Murder for the Halibut Read Online Free Page B

she’d almost turned down the offer.
    That was before Victor had come up with the brilliant idea of making up foreign names
     for Rosie’s recipes. Her famous pork chop casserole was now Cóte de Porc á la Cocotte.
     Even Egan had been amazed at the response from the local community. The recipes had
     quickly become the talk of the town, and she was now a household name—at least to
     the twenty-two thousand or so residents of Ranchero who had no idea she was clueless
     in the kitchen.
    “Jordan?”
    Victor’s voice snapped Jordan back to the present. “What?”
    “You were miles away. We’re talking about our jobs.”He turned to Lola. “So what are you doing?” Victor asked.
    “Reading tarot cards for the guests and teaching a class on séances.”
    “Ha!” Victor blurted. “The last séance you performed nearly ended in disaster. Remember,
     sweetie?”
    “That’s because you and Jordan’s brother popped in uninvited,” Lola fired back. “And
     don’t ‘sweetie’ me. I was ready to kill you that night.”
    Jordan smiled at her friend who had become a second mother to her. Lola owned Lola’s
     Spiritual Readings in downtown Ranchero where she read tarot cards, among other psychic
     services, for some of the wealthiest people in the county. Standing barely five three,
     if that, and wearing caftans over her adorably pudgy figure, Lola loved to eat, especially
     the mouthwatering desserts Ray cooked up.
    “I know I’m going to help with the entertainment, but what’s she doing?” Victor scooted
     over and put his head on Rosie’s shoulder.
    “What do I do best?”
    He pursed his lips in deep thought. “Make jewelry and sell it on eBay?”
    Rosie laughed. “You’re right. And I’m darn good at that, too, but I’m talking about
     something else. What do I do every Friday night when you guys all come over to play
     cards?”
    “Cook?” When she nodded, he shrugged. “Cruises are famous for their great abundance
     of good food. Plus, there will be six chefs vying for the title of Caribbean Cook-Off
     Champion. No offense, darling, but why would they want you to cook?”
    Rosie punched him in the arm playfully. “You havesuch a way with words, you clod.” She turned to Michael. “Tell your little friend
     what you worked out for me before I smack him upside the head.”
    Michael shook his head. “That’s my baby. He opens his mouth, and his foot pops right
     into it.” He walked closer to the bed. “Just so you know, my boss and Dwayne Egan,
     Jordan’s boss, thought it would add a nice touch if they made some of Jordan’s recipes
     available for people to sample. Since Jordan will be busy with the contest—not to
     mention no one in their right mind would eat anything she cooks—my boss insisted I
     hire Rosie after I gave him a taste of one of her casseroles. They turned one of the
     smaller restaurants on board into what they’re calling
Ranchero Globe
’s Kitchen Kupboard. It will be open only for lunch and only to the people who are
     part of the KTLK group, the twenty-five tasters chosen from a lottery, and, of course,
     the judges and all of us.”
    “So, I guess since most of the recipes Jordan prints are right out of Rosie’s cookbook,
     our own Friday-night chef will be running the restaurant?” Victor asked.
    “You got it,” Michael said “Now Rosie is a head chef for a week.”
    Jordan reached over and high-fived her friend. “At least I’ll eat well at lunch.”
    “Dinner won’t be so bad, Jordan. I’ll sneak some leftovers to our room if you absolutely
     hate what the chefs cook,” Rosie said.
    “Oh, I’ll hate the food, for sure, especially the first night.” Jordan shook her head.
     “Any fish that doesn’t include beer, batter, and frying is not my idea of tasty.”
    Michael laughed. “Tomorrow’s Greased Lightning Elimination Round may not be that bad,
     Jordan. The chefswill only have thirty minutes to prepare their dish, and like I said