Page 22 of Forever Dead

The SUV returned around her. Connor was watching her quietly.

Selena swallowed. “How did it happen?”

“We got an anonymous call this morning. Chuck Danners went out to the farmhouse and found her.”

“How was she killed?”

“Blethan thinks a neck injury killed her. Somebody forced the back door, cut the phone line down the hill, and got inside.”

“Cut the line?”

“Yeah,” Connor replied.

“So, they planned it.”

“That’s how it looks.”

“What else?”

Connor hesitated, then continued. “Front door was still locked and chained. Her mobile was on the kitchen floor. Nine-one-one was the last number she entered, but the call never connected. There was a carving knife nearby.

“She knew somebody was in the house.”

“Most likely.”

Selena pictured Eleanor alone in the farmhouse, frightened enough to arm herself. Connor continued more carefully.

“Her body was in the dining room. Somebody had smashed her rocking chair and left pieces over her.”

Selena closed her eyes for a second. “Jesus.”

“It’s messed up, Selena.”

She opened her eyes. “Any motivation behind the kill?”

“Nothing yet.”

“Robbery?”

Connor shook his head. “Doesn’t appear obvious, but we’re still processing the place. We’ve got tire tracks in the drive. No useful footprints so far.”

Selena still couldn’t believe it. “Who made the anonymous call?”

“Cheryl’s trying to trace it.”

“Do you have any suspect?”

Connor shifted in his seat. “No. Not quite.”

“Meaning?”

“Her neighbor, Deacon Blair, seemed a little off when I spoke to him. And I think he might have eyes on Eleanor’s house.”

Selena knew the name. “He lives in the next farmstead, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah,” Connor answered.

“What did he say?”