The Master Plan (2009)

by Carol Costa

  "I just wanted to report that I took my car over to Flannery's Garage. They are supposed to do an oil change and a lube job and call me when it's ready to pick up. So far, no word from them"

  "How are you getting around without a car?"

  "Bob picked me up and we're working on a few other things together. Did you need to talk to him?"

  "No. Actually, I wanted to invite you and Tony to have din - ner with Bruno and me tomorrow night at Marsella's."

  "How nice," Casey replied with no hint of suspicion in her voice. "I'll check with Tony and let you know."

  "Great. Bruno's mom is coming to town this month, so I want to get together with you before she gets here"

  "Have you met her before?"

  "A few times. She's quite the woman; I'm a little intimidated by her. What about Tony's mom? Do you get along with her?"

  "Tony doesn't have any family to speak of," Casey replied carefully. "So, I guess I don't have to worry about getting along with my in-laws."

  "Well, that could be a plus," Dana told her. "Let me know about dinner."

  "I will," Casey said, but her voice had lost the upbeat tone it had when they started the conversation.

  Dana was sorry she had questioned Casey about Tony's family. It had reminded Casey of the doubts about her fiance that she had come to Dana with a few weeks earlier. At that time, Casey said that Tony refused to talk about his family, claiming that they didn't get along and had no contact with one another. Now Dana wondered if he had changed his story, denying the very existence of relatives to keep Casey from asking more questions.

  Dana reviewed the new cases that had come in the mail that day. Fortunately, there were only two minor problems and she assigned both of them to Bob.

  Marianne just gave Dana the cases that needed a trained investigator to handle. Many requests required simple research that could be handled by a phone call or an Internet search. Marianne did most of that work herself or enlisted the help of other departments in the newspaper. Then she wrote up a report that Dana reviewed and approved before it was sent out to the client.

  A few such reports were also on Dana's desk. She read the original requests from the clients and Marianne's reports on the matters, signed off on them and walked out to the reception area to return them to her secretary.

  "These are good, ready to go," Dana said. "Thank you. Anything urgent in the e-mails today?"

  "No," Marianne replied.

  "Okay, then. I'm going to drive over to the Sunflower Market to try to talk to the manager and some of the other employees there" Dana had filled Marianne in on the case when she returned to the office after lunch. "Did you get through to the temp agency?"

  "Yes. I talked to the office manager and she agreed to meet with you tomorrow morning. Here's her name and the address and phone number of the place."

  Dana took the note Marianne held out to her and slipped it into the purse she already had slung over her shoulder. "If anyone is looking for me, have them call my cell phone. I probably won't be back in the office today."

  With her coat and scarf over her arm, Dana left the office and headed for the elevator. When she got down to the Globe's lobby, her cell phone was ringing.

  Dana fished the phone out of her purse and answered it. "Dana Sloan"

  "Hi, Dana" It was Casey. "The garage just called me and said that my car needs a brake job and a new water pump. The repair bill would be over three hundred dollars."

  "What did you tell them?"

  "I said I would have to pick the car up today and bring it back at the end of the week when I could arrange for a loaner car to drive. Bob and I are on our way back there now. Bob said it's still early enough to take it over to his friend, the honest mechanic, and have him check out the brakes and the water pump. I'll call you later."

  "Thanks. I'm working on a case too, so I may not answer my cell. If it's not too late, call Marianne and give her the report. Otherwise, we'll talk in the morning"

  "Sounds good," Casey replied. "Bob said this honest mechanic is one of the guys he's been wanting to fix me up with and is glad I'm going to get to meet him before I tie the knot "

  The call ended with Dana and Casey both laughing at Bob's never-ending matchmaking efforts.

  Sunflower Market was located between the newspaper building and Dana's home. The store specialized in organic produce, ethnic foods, a good variety of meat, cheeses, and wines. Dana actually shopped there on a regular basis because Sunflower had a large selection of freshly prepared and packaged foods ideal for people who didn't have time to prepare their own meals.

