The Master Plan (2009) (19 page)

Dana erased the message. She hadn't expected Casey to
come into the office for several days, but she understood her
need to stay busy and focus on something other than the unspeakable violence that had ended her marriage to Tony
Hunter.

Dana wondered if Casey had heard about Tony's brother
being murdered in a similar manner. The two murders are
very similar. Although she had been at both crime scenes
that thought had not really registered in her brain last night.
She had told the Chicago detectives about Tony's murder occurring the night before, but they didn't seem to care about a
murder that happened fifty miles away in Crescent Hills.
She could understand that. Chicago was gigantic compared to Crescent Hills, and the neighborhood where Hunter was
murdered was probably a haven for criminals and crime.

Dana thought back to the pandemonium at the Chicago
police station. It made the Crescent Hills station seem like
a haven of peace and tranquility.

The next three messages on her cell phone dispelled all
thoughts of peace and tranquility. They were from Bruno
asking her to call him no matter what time she got home.
The irritation in his voice came through loud and clear, and
since she had not called him when she got home, he would
be even more irritated today.

Maybe Jack O'Brien was right about her relationship with
Bruno. They always seemed to be at odds with each other
over their respective jobs. It was a miracle that they had
stayed together this long. Dana often admitted that she and
Bruno were an unlikely couple. They had walked away from
each other more than once, but had always found a way to
work through their problems and come together again. Dana
shook her head as if to avoid any more thoughts of Detective Al Bruno and the bumpy road of love they had chosen
to travel.

The last message was from Marianne, wanting to know
if she had found Hunter's address okay.

Dana dropped the cell phone into her purse and checked
the messages on her home phone. Three more identical messages from Bruno that she quickly erased, and one from her
mother.

"Hi, sweetheart," her mom's voice called out. "I know
you're busy. Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you.
Call when you can"

Dana saved that message. Her mom's cheerful tones al ways made her feel better and she often listened to her messages several times. After seeing Bruno that morning in
court, Dana would probably have to listen to her mom's message several more times.

Dressed in a soft gray pantsuit with a plain white blouse
underneath the jacket, Dana pulled on her coat. It was still
across the back of the sofa with her scarf. She had been too
tired to hang it up when she came in the night before.

The drive to the office only took fifteen minutes that morning. She was a little later than usual and traffic was lighter.
She parked in her designated space in the Globe lot and hurried into the building.

Marianne and Casey were both in the reception area when
Dana came through the door. Marianne was behind her desk
and Casey was sitting in one of the visitor chairs.

As usual, Marianne looked gorgeous in a kelly green
sweater with matching pants. Casey on the other hand reverted back to the way she looked before the master plan.
Her hair was pulled back and fastened with a rubber band.
She wore no makeup and was dressed in a pair of jeans and
a sweatshirt.

Dana pulled the scarf from her head and shook her curls
free of the static from the scarf. She had gone to bed with
her hair damp from the shower last night and had to use lots
of hairspray to subdue her curls this morning.

"We just heard about John Hunter," Marianne said.

"I can't believe this," Casey said woodenly. "First Tony,
now his brother. The murders have to be connected."

"That's just what I was thinking this morning," Dana
replied.

"What do the police think?" Marianne asked.

"The Chicago Police didn't seem too interested in the fact
that Tony was killed within twenty-four hours of his brother.
It's a big, busy precinct, but I'm going to ask Bruno to communicate with them. That is, if Bruno is speaking to me this
morning"

"Oh, he's speaking all right," Marianne said. "He's
called twice already. Wants you to call him back as soon as
you get in"

"How does he sound?" Dana asked.

"Like a lamb."

Dana laughed. "I'm sure you're just saying that so I'll
call him and he'll stop bugging you. Okay. I'll do it." She
turned to Casey. "As soon as Bob comes in, we need to have
a meeting. It'll be short because I want to go to the courthouse and sit in on Judy Porter's hearing"

Dana went into her office, hung up her coat and scarf on
the wooden coat tree in the corner, and went to her desk and
dialed Bruno's direct line at the station.

"Detective Bruno," he said, answering on the first ring.

"Hi," Dana said. "Sorry I didn't get back to you last night,
but it was really late when we got back from Chicago."

"I was up," he said pointedly.

"I was too exhausted to argue with you, Bruno"

"Who said I wanted to argue? I just wanted to make sure
you were all right."

"Physically, I'm fine. Mentally, I'm a little stressed."

"I talked to Jack this morning. He wasn't much help. I'd
like to get your version of the facts. Can we have lunch today?"

"If you'd like."

"I'd like to take you off on a Caribbean cruise and forget
all the murder and mayhem here, but lunch will have to do."

"I'll be at the hearing. I'll catch up with you there"

"I'm wearing the brown suit, the one that makes women
fall at my feet. Can you take it?"

"I'll brace myself," Dana said with a smile in her voice.
"See you later."

Dana hung up the phone as Bob and Casey came into the
office.

"How's the love of your life today?" Bob asked with an
impish grin. "I heard Jack O'Brien ratted you out last night."

"Who told you that?" Dana asked.

"Jack O'Brien. He was in the coffee shop downstairs and
couldn't wait to report that he ran into you at a murder scene
and reported it to Bruno"

"Did he tell you it was Tony's brother that was murdered?" Casey asked.

"I read it in our morning edition." Bob looked at Casey
with concern. "Why are you here this morning?"

"I need to keep busy," she said firmly.

"Send her to talk to the lady with the aliens in her basement," Bob told Dana. "She called me on my cell phone
yesterday."

