The Master Plan (2009) Read Online Free Page A

a terrific memory, almost photographic."
    "Okay. What else?"
    "Well, once she had the Social Security number, she ran a check on him and when she discovered the information
only went back two years, she began to worry. That's when
we had lunch and she asked for my help, but I couldn't find
out any more than she did."

    "If he claims to have an engineering degree, he must have
gone to college. What has he said about that?"
    "Casey asked him about school, and he said he was educated by the army when he was in the service and went to
school overseas"
    "Clever. Harder to check"
    "Then you think there is something wrong here?"
    "I do. I think it's very wrong that Casey has only known
this guy two months and is going to marry him, when you and
I have been together for more than two years and you won't
even discuss the possibility of marriage with me"
    Dana stood up quickly and brought the lights up in the dining room, then blew out the candles that had already burned
halfway down. She took her chair again and stared at Bruno.
"Maybe the reason I don't talk about marriage with you is
because when I turn to you for help and advice you give me
a hard time."
    Bruno reached over and grabbed her hand. "I'd never give
you a hard time if you were my wife."
    "That's a lie and you know it."
    Bruno nodded. "It's more like a promise I'd try to keep"
    "What about Tony Hunter? Are you going to help me or
not?"
    "I don't think you need to worry about him. Casey must
have decided he's okay if she agreed to marry him."
    "Maybe she just decided to ignore the problem. Women
in love do that, you know."

    "Okay, you win. Invite Casey and her boyfriend out for
dinner this week at Marsella's. I'll arrange for my pal, Vince,
to wait on us and he can nab a glass with Hunter's fingerprints."
    "That's brilliant," Dana told him, breaking into a smile.
"I'll ask Casey tomorrow."
    "Are you happy now?"
    "Yes, but I have another favor to ask"
    Bruno groaned. "Okay, let's hear it"
    "Who do you know in missing persons?"
    "Glenn Harrison"
    "If this woman I'm going to meet tomorrow has filed a report on her husband, can you get Glenn to talk to me about
it? Her name is Judy Porter."
    "I'll do my best," Bruno promised.
    "That was too easy," Dana said suspiciously. "You didn't
even ask any questions."
    Bruno's cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and
got up and went into the kitchen to answer it. That meant it
was the station calling with police business.
    Dana stood up and stacked up the cups and saucers and
carried them into the kitchen. She could only hear Bruno's
side of the conversation, but it sounded like he was being
called to a crime scene. She set the dishes down on the counter
over the dishwasher and waited for Bruno to finish his call.
    "Have to run, honey," Bruno said when he hung up.
    "What's up?"
    "A corpse just floated to the surface in Crescent Lake."
    "I'll walk you to the door."
    Bruno and Dana walked to the front door and she watched while Bruno donned his coat. He pulled her into his arms
and kissed her.

    "I'll call you tomorrow. Thanks for dinner."
    "Thank you for agreeing to help me with my two who's,"
Dana said.
    "You're welcome." He kissed her once more and then
opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
    Dana stood in the doorway as he headed for the stairs.
"Be careful out there," she said.
    "Iwill.,,
    Bruno went down three stairs and Dana was about to close
the door when he turned around and came back. "One more
thing," he said pleasantly.
    "What's that?"
    "My mother is coming to visit me around Valentine's
Day. She'll be here at least a week, so clear your calendar."
    Dana's hazel eyes widened and she tried to reach out and
grab Bruno's coat, but he was already bolting down the stairs.
    Bruno's mother lived in Chicago and ran the lives of her
two daughters, their husbands, and their children with a firm
hand. She also volunteered at a local homeless shelter and
played Bingo three nights a