THE TRAIN WAS passing Santa Barbara when Luke’s phone rang. He prayed it was Abby, but caller ID told him that the prayer was not answered. He answered it, trying to sound unaffected by the turmoil in his heart.

“Hi, Faye. It’s kind of late. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, sorry to call so late, but I have information I think you’ll find interesting. Can you talk now?”

“Yeah.” He explained to her where he was. “Someone call you about the DNA who sounded shady?”

“No, no, it’s not about that. I’ve actually still been doing a little work on your case —you know, looking into the incident in Tehachapi.”

“Oh, wow, I’d forgotten about that.”

“You’ve been busy with other stuff. I’ve stayed in touch with the investigators out there, looking into Quinn and what he was doing in Tehachapi the day he was killed.”

“What have they found?”

“He was there with Kelsey. I suggested they show her picture to the hotels in the area and they got a positive ID at one.”

“They were there overnight?”

“Yes, and they visited Barone’s shop. They had business with the man; we just don’t know what. But there’s more. A retired sheriff’s deputy who lives in Lancaster contacted the lead investigator yesterday. He claims that Kelsey called him and asked him to do some surveillance for her. She wanted him to keep an eye on Abby Hart and the PI who was with her.”

Luke felt as if the train had just gone into a dark tunnel. He had to process this information. He and Abby were being watched for Kelsey Cox?

“Luke, are you still there?”

“Yes, I’m just trying to understand what that means. I can’t believe that surveillance was set up for any good reason. Does this guy say why she wanted him to watch us?”

“No. All he says is that he was just supposed to keep an eye on you while you were in the high desert and she would be in touch. Her escape shook him up, I think. He’s asking for protection.”

“Well, I’m not sure what to say other than thank you for the information.”

“Sure. I hope it will end up helping you in some way. Is everything okay, Luke?”

“Everything is fine. I’m looking forward to Maddie’s party.”

Faye said good-bye and left Luke with his thoughts. He didn’t know what to make of the information Faye had given him. He was tempted to call Abby but didn’t.

For the rest of the way back to Long Beach, Luke replayed the argument with Abby, the reason he didn’t feel like he could pick up the phone and tell her what he’d just learned. He was angry that she couldn’t see what this thing was doing to her. And for her to accuse him of being like Ethan really stung. She was too good an investigator to fall for such a weak lead in someone else’s case, but completely blind in this instance that involved Alyssa.

Every way he looked at it, trying to figure why Alyssa would lie and implicate Lowell to cover her own misdeed just didn’t make any sense. He realized that if this Padre Mike did have information that could torpedo Alyssa, he’d owe Abby a huge apology. And he didn’t mind that —he’d apologize. He was missing Abby already and hating the fact that the very case that brought them together now seemed to be tearing them apart.

Abby partnered with Woody for Thursday’s search, leaving Orson to stay on Considine. He said he was sure the man was cracking. She and Woody moved their vineyard search to the Templeton/Paso Robles area on Thursday, hoping by Friday they would finish the last few on the list.

Abby nursed her anger as if it were a newborn puppy, not wanting to let it go. How dare Luke accuse her of lying to herself. She wasn’t lying —not really. In trying to prove that fact to herself, she attempted to enlist Woody, convince him she was right and get him on her side. He wasn’t having any of it. He didn’t want to talk about it and he wasn’t taking sides.

Fidgeting before dinner, Abby checked and rechecked her phone, not certain if she wanted to hear from Luke or Pastor Terry.

“You look excited,” she observed when Orson joined her and Woody for dinner Thursday night.

“I am. I’m sure that DNA ruse made our man nervous. I talked to Faye and she’s had several calls, a couple from news agencies but also a couple that seemed to be people testing the waters. Considine is shaky.”

“But our tip line has gone quiet,” Woody said. “I was hoping that lady would call back.”

“Patience.”

Abby said nothing. She was excited to see things wrap up because she wanted to move on to Mike Jez.

With or without Luke.

Without just about broke her heart, but Abby kept stoking the anger, thinking about anything but Luke and the look on his face before he got on the train.

The only thing that nagged at her a bit was Kelsey Cox. The woman was still on the run. Did that have any ramifications for her?

“What’s up tomorrow?” she asked Woody.

“I’ve got three on the list, and the last one has the best name. It’s called the Dancing Purple Grape. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”