A murder in a small Colorado town closely resembles unsolved crimes committed by a serial killer almost thirty years ago. Private investigator Teague Donovan learns of the recent murder and is instantly drawn to the case, because one of the victims in the past was his best friend, and he is determined to bring the killer to justice.<br><br>Hoyt Newman, the detective in charge of the most recent case, is none too happy with Teague's interfering. At least not until a second homeless boy is tortured and killed. As the two men work together, they begin to develop an interest in each other -- one that seems fated not to come to fruition since Teague is city, through and through, and Hoyt is definitely country to the core.

The City PI and the Country Cop

“If there was any way…” Teague murmured. “But there’s not. If we get to know each other better, which is what I think you were trying to say, it would hurt even more when I have to leave.”


Why? Whyhave I finally met someone I could learn to love, only to have to give him up because…because we’re…He almost laughed. The country mouse and the city mouse. Like them, we’re destined never to change. Never to learn to accept the other’s life.


He was startled when the doorbell rang. Carefully disentangling from Hoyt, who was so deeply asleep he hadn’t heard the bell, Teague laid him down on his back and then went to open the door. A young man stood there, incongruously dressed in a pair of worn jeans and a scrubs shirt, with a backpack over one shoulder.


“Hi,” the man said. “I’m Tony Hammond. I suspect you’re not my patient.”


“Nope. That would be Hoyt.” Teague pointed to the sofa.


“Why isn’t he in bed?” Tony asked, crossing to look down at Hoyt.


Chapter 40