  As Dana passed by a large refrigerated case, she made a mental note to pick up a few things she could stock in her empty refrigerator and freezer.

  "Hi, Miss Sloan," a man's voice called out. "Can I help you find something?"

  Dana looked across the case and saw George on the other side of it, arranging packaged items in their proper order. George sometimes bagged groceries and was always eager to help the ladies carry their bags out to their cars. He was a middle-aged man with a head full of white-blond hair, faded blue eyes, and a crooked smile.

  "I'm looking for the manager, Ron Morgan," Dana said, walking around the case to stand next to George.

  "Today's his day off. Can someone else help you?"

  "Actually, maybe you can. Do you remember a guy who worked here named Lucas Porter?"

  "Lucas is a creep. What do you want him for?"

  "His wife asked me to try and find him. He's missing. I never saw him here, but she told me he worked here."

  "You never saw him because the boss kept him working in the storeroom. That's where everyone starts out here. If you do well in the storeroom, you get moved out into the store, where you have contact with the customers. Lucas never got to show his ugly face to the customers. He didn't last long. Got fired after a month or so"

  "How long ago was that?"

  "I'm not sure, maybe a month ago now."

  "Was that the last time you saw him?"

  "I guess" George shrugged his shoulders. "When did he go missing?"

  "About a week ago. Is there anyone who works here that Lucas hung out with or knew better than others?"

  "I don't think so. No one liked him, but you can ask Jose. He worked with him in the storeroom"

  "Is he here now?"

  "Yeah. Come on, I'll show you"

  Dana followed George through the aisles that were beginning to get crowded with late-afternoon shoppers. He led her through double swinging doors into a storeroom filled with aisles of boxes and crates.

  "Jose," George shouted. "Where are you?"

  A short, stocky young man with black hair, a dark complexion, and a nicely trimmed mustache stepped out from behind a stack of boxes. "Here. What do you want? I was taking a nap"

  George laughed and introduced Jose to Dana. "She is looking for Lucas. Tell her what you know about him?"

  With that George turned and hurried out of the storeroom. Dana walked forward and held out her hand to Jose. He looked at her warily and ignored her outstretched hand.

  "I don't know anything about Lucas. He got fired last month and I was glad to get rid of him."

  "You haven't seen or heard from him since?"

  "No.

  "When he was working here, did he ever talk about his personal life with you?"

  "Told me his wife was an artist and they were going to be rich soon"

  "Anything else?"

  "Yeah. He was always talking about the pool hall and how he was good at hustling the suckers there"

  "That would be the Pool Palace?"

  "I don't remember. He talked a lot about how great he was, but I mostly tuned him out."

  "Did you ever see him outside of work?"

  "Are you kidding? It was bad enough to see him here. That's it, lady. I got a lot of things to do before I can go home today and it's my little girl's birthday. I don't want to be late."

  "I understand. Thank you for your help
"

  Dana hurried out of the storeroom and went back to George, who was still working on the case of prepared foods.

  "Jose help you any?" George asked.

  "Not really. I'll still need to speak to the manager."

  "Sure. You want me to tell Ron to call you?"

  "Yes. I'd appreciate that." Dana opened her purse and took out one of her business cards. She handed it to George and he studied it.

  "Well, how about that," George said with a smile. "All the times I've seen you in here, I didn't know you were the Dana Sloan that works for the Globe. I read your stories all the time."

  "Good. I'm glad to hear it. Just give Mr. Morgan my card and tell him I'll call him or stop by again tomorrow. I'm going to be in and out of the office most of the day."

  "Sure thing," George promised. "I'll tell him." He slipped Dana's card into his shirt pocket.

  "Thanks, George. I appreciate it."

  Dana decided that the store was getting too crowded to do any shopping. She would just have to see if Bruno could take her to dinner tonight. Maybe he had talked to Detective Harrison and gotten some information for her on Lucas Porter.

