in