“Denver medical examiner will be doing an autopsy, but initial findings at the scene were that she was beaten, then strangled to death. We think she was murdered somewhere else and moved to that location to hide the body.”

Silence fell as the implications mounted. “That’s why you’re here,” Kade said. “Because the circumstances are similar to Heather’s murder.”

“That’s right,” McBride said.

“Have you come up with DNA, fingerprints, anything that points to the killer?” Kade asked.

“Truth is, we haven’t found much of anything,” Detective Meadows said. “ME on the scene believed she was murdered within days after she disappeared, maybe that day. There were signs of a sexual encounter, but it didn’t look forced. The killer was meticulous and most likely used a condom.”

“So you’ve got nothing,” Kade said. “Same as last time.”

McBride’s lips thinned.

“Eight years between murders is a long time,” Ellie said. “If it’s the same man, why did he wait so long?”

Detective Meadows’s gaze shifted in her direction. “If the murders are connected, we may find other bodies.”

Ellie’s stomach knotted. “You’re thinking he might be a serial?”

“At this point, there don’t appear to be any of the usual ritualistic elements,” the detective said. “No torture, no rape, nothing weirdly out of the ordinary. The beating and strangulation suggest it was more a crime of passion.”

That followed Ellie’s line of reasoning. Like Barbara Meeks, Heather had also been beaten and strangled. And Heather was famous for leading men on, then dumping them. Which brought Ellie back to Sheriff Glen Carver or another of her lovers. Was it really possible the same man had murdered Barbara Meeks?

“Anything else?” Kade asked.

“Just keep in mind that we’re working on it,” Meadows said. “This creates a fresh opportunity to look into your wife’s murder, as well.”

Kade nodded. He signaled to Turtle, who had appeared in the doorway holding a silver tray heaped with neatly halved sandwiches and a carafe of coffee. Turtle set the tray on the coffee table, Maria followed with cups, plates, and napkins, and then both of them quietly disappeared.

Everyone helped themselves to the food, including Ellie and Kade, all of them eating in silence for a while. Kade finished the first half of his sandwich, thin-sliced ham and Swiss cheese, and settled back against the sofa.

McBride wolfed down his sandwich and wiped his hands on a paper napkin. He looked over at Meadows, who downed the last of his coffee and set the cup down on the table.

Both men rose. “We may have more questions,” Chief McBride said. “I hope you aren’t planning any lengthy trips in the near future.”

“Not at the moment,” Kade said. “I’d appreciate your keeping me informed.”