  Settling herself behind the wheel of her car, Dana glanced at her watch. She had driven over to the Pool Palace after she left Judy's apartment and found out that it didn't open for business until four on weekdays. It was still too early to go there. Her cell phone rang.

  It was Bob. "Hey, boss, my friend checked out the car and said there's nothing wrong with the brakes or the water pump on the car Casey brought in to the other place. It looks like the complaints we got were valid."

  "Okay. Marianne has a file on the other complaints so Casey can get more information for the article. If she can get it all put together this afternoon, we can run it in tomorrow's edition."

  "Okay. Oh, and Casey said to tell you that she and Tony would love to have dinner with you and Bruno tomorrow night. She'll talk to you about the time and dress code in the morning."

  "Where is she now?"

  "Outside talking with Damien. He's got an old Corvette he's refurbishing and Casey wanted to look at it. Too bad she's engaged. I think Damien is interested in her."

  Dana started singing the song from Fiddler on the Roof, "Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match .. °"

  "Bye, boss. See you tomorrow," Bob said, interrupting her impromptu serenade.

  Dana clicked off her phone and started the car engine. Bob loved playing Cupid, maybe because he looked the part with his blond curly hair and chubby cheeks. No one at the newspaper had ever taken Bob's efforts seriously until Bob had fixed Marianne up with his wife's brother, Greg.

  Although their first date had ended with Greg chasing a murder suspect down a dark alley, they had continued to date and Dana suspected that Marianne might be the next person in her office to announce her engagement.

  Bob's success with Marianne and Greg had spread throughout the newspaper staff and now people were seeking Bob out asking if he had any good prospects for them.

  Dana pushed the speed-dial button for her office and Marianne answered. She filled Marianne in on her dismal results at the grocery store.

  "I still have to go the pool hall but it doesn't open until four."

  "That place has a bad reputation," Marianne told her. "I hope you're not going there alone."

  "I'm going to try to get Bruno to go with me, unofficially of course, but I haven't heard from him today. He got called out on a case last night, so he may be busy with that."

  "Was it that gruesome one with the body they found in the lake?"

  "Probably. What do you know about it?"

  "Just what was on the news at noon. They said the body had been in the water for over a week and was in such bad shape, it would take time to make an identification."

  A chill passed over Dana. "I didn't catch the news," she said softly. She didn't voice her fears to Marianne, but the secretary caught on anyway.

  "Oh, wow. Maybe the corpse is Lucas Porter."

  "Maybe. I'd better call Bruno and check on Judy Porter. If she heard that news broadcast, she could be hysterical."

  Dana hung up with Marianne and dialed Judy Porter's number. The phone rang several times and was finally picked up by an answering machine.

  Dana disconnected without leaving a message and dialed Bruno's cell phone number.

  "Detective Bruno."

  "Hi. I think the victim from your call last night may be the missing husband I'm looking for."

  "Who is this?" Bruno said gruffly. "I don't answer questions from anonymous callers"

  "If you don't recognize my voice by now, our relationship is in big trouble."

  "Hello, Dana," Bruno said with a chuckle. "How can I help you?"

  Dana sighed. "I've spent the day working with and for Judy Porter. I just tried to call her and got her answering machine. Could that be because she's at the morgue viewing the body you fished out of the lake last night?"

  "Actually, she was here. She's on her way to the hospital now."

  "Oh, no. It was her husband and she collapsed."

  "I'm afraid so"

  "Why didn't you call me?" Dana asked, not trying to hide her irritation.

  "I was just going to dial your number when my cell phone rang. I'm still at the morgue. We called the paramedics for her and as they were wheeling her off, she asked me to call you. How about if I meet you at the hospital?"

  "Fine," Dana said, still upset with him. "Good-bye."

  Crescent Hills Memorial Hospital was located on the other side of the downtown area. With the afternoon traffic picking up, it took Dana almost thirty minutes to get there.

