It had not. The clerk, a pretty round woman of about forty with a nice if slightly nervous smile, beamed with plastic pleasure when they approached her.
“I thought you’d be back. Oh, with the date this time, eh? Having him check it out?” the clerk asked. “It’s perfect on her, just right with those curves, and that little waist. I had a feeling you’d be back. In fact, I was so certain, I set it aside! After I picked it up off the floor of the dressing room when you, uh, ran out,” she added, a slight touch of reproach slipping into her voice.
“I’m so sorry. I realized I had, um, somewhere to be. But yes, we’re back for the dress,” Raina said.
“Wonderful, dear. I have it right here!” The friendly clerk turned around to a rack of clothing, riffled through it for a minute and produced a blue dress. She then asked with a wince, “Did you want to try it on again, dear?”
Axel glanced quickly at Raina. She didn’t give away much, but she was going very pale, which was really something since her skin was like porcelain. Her hair was a dark auburn, framing the lightness of her complexion. Her eyes, he realized, he had remembered through the years. They weren’t brown, green or even hazel, but rather a shade that was like a true amber, unusual and striking, and now, again, adding to the pale shade of her face.
“I—uh...”
She was stuttering, so Axel answered for her.
“We don’t need her to try it again. We’ll just take it.”
“Oh, thank the good Lord!” the woman said, her words whispered and barely discernable.
Raina turned to stare at him, something incredulous in her expression now, a touch of color rising to her cheek. She moved awkwardly to ease her shoulder bag to the counter, ready to produce her credit card.
Axel smiled, not sure if his words would make it harder or ease a burden. “My gift to you, darling!” he said quickly, handing the woman one of his own credit cards.
The clerk took it, babbling away about how beautiful Raina was going to be and what a lovely couple they made. Raina just stood still, saying nothing.
But he needed more from the place. “This is a very special dress. I would imagine not many people have tried it on.”
“The only woman I know of who tried it on is your lovely little lady here,” the clerk said. “But I’m not always here, of course. There are three of us during the late shift and on Saturdays and Sundays. Someone else may have tried it on. I don’t know. But I assure you, there’s nothing wrong with it. Clothing is often tried on. It’s good to know it fits.”
“Oh, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the dress.”
He’d have to come back; maybe one of the clerks did remember who else had tried on the dress—perhaps his victim was even someone who came often.
If his suspicions were correct, the information could help identify the body.
Once they were outside, Raina said, “You know I will never ever in a thousand years really wear that thing,” she said.
“Yes, I know.”
“That was an expensive...”
“Tool,” he told her. “It’s a tool, and well worth it if it can help. Now, do you want to go to the local offices and try it on there? I didn’t think you wanted to try it on in the shop again.”
“No! I barely made it out of there looking halfway sane the first time.”
“Then we’ll head to the offices.”
“Would it be possible for me to try it on somewhere a little more private?” she asked. She hesitated, wincing. “I, uh, I think my house will be the best place. It’s not far. I don’t know how much you remember about Miami, but it’s just off Sunset and US 1, High Pines area.”
“That’s fine.”
She looked at him. “I have a dog.”
“Um, that’s nice?”
“A big dog.”
“Is he vicious?”
“No! Well, he’s protective.”
“I’m assuming I’ll be fine if you introduce me.”
She nodded. “Yes, exactly. He’s just really big. He scares some people, but I can assure you, he’s an amazing, smart animal.”
“Then he’ll know if someone means you harm—and I don’t.”
They arrived at her house. It was a well-kept home, probably built in the 1950s, concrete block and stucco with a handsome stone fence around it and a carved wooden gate. The yard held a massive avocado tree to the one side and a few palms to the other.