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Morelli squelched a grimace. “Can he say anything besides ‘Yuh’?”
“Not yet,” I said. “We were hoping he would come around.”
Morelli put a call in for an EMT transport.
A half hour later Vinnie was being wheeled into the ER, and Lucille was on her way to the hospital.
Morelli took me aside. “What’s with the Rangeman guy?”
“I asked Ranger to install security cameras at the deli, and he decided I needed personal security as well. So, I have Hal.”
“Lucky you. Is Hal watching the game with us tonight?”
“No game. I have a takedown tonight after I close at the deli. Hal’s going to help.”
“Do I want to know about this?”
“No.”
Morelli kissed me on the forehead. “I have to get back to my desk to finish today’s paperwork. Be careful tonight.”
Connie stayed with Vinnie. Lula, Hal, and I went back to the deli. Raymond was alone in the kitchen when we walked in.
“Where’s Stretch?” I asked.
“I have him locked in the pantry. He took some of the bonus pills, and he got very silly.”
“How silly?” I asked.
“He is a little hallucinogenic. There was a moment when he was talking to his chef’s knife, and I became concerned, so I bribed him into the pantry with a jar of mayonnaise, and then I locked the door.”
“Is he in there with the knife?”
“No. I confiscated the knife. He and the knife appeared to be having a disagreement.”
I went to the pantry and knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked again.
“Maybe he has fallen asleep,” Raymond said.
I unlocked the door and peeked inside. Stretch was sitting on the floor, eating out of the mayonnaise jar with his finger. He looked up at me and giggled. I closed and locked the door.
“He’s okay,” I said.
Dalia rushed in. “Sorry I’m late,” she said. “I had car trouble.”
Several customers had come in behind her.
“We need someone to be the new Stretch,” Raymond said. “I must tend to my fry station.”
I blew out a sigh. “I’ll do it. Give me a menu so I have a cheat sheet.”
Dalia slapped an order onto the counter. “I’ve got a sixteen, and a thirty-two with extra cheese, and a number nine, hold the onions.”
“A nine is a burger,” Lula said. “Here’s your roll. Put it on the grill with the burger. I got the sixteen.”
Thirty-two was a chili dog. I could do that. I threw a hot dog on the grill with the burger.
Dalia put another order on the counter. “I need two number twelves and a side of fries,” she said.