  She parked near the emergency room entrance and hurried inside. Bruno was at the check-in counter laughing with the pretty blonde on duty there. His laughter stopped abruptly when Dana walked up next to him.

  "How is she?" Dana asked.

  "I don't know. She's being checked out now. How are you?"

  "Just peachy," Dana replied sarcastically. The pretty blonde had the good sense to ignore them and busy herself with some paperwork.

  Bruno took Dana's arm and walked her away from the counter. "Are you jealous?" he whispered with a huge grin.

  `Bruno, if I got jealous every time some girl flirted with you, or you flirted with some girl, I'd be in a straightjacket by now."

  "I get jealous when you flirt," Bruno said losing the grin.

  "The only guy I ever flirt with is you"

  "Promise?"

  "Tell me about Lucas Porter. Marianne heard a news report and she said the body was in such bad shape it would take days to identify it."

  "It might have, but you know that whenever we find an unidentified corpse we check with missing persons. I did that this morning and Lucas' sheet came up along with a few others. The clincher was a tattoo on his chest that was still visible despite the time he spent in the water."

  "So, you brought Judy Porter to the morgue to identify him."

  "Right. She zeroed in on the wedding ring he was wearing. It matched hers and she passed out. Not that I blame the poor girl. His appearance is going to give me nightmares."

  Dana let out a deep breath and sat down in the nearest chair. "Do you think it was an accidental drowning?"

  "Maybe"

  "Do you suspect foul play?" Dana asked urgently.

  "Maybe."

  "And maybe I'll speak to you again sometime this century," Dana told him, rising to her feet again.

  Bruno grabbed her arm as she tried to move away from him. "Nothing has been determined yet. The autopsy is set for tomorrow afternoon."

  "Bruno, you've been working homicide long enough to look at the victim and the circumstances of the case and have an educated opinion. What is it in this case?"

  "Off the record?"

  "Of course," she promised.

  "My educated guess is that someone beat the life out of him and dumped him in the lake, probably off the Manheim Bridge where the water is too deep to free
ze."

  "Thank you," Dana said, allowing herself to lean into him. He put his strong arms around her and held her close while she tried to deal with the information he had just given her.

  "Excuse me," a tired voice said. "I'm looking for Detective Bruno"

  Bruno let go of Dana and they both turned to see a young doctor dressed in hospital greens standing behind them.

  "That's me," Bruno said, walking toward the doctor.

  "Mrs. Porter has been sedated and moved to a regular room. She's in shock, so we'll keep her overnight for observation. Does she have family to be notified?

  "I don't think so, but I'll check on that. I'm a friend. Can I see her?" Dana asked.

  "Not tonight. I should have said, she's been heavily sedated. Are you Dana Sloan?"

  "Yes"

  "I'm a fan," he said with a smile. "You're much prettier than your byline photo."

  Bruno grunted. Dana thanked him for the compliment.

  They agreed that Dana would return in the morning to see Judy Porter and she and Bruno left the hospital.

  Bruno walked Dana to her car. "I didn't get lunch today. You want to go to dinner?"

  "Don't you have to report back to the station?"

  "I can call in," Bruno said. "Where do you want to go?"

  "I don't care," Dana said. "Sandwiches or pizza is fine with me"

  "Okay. I'll follow you back to your place so you can leave your car. We can go to that cafe you like around the corner from you."

  "Fine"

  Dana unlocked her car and started to slide into the driver's seat. "Hey," Bruno said. "You're really upset about this, aren't you?"

  Dana nodded. "I don't even know the guy and what's more, from what I found out about him today, I don't even like him. But I'm really worried about Judy Porter. The girl is going to be totally on her own now and I don't know if she can handle it."

  "Well," Bruno said softly, "she won't be totally alone, will she? If I know you, and I think I do, you're going to be right by her side, helping her stabilize her life."