ABBY STOPPED SHORT.

“Cox?”

“Yes,” Woody said as they all came together. “At first I thought it was a hoax, someone yanking my chain. But the more she talked . . . well, I recognized her voice. It was Kelsey.”

“What did she have to say?”

“She talked in circles about different stuff, past and present, and claims —” he pointed to Mike —“that if you’re Padre Mike, she was sent here to kill you.”

Mike asked, “Is this the woman who was here roughing people up?”

“I guess. Cox says that she was freed from prison and sent here by Alyssa to take care of you permanently.”

That news seemed to hit Mike like a body blow. Abby touched his arm. “That’s the type of woman she’s become.” She turned back to Woody. “What else?”

“She said she never wanted to be broken out of custody. And then rambled on about doing you a big favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. She wasn’t making much sense. If she really is in the area, she could be anywhere.”

“Well,” Abby said, “I’m betting it was her who roughed up the homeless men, so she is here. But what kind of favor could she possibly do for me?”

“The train station. Rollins,” Luke said. “What if she plans to hurt the governor?”

“The train station?” Abby frowned. “Why there?”

“He’ll be here today,” Luke said. “I saw a flyer on the train. He and his wife are taking the Coast Starlight, campaigning through farmland is what the poster said. It’s Sunday; he’ll be here sometime today.” He checked his watch.

“Alyssa Rollins will be here today?” Mike asked.

“It would be crazy for Cox to try something like that,” Woody said. “But then, she sounded crazy.”

Abby hit her forehead with her palm. “I don’t want either of them dead or hurt. I want them in jail. We have to get to the station. Woody, do you have enough to warn the PD?”

He shook his head. “She didn’t say anything specific. And we can’t say for certain that she’s even here.”

“He’s right,” Luke said. “I think the three of us are the governor’s only hope, if Kelsey is going to try to hurt them.”

“The four of us.” Mike grabbed Abby’s arm as she started for the car. “I’m going with you. If Alyssa is here, I need to see her.”

“No time to argue. Let’s get going.”