She twisted a diamond stud. “I guess this is the point where I tell you we weren’t close. And feel crappy about it. The entire flight I was thinking of why I didn’t pay Adriana more attention. Even if she didn’t ask for it, I should’ve included her more … I’m sorry, I don’t know. Don’t know much about her life since she left Idaho.”

“Why’d she leave Portland?”

“The people she worked for couldn’t afford her. Adriana had grown attached to the little boy but there was no choice.”

“Did she get her jobs through an employment agency?”

“Couldn’t tell you.”

Milo said, “Do you have her address? In Portland, as well, if you recall.”

Head shake. “Sorry.”

“What about a phone number?”

“All she gave me was her cell.” She scrolled her own phone, read off the number. Not committed to memory; the sisters hadn’t talked often.

Milo said, “Did she tell you anything about her San Diego employers?”

“They were doctors—medical professors.”

I said, “At UC San Diego?”

“All she told me was one of them did research on cancer, Adriana was impressed by that. But I can’t tell you if it was the husband or the wife.”

“Was she happy with the job?”

“Adriana was happy about everything, she was a happy person—oh, here’s something, the little girl was adopted. Korean or Chinese, some kind of Asian.” Her eyes brightened. “Oh, yeah, her name was May, Adriana said she was adorable.”

“How long ago did you have that conversation?”

Helene Johanson’s eyes wandered. “Too long ago. Right after she started.”

Milo said, “This may sound like a stupid question, ma’am, but did Adriana have any enemies?”

“No, everyone loved Adriana. And I can’t see her falling in with a bad crowd, that wasn’t her. She liked quiet things, reading, crocheting—she’d make blankets for her church friends’ babies.”

“What about her personal relationships?”

“With men?”

“Yes.”

“She had a boyfriend in high school. Dwayne Hightower, his family farmed a big spread near where Danny and I run our Angus. Great family, everyone thought Dwayne and Adriana would be married after high school graduation. Then Dwayne got himself killed in a tractor accident and Adriana never wanted to date.” She sniffled. “All those years doing for others. It’s so unfair.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“When Dwayne died, it’s like Adriana pulled away. Drew into herself. But then she came out of it and it was the same old Adriana, cheerful, happy, helping others.”

“Resilient,” I said.

“You bet.”

“But no interest in dating.”

“It wasn’t for lack of guys trying. Then they stopped, I guess they got the message.”

“Was there anyone in particular who might’ve felt rejected?”

“One of those crazy stalker things? No way.”

“Would your parents have any additional—”