&
nbsp; The Lexus left Route 1, cut across North Trenton, and pulled into the parking lot of the medical center where Craig Fish had his practice.
It was Craig Fish.
“This isn’t earthshaking, since he’s supposed to work at The Clinic,” I said to Briggs.
“Yeah, but why would he go there if there were no patients? He must be checking on someone.”
I drove across town, hit the drive-through window of Cluck-in-a-Bucket, ordered too much food, and stopped off at the office with a tub of assorted chicken parts and a bag of artery-clogging biscuits.
“Hey,” Lula said. “It’s Shortstuff.”
“Hey,” Briggs said. “It’s Fatso.”
I put the food on Connie’s desk and got a bottle of water out of the fridge.
“Anything new?” I asked.
“Vinnie’s in a state over Elwood Pitch.”
“He’s not the only one,” Briggs said. “My job’s on the line.”
I took a piece of chicken. “Morelli’s working on it.”
My phone rang. It was Ranger.
“Babe,” Ranger said. “The bridal salon woman called me again. Why is she calling me and not you?”
“Because she doesn’t have my number?”
“I’ll get even,” Ranger said.
I actually was loving it. “What did she want?”
“She wanted me to remind you to pick up your dress.”
Lula, Connie, and Briggs were watching me when I dropped my phone back into my bag.
“Who was that?” Lula wanted to know.
“Ranger.”
“That explains the smile,” Lula said. And she selected another piece of chicken.
I ate a piece of chicken and a biscuit, and I was thinking it might be a good idea to stop at the bakery on the way to the bridal salon. A donut would be the perfect ending to a really deliciously crappy lunch.
I loaded Briggs into the Rangeman SUV, we made a quick stop at the bakery, and I left him eating donuts in the car while I ran into the bridal salon.
Mary DeLorenzo brought the dress from the back room. “Let’s just try it on to make sure everything is perfect,” she said.
“No time,” I told her. “Things to do. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“You really should try it on,” Mary said. “It’s such an important occasion.”
“I’ll try it on at home. Promise.” I grabbed the massive zippered bag and rushed to the door. I couldn’t resist the opportunity and turned back toward Mary DeLorenzo. “Be sure to call Ranger and tell him I picked the dress up,” I told her.
I tossed the heavy plastic bag into the backseat and slid behind the wheel.