Murder for the Halibut Read Online Free

who was getting her line ready to recast as if nothing
     had happened. She decided the jury was still out on whether or not this really was
     an accident.
    A sneak peek at the rest of the group still congregating around Stefano verified Casey
     wasn’t the only one who didn’t seem all that broken up about the injury. Luis Herrera
     wasn’t even trying to hide his grin. Jordan made a mental note to sic Rosie on him
     as soon as she could. She’d find out what was up with his attitude.
    Mo and Johnny helped Stefano to his feet and led him to the shaded area where he slumped
     on the bench, obviously feeling no pain at the moment. After Johnny pulled the anchor,
     he revved up the
Sea Shark
’s engine and headed back to port.
    Casey made her way over to Michael and Jordan, a half grin still on her face. “And
     then there were five,” she snickered. “Guess you won’t need to eliminate one of us
     tomorrow at the Greased Lightning Elimination Round.”
    The gang was already at the hotel waiting in Jordan’s room when she and Michael returned.
    “Catch any fish?” asked Ray Varga, the oldest among her fellow residents at Empire
     Apartments, when he saw her.
    “She snared the biggest snapper I’ve ever seen,” Michael answered for her. “You should
     have seen her reel that sucker in.”
    Ray gave her a squeeze that made her wince. In his sixties and retired for several
     years from the police force, Ray still worked out daily and had the body of a much
     younger man.
    “Sorry, sweetie. Sometimes I squeeze too hard.”
    “Tell me about it,” Lola Van Horn said, stealing Jordan from him to embrace her. “The
     man hasn’t learned that sometimes less is more.”
    In her early seventies, Lola lived next door to Ray and shared more than cups of coffee
     with him.
    “You didn’t say that last night, shortcake,” Ray replied, unable to conceal the mischief
     in his voice.
    “Criminy!” Rosie LaRue said from the bed she’d sharewith Jordan later. “Do you really think we want to hear about what you and Lola do
     behind closed doors, Ray? Some of us aren’t so lucky, you know.” She fist-bumped with
     Jordan, then patted the bed. “Power to the sisters. Now sit and tell me how you outfished
     all the men, Jordan. Then let’s talk about tomorrow. I’m so excited, I probably won’t
     be able to sleep tonight.”
    Jordan sat on the edge of the bed and scrunched her mouth in a pout. “I wish I could
     eat your food tomorrow instead of the fishy stuff the chefs will be cooking.”
    “Oh, pooh! Just take one small taste and spread the rest around on your plate,” Victor
     Rodriguez said from the other side of the room. “I used to do that when the nuns tried
     to make me eat crap I didn’t like.”
    “She can’t play with her food, Victor. Everyone will be watching her. However, as
     a judge, she only has to take a few sample bites of each dish, anyway,” Michael said.
    “Oh, so now you talk to me?”
    Michael lowered his eyes, like a preteen kid who knew he was in trouble. “I couldn’t
     find a minute to myself before the fishing trip, Victor, and there were no bars on
     my cell phone out at sea. I’ll make it up to you.”
    Victor’s eyes lit up. “How?”
    “With a nice dinner tonight along with your favorite drink, a chocolate martini.”
    “You’re going to do that, anyway.” Victor narrowed his eyes. “Take me on the booze
     cruise when we get to Saint Kitts.”
    “You know I’m not supposed…” Michael threw up his hands in surrender. “Ah, what the
     heck. Agreed. Now quit pouting.”
    “You love it when I pout.”
    “Geez! What part of ‘no sex talk’ did you not get? Without mentioning any names”—she
     poked Jordan—“some of us are flying solo on that mission.”
    “Yes, dear.” Victor plopped on the bed beside Rosie and Jordan. “We are
so
going to have a blast. Now that we’re all finally together in one spot, you have
     our undivided attention, Michael. Tell