The body of a private investigator is discovered at the bottom of a local quarry. After learning from the victim's fiancee that he was working on the case of a missing woman, and had claimed to have found her, the team become convinced his investigation is the key to solving the murder.
Privatdetektiven Andrew MacHendry findes død på bunden af et stenbrud. Hans kæreste afslører, at den døende rigmand Alex Sternwood havde hyret MacHendry til at finde sin yngste datter, Stella. Burke er overbevist om, at MacHendrys eftersøgning er nøglen til gådens løsning. Ikke mindst da han erfarer, at det tilsyneladende lykkedes detektiven at finde Stella dagen før han blev myrdet.
