“We think so. We can’t be one hundred percent sure.”

“Where is she?” Sarah asks, bunching her hands together. “Is she in the hospital? Is she going to be okay? Where’s Dad?”

“We don’t know where your father is,” I say. “But no, she’s not in the hospital. I’m very sorry to tell you this, we think that a body recovered from Puget Logging’s old property not far from here could be your mom.”

Sarah lets out a cry, and Joshua reaches out to comfort her. Her shoulders melt into her body as she shrinks downward in the bench.

I give them a moment to process.

“I’m very sorry,” I say.

Joshua nods. “I think we’re in shock. Is our dad in the hospital?”

“No, he’s not,” I say.

“He killed Mom, didn’t he?” Sarah says.

“We don’t know that,” I say, switching the subject, admittedly awkwardly so. “What kind of car did he drive?”

“A GMC pickup,” Joshua says. “Are you looking for it?”

I shake my head. “No, we found it. Dumped off the logging road.”

Joshua stares at me. His eyes are glistening, yet he’s not yet crying. He’s being brave for his sister.

Like I’d been for my brother.

“You found Mom, but not Dad?” he asks.

“Yes, and as I said, it might not be your mom. We have to confirm.”

“You want us to come to town and look at her? I don’t know if I can do that,” Sarah says, through her tears.

“No,” I say, softening my voice. “I would not recommend that. The body is not in any condition that you should view.”

“I don’t understand,” she says.

“There was a fire at the scene where the truck was found.”

Sarah wails and Joshua puts his arm around her, tighter. He whispers in her ear that everything will be all right.

“Maybe it’s not her,” he says.

I give them some time, before speaking again.

“I need something with your mother’s DNA. A hairbrush would be good. Or a toothbrush.”

Joshua gets up and disappears into the house. A minute later, he comes out with a tortoiseshell hairbrush. Strands of blond hair catch the light of the sun.

I put it into a plastic bag and seal it.

“I need one more thing,” I tell them. “I need some DNA from one of you. It will be compared against your mother’s, so we can determine a match, all right?”

I pull the swab and vial from my pocket.

Sarah is closest to me, but she’s suddenly inconsolable.

“I can’t believe this is happening.”

She gets up and runs into the house.

“I’ll do it,” Joshua says.