Dying on the Vine (28 page)
He raised his voice to an imperious mezzo-soprano “‘So what is it that a Skeleton Doctor does exactly, anyway?’ Was she somebody important? She seemed to think so.”
“She
is
important. She’s a TV producer, and she works with the Food Network. She was there to look Luca over as the host for a possible cooking show.”
“Was she? He’d be great at that.”
“That’s what she thought. Luca’s got himself a show. Guess what it’s called?”
“I have no idea.”
“Sure you do. Take a guess.”
He thought for a moment. “
La Cucina di Nonna Gina
?”
“That’s it.
La Cucina di Nonna Gina with Chef Luca Cubbiddu
.”
“Well, good for him. He’ll love it. And they’ll love him. Here’s to Luca and Grandma Gina.” He raised his glass and they clinked.
“They’ve been filming right there at Villa Antica since yesterday. First show airs here October 19. He’s starting with a tricky dish to make right; I messed up when he tried to teach us in the class. But I’ll record the program this time. He says it’s one dish you can freeze—
if
you do it at the right stage—so I can make enough for a few meals. It’ll be a wonderful one-dish dinner on cold winter nights.”
“Sounds good. What is it?”
“
Ossobuco.
I’ll make a ton of it.”
Gideon downed the rest of his martini, choking just a little, and rose with his glass. “You know, I believe I’ll have another.”
Other titles by Aaron Elkins
Gideon Oliver Novels
DYING ON THE VINE*
SKULL DUGGERY*
UNEASY RELATIONS*
LITTLE TINY TEETH*
UNNATURAL SELECTION*
WHERE THERE’S A WILL*
GOOD BLOOD*
SKELETON DANCE
TWENTY BLUE DEVILS
DEAD MEN’S HEARTS
MAKE NO BONES
ICY CLUTCHES
CURSES!
OLD BONES*
MURDER IN THE QUEEN’S ARMES*
THE DARK PLACE*
FELLOWSHIP OF FEAR*
Chris Norgren Novels
OLD SCORES
A GLANCING LIGHT
DECEPTIVE CLARITY
Lee Ofsted Novels (with Charlotte Elkins)
ON THE FRINGE
WHERE HAVE ALL THE BIRDIES GONE?
NASTY BREAKS
ROTTEN LIES
A WICKED SLICE
Thrillers
TURNCOAT
LOOT
THE WORST THING
*Available from Berkley Prime Crime
