“It’s not the fishing part that bothers me,” he said with a shrug. “And he’s a skilled carpenter in the off-season. That’s how they met, he worked on her house. Suffice it to say I don’t think he was good enough for her. Not her equal in any way. They just didn’t have anything in common that I could see. I suspect he was after her money.”
“Do you good people never watchDateline? It’s always the boyfriend,” said Gabe.
“Or the ex-husband,” Tariq added.
“Benjamin Philips, right? I met him,” said Harper. “Sort of.He seems like someone who could fly off the handle easily, but the circumstances of her death were so…bizarre.”
“What do you think, Asher? Could Philips have had something to do with it?” Tariq asked. “They were divorced years ago and had no children to fight over. Could something have made him angry enough to kill?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t like the man,” replied Asher. “He’s a pain in the ass and often rude as hell, but I just don’t see him as a killer. Then again, what do I know? They did have history, and the cops were called to their house more than once.”
“Was he abusive?” Harper asked.
Asher hesitated. “I’d like to blame it all on him, but the truth is that Delilah is—was—a passionate woman. She was more than capable of ramping things up and never backed down from a fight, physical or otherwise.”
“I heard Philips has been trying to get approval for a ‘seaside housing development’ on the former Fort Ord military base,” said Gabe.
“It’s true that Delilah didn’t like the idea of that development,” said Asher. “She thought the land was contaminated.”
“But surely a disagreement over land use wouldn’t lead to murder,” said Harper. “Would it?”
“Do you have any idea how lucrative housing developments can be?” asked Gabe. “Especially when they’re on or near the ocean?”
“I’m assuming the police are looking into Philips,” said Asher, “as well as into the boyfriend.”
“Pretty awful to think that most murdered women are killed by men who allegedly love them,” said Gabe, letting out a loud sigh and raising his glass in a toast. “Let’s hear it for romance.”
Twenty-Two
A silence fell over the table. It was hard to know what to say to that.
Onstage, a middle-aged man took the microphone and started singing Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.” The perfect soundtrack for their conversation.
“Is there still a viable fishing industry here in Monterey?” Harper asked after a long moment. “I read that the sardine industry was dead, all the canneries on Cannery Row have shut down.”
Tariq nodded. “It is dead, by and large. Overfishing was a big part of it. But a few hardy folks still do small-scale fishing, especially for halibut and lingcod. All around the bay.”
“Oh, I meant to ask: What’s the deal with all the sea lions down by the beach?” asked Harper.
“Aren’t they marvelous?” said Asher. “I love their determination to throw a monkey wrench into the plans of humans.”
“I had the same thought,” Harper said, and they shared a smile.
When she glanced toward Tariq, he pressed his lips together and looked away.
“What I heard is that the sea lions moved in unexpectedly a while ago and show no signs of leaving,” said Gabe. “But it’s assumed they will eventually. In the meantime, people seem to be enjoying the close encounters with the sea lions at least as much as they used to enjoy the beach.”
“Delilah loved them, too,” said Asher, staring into his glass and tearing up again. “You know, I don’t know much about the art world, but I know that my sister was a true artist. She had great vision. Her work will go down in history, mark my words.” His eyes settled on Tariq. “Do you still have that painting she gave you?”
Tariq gave a barely-there nod in response.
“Hang on to it,” said Asher. “When collectors hear the news of Delilah’s death, its value will go through the roof.”
Harper looked at her old friend with surprise, but Tariq did not meet her eyes.
“Have you seen any of my sister’s artwork?” Asher asked Harper.
“As a matter of fact, I went to Carmel yesterday and dropped by her gallery. You’re right, Asher, she was incredibly talented.”
