“They’re gone,” she said. “Cancer, both. Danny thinks it was the radon in the basement and I think he might be right. Because Mom and Dad went within nineteen months of each other and there was definitely radon, Danny had it measured. So we’d know if our kids could be safe. They didn’t find a lot but there was some. I wanted Adriana to sell the house and keep all the money. Danny and I sell every pound of meat we raise and we’re also getting good money for bones and skin and renderable fat. So I wanted Adriana to get the house but she said it belonged to both of us by right, she wouldn’t take extra.”

“What happened to the house after Adriana moved to Portland?”

“We sold it, by the time taxes and the mortgage were paid, there really wasn’t much left.”

I said, “Any reason Adriana took jobs outside of Boise?”

“She told me it was time to travel, see what was out there. I said, why don’t you go all the way, do something crazy, check out Europe? Danny and I love to travel, we cruise, last year we saw the coast of Italy, it was amazing.” She smiled. “I guess the West Coast was adventure enough for Adriana.” She bit her lip. “Now I guess I have to look? To identify her?”

“That won’t be necessary, Ms. Johanson.”

“No?”

“We know who she is.”

“Oh, okay, so how does it work? Do I take her back with me?”

“Eventually but not quite yet, Ms. Johanson.”

“She’s being autopsied?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“When will that be finished?”

“Within a few days.”

“Then what?”

Milo said, “You’ll be informed and given a list of local undertakers who can help you through the process. They’ll take care of everything.”

“I guess I’ll bury her next to Mom and Dad … there’s a space. Two, one for each of us.”

I said, “No other sibs?”

“Nope, just Adriana and me … I’ll tell her pastor, I’m sure he’ll want to do some kind of memorial.”

Milo said, “Could we have his name, please?”

“Pastor Goleman. Life Tabernacle Church of the Fields. Any recommendations for picking an undertaker, Lieutenant Sturgis?”

“They’re all good, ma’am.”

“Six of one, half dozen of the other? Okay, I guess I’ll fly back, you tell me when I can have my sister.”

“Do you need a ride to the airport?”

“No, I reserved a car and driver for all day.”

“When’s your flight?”

“Whenever I want.” She looked away. “I’m leaving from Van Nuys, we own a small plane—a tiny little jet, you can’t even stand up in it, nothing fancy. We use it for business, visiting the various cattle auctions and semen dealers and whatnot.”

“Makes sense,” said Milo.