"How did she get your cell phone number?" Dana asked.

"She said the aliens gave it to her. She also said the aliens
think I'm overweight and should go on a diet. Come to think
of it, the woman's voice sounded a lot like my wife's."

Casey smiled, probably the first time she had done so since
she went grocery shopping with Tony on Saturday morning.

"Well, I'm glad you want to stay busy, Casey," Dana said. "I've got a stack of requests here. I haven't had time to go
through them but Marianne put the most urgent ones on top"

The intercom buzzed. "Dana," Marianne said. "Floyd
Flannery's attorney is on line one insisting that he speak to
YOU."

Casey and Bob were on their feet going through the stack
of requests on Dana's desk. Both stopped and stared at the
telephone.

Dana shrugged and accessed line one. "Dana Sloan."

"Good morning. I'm wondering if you are aware that my
client has been arrested again"

"No. I didn't know that"

"His arrest is based on information given to the police by
one of your employees, Cassandra Hunter."

The use of Casey's married name threw Dana a bit, but
she quickly recovered. "I know that Mr. Flannery showed up
at my employee's apartment on Saturday afternoon and harassed her. That same day her husband was murdered, and
given your client's volatile nature, I'm happy to hear that he's
in custody again."

"I see. Floyd swore to me that he was nowhere near Mrs.
Hunter. Obviously he lied to me again."

"When exactly was he arrested?" Dana asked.

"Yesterday afternoon about five o'clock."

"And he's been in custody ever since?"

''Yes.

"In view of what happened in Chicago last night, that's
fortunate for your client."

"I read about the other murder in this morning's paper.
You're right. If Floyd was in jail, they can't try and pin that
one on him too."

"Exactly."

"Once again, I apologize for talking to you under such
unpleasant circumstances. I'm wondering if you'd be free
for dinner some evening."

"I'm probably going to testify against your client in court,"
Dana told him. "Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest?"

"Not if I drop Flannery's case," he answered.

"I'm sorry, I can't," Dana said. "My circumstances won't
allow it."

"Well, if your circumstances change, please let me know.
I'd drop Floyd like a hot poker."

The phone call ended and Bob was grinning. "He asked
you out, didn't he?" Bob asked.

"Yes," Dana admitted.

"I guess he's not acquainted with Detective Al Bruno."

"I guess Bruno may have considered Flannery a suspect
in Tony's murder," Casey said haltingly.

"Bruno usually covers all the bases," Dana replied. She
glanced at her watch. "Speaking of Detective Bruno, I want
to go to Judy Porter's hearing and then I'm having lunch
with Bruno. Have you two found enough to keep you busy
for the next few days?"

"Most of these cases we can work together," Bob said.
"If it's okay with Casey. How about it, kid?"

Casey smiled for the second time that morning. "I think
that's a good idea. What do you think, Dana?"

"I agree. I think working is good therapy for you, and having Bob working with you is even better therapy. Just keep
me posted on your progress"

The courthouse was a few blocks from the police station
and the Globe. Dana decided to walk it because parking at
the courthouse was often limited. Besides, the sun was shining and it wasn't nearly as cold as it had been the day before.

Dana passed through security and found the courtroom
where the Porter hearing was being held.

"Hey, Dana," one of the reporters from the paper assigned
to cover the courthouse called out as she sailed past her.
She was new on the staff and Dana didn't remember what
her name was, but she smiled and waved at her.

There were not many people in the room, but Dana saw
Sally Larson sitting by herself looking miserable. She considered going over and talking to the woman, but decided
against it. Bruno would see her and think she was throwing
her support to the opposing side.

Dana still didn't believe that Judy and Teddy had killed Lucas, so technically she was not on Bruno's side. However,
Dana didn't know how she could help them now. Sally's lie
meant to protect her son and her friend had backfired, making the pair look all the more guilty.

"Hello, my friend," Del said quietly as he slid onto the
empty bench next to Dana.

Dana smiled at him. "I'm glad you're here and I'm sure
Judy will appreciate your support"

Troy Kimball entered the courtroom. He was wearing a
blue suit that matched his eyes and he looked very handsome.

A few minutes later, Del touched Dana's arm. "Here
comes your boyfriend. I assume he's going to present the
damaging evidence"

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Dana agreed.

Bruno was wearing his brown suit and it looked great on
his large frame. The pale beige shirt and beige and brown
tie Dana had given him for Christmas went beautifully with
the suit. Dana glanced around the room. The young reporter from the Globe did look like she might swoon.

The bailiffs escorted Judy Porter and Teddy Larson into
the room and seated them together at the defense table with
their lawyer. Kimball leaned over and spoke to them quietly. The two kids looked scared to death and Kimball's
words didn't seem to make them feel better.

The prosecutor, a seasoned veteran named Louis Hildago,
came in and snapped open his briefcase on his table and
started removing papers. Hildago had a reputation for being
tough but fair. He and Bruno were friends who sometimes
went to ball games together. They were both White Sox
fans.

"All rise," the bailiff announced. Everyone stood as the
judge entered and took his seat behind the bench.

The proceedings began with the prosecution calling Glenn
Harrison to the stand first. He told how he had taken the
missing persons report from Judy Porter and noticed that
she had bruises that indicated to him that Lucas Porter had
abused her.

"Tell me, Detective Harrison, does it make sense to you
that Mrs. Porter would report her husband missing when she
already knew he was dead?"

Kimball objected and Hildago rephrased the question.
However, the answer was the same, a missing persons report was often filed by a spouse who later turned out to be
a murderer.