living room.
“Excuse me,” Judith said loudly. “Since I can use
the kitchen, I’ll take dinner orders now. Does anyone
have some particular craving?”
Only Ellie Linn seemed excited by the announcement. “Can I get some of my dad’s famous hot
dogs? I’ve really missed them the past few days, you
know.”
Judith nodded. “There’s a Wienie Wizard just across
the ship canal. Anyone else want something special?”
“Not wieners,” Angela said with a sneer. “I’d rather
eat rubber.”
“Steak,” Dirk said, giving Angela’s shoulders a
quick squeeze. “New York cut, an inch thick, rare.”
“You know what sounds good to me?” Chips Madigan said in his ingenuous manner. “An old-fashioned
chicken pot pie, like my mother makes.”
Ben Carmody gazed at the ceiling. “Pasta. Any
kind, with prawns and a really good baguette.”
“If Vito is here,” Winifred put in, “he prefers sushi,
particularly the spider rolls.”
Judith’s innkeeper’s smile began to droop. She
hadn’t planned on serving a smorgasbord.
“Wine,” Ellie added. “You know—some really fine
wines. I like a Merlot with my Wienie Wizards.” She
shot Angela an insolent look.
“Dade?” Judith called across the long room. “What
about you?”
The writer, who had, as usual, been staring out
through the French doors, slowly turned around. “What
about what?” he inquired in his soft Southern voice.
“What you’d like to eat,” Judith said, hearing the
front door close.
“Chitlins,” Dade said, and turned his back again.
“Winifred?” Judith said as Joe ambled back into the
living room.
Winifred shook her head. “I’m not hungry.” She
paused, tapping her sharp chin. “A small salad, perhaps. Mostly field greens.”
“I’ll call a caterer. They’ll be able to stop by the
Wienie Wizard on their way here.” Still trying to keep
her hospitable smile in place, Judith hurried off to use
the phone in the kitchen.
“Woody’s heading for the crime lab,” Joe whispered
as Judith went past him. “He’s doing some background
checks, too.”
It took ten minutes to place the order with the
caterer, with Judith filling in various other items to tide
her guests over until the next morning. She had just
