Free The Master Plan (2009) by Carol Costa

added.
    Vince came over and picked up Tony's wineglass. "Oh, I
forgot something," he said. "I'll be right back." He hurried
off with only Tony's glass, holding it carefully by the stem.
    The waiter returned in a few moments with a cart containing coffee and a dish of assorted Italian pastries.
    "Those look scrumptious," Dana said.
    "Compliments of the house for my favorite customers,"
Vince said cheerfully. "Enjoy!" He poured coffee for everyone and then deftly gathered the rest of the wineglasses,
placed them on his cart, and went away.
    Tony didn't seem to notice the special treatment his wineglass had received and the conversation turned to wedding
plans.
    "Tony wants to get married in Las Vegas," Casey said.
    "It's a lot warmer there," Tony added.
    "I thought you'd want a church wedding," Dana said, directing her comment to Casey. "Won't your mother be disappointed?"
    "No. My cousin, Lisa, got married there at the Excalibur
Hotel and it was fabulous. That's where we're thinking of
going."
    "It sounds good to me," Bruno said. "I'd love to escape
the cold for a few days. I will be invited, won't I?"
    Everyone laughed. "It's going to be a small wedding, just
family and close friends, but you and Dana are definitely invited," Casey assured them.
    Dana had to admit that on the surface Tony Hunter seemed
like a perfectly nice guy and a good match for Casey. She tried asking him a few routine questions about where he
was from and how he ended up in Crescent Hills. He was
very smooth and succeeded in changing the subject without appearing rude.

    Tony offered to pay the check when it came, but Bruno
insisted that it was his treat. Bruno took out his wallet to extract a credit card. His badge was attached to the front of it.
Tony stared at it.
    "You're a cop?" Tony asked.
    "Homicide detective," Bruno answered. "That's how I
met these two lovely women sleuths"
    "I thought I told you," Casey said.
    Tony laughed. "You probably did, darling," he said, putting his arm around her. "But I'm often distracted by your
beauty."
    Casey blushed. Dana smiled. Bruno grunted.
    They stopped at the cloakroom to get bundled into their
coats. Casey, Tony, and Dana walked out the door, but the
owner of the restaurant came out of the kitchen and engaged
Bruno in a conversation so he stayed behind.
    "I meant to ask you, Dana," Casey asked while they were
standing outside waiting for Bruno. "Did Bob find out anything useful for you at that sleazy pool hall this afternoon?"
    "What pool hall?" Bruno's voice boomed from behind
them and the girls jumped at the sound of it. It seemed that
Bruno's conversation with the owner had ended quickly.
    "We'll talk about it on the way home," Dana told him
quickly. Then she turned to Tony and held out her hand. "It's
been a pleasure, Tony. I hope to see you again before the
wedding."

    Tony took her hand and then he and Casey said their goodbyes to Bruno and thanked him again for dinner. Casey and
Dana hugged long enough for Casey to whisper an apology
for asking about the pool hall.
    Bruno's car was directly in front of the restaurant while
Tony's was around the side in the parking lot. The two couples went their respective ways. Bruno's face was dark and
grim as he opened the door to his car and helped Dana inside.
    The truce that Bruno and Dana had been honoring had
come to an abrupt end. He started the engine of the big black
SUV he drove for pleasure and pulled away from the curb.
Dana sat silently, waiting for him to voice his anger.
    Bruno waited until he had to stop for a traffic signal before
he turned to her. "You broke your promise," he said.
    "No I didn't," Dana replied. "I promised not to go into
the pool hall and I didn't go into the pool hall. I called Bob
and had him do it for me"
    "It's the same thing, Dana. Bob works for you"
    "It's not the same thing," she insisted. "And no matter
how angry it makes you, I can't stay out of this case. It was
assigned to me by my