Chapter Thirty-Seven
Thirty-Seven
Asher was released on bail and, so far, at least, had kept his distance from Harper.
His trial for breaking and entering and assault was scheduled in a few months.
Through his lawyer, Asher had attempted to buy Harper’s silence with the offer of a hefty financial settlement, but she refused.
Harper was not looking forward to testifying against him in court, but she saw no reason Asher should be let off the hook simply because he had plenty of money.
More than anything else, she hoped he would get the help he needed, one way or the other.
Harper decided to keep silent about what she had read in the journal detailing the relationship between Delilah and Asher.
What would be the point? Delilah was gone, their youth was long since over, and Harper had no desire to contribute to an ongoing scandal.
She had not lied when she told Highbaugh that she wasn’t a gossip.
Ellen was recovering nicely, and her son, Jonathan, decided to stay for a while to be sure she wasn’t alone. They stayed up late talking at Ellen’s kitchen table, and going over everything that had happened. At Ellen’s urging, Harper had made a decision.
The next morning she settled into her comfortable reading chair in her bright and cheerful apartment, picked up her phone, and dialed a number from her past. She still knew it by heart.
“Scout?”
“Harper? Is that you?” Scout’s soft voice registered shock, and trepidation. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong is that I haven’t heard your voice in far too long. You’re my only sister, and I miss you. And I love you. And I always will. Tell me what you’re up to. Tell me everything.”
Harper knew Tariq left work at the aquarium around six most evenings, so she waited outside on busy Cannery Row. Most passersby took one look at the huge black dog beside her and crossed the street.
“What do you think, bud?” Harper whispered. “Will he accept my apology?”
The dog gazed up at her, pure love in his eyes, and gave her a wag of his tail. It had taken him exactly one day of plenty of food, walks, and love to decide that Harper was his person. Luckily, Ellen was on board and even offered to dog-sit when Harper had to spend the day on campus.
“I’m going to take that as a ‘yes.’ ”
Finally, she spotted Tariq as he emerged from the aquarium and started toward the parking garage. He stopped when he spotted Harper, his mouth tightening. Then he approached and greeted the dog slowly, holding out his hand to be sniffed before reaching up to scratch his ears.
“Hello there, pup,” Tariq said in a soft voice. “Well, would you take a look at that? Not magical at all, it seems.”
“Oh yes, he is,” said Harper, thumping the dog on his big barrel chest. “He’s worked his magic on me, anyway. Right, big guy?”
The dog wagged his tail and leaned into her.
“I take it he’s found a home,” said Tariq. “What’s his name?”
“Pearl.”
“Isn’t he a boy?”
“He’s cool with it. It’s sort of a nonbinary situation. His full name’s Professor Pearl.”
“ ‘Professor,’ huh? What’s his research specialty?”
“He hasn’t told me yet. But he looks very dignified, doesn’t he?”
“I’d say more goofy than dignified,” said Tariq, caressing the dog’s anvil-size head. “But he is indeed a handsome boy.”
“He is, indeed. Listen, Tariq.” Harper cleared her throat.
“I owe you an apology. A sincere one. It’s just…
I know it doesn’t excuse what I said to you, but I’ve never…
I mean, it’s hard for me to believe in people.
Clearly, I have some serious trust issues.
I think part of me thought, ‘He can’t possibly want me for me; he must have an ulterior motive. ’ ”
After a pause, Tariq gave a barely-there nod. “Just so you know, that text from Penny? It was in reference to a work thing. She was my alibi for skipping a staff meeting the other day. She has a habit of texting in the middle of the night, unfortunately.”
“I should have known you well enough to know it was something like that. Do you think…do you think we could start again? This time without the murder accusation?”
She paused, waiting for him to respond.
“Keep going,” he said.
“I’d love to catch up on everything, and to continue apologizing for being a Grade A jackass. Tomorrow I’m driving to Salinas to help Sigrid in her poison garden, but afterward I’m free as a bird if you’d like to get together?”
“You’re making poison now?”
She smiled. “No, but after all these years studying poisons and witchcraft, I thought I should get some hands-on experience with botanicals. Sigrid also offered to do a reading for me, and help clear my aura. Apparently it’s on the muddy side.”
“There’s a lot of that going around.”
“She’s becoming a friend, I think. I’ve decided I need more friends.”
He nodded and fixed her with a long look.
“Well, it just so happens that I’m all in favor of do-overs and fresh starts. Especially where cute, confounding history professors are concerned.”
Harper smiled. “How about dinner? I’m not going to offer to cook, because I already owe you enough apologies. But I excel at ordering takeout.”
“It’s a date.”
“Also, Halloween is coming up on Saturday. I thought maybe you’d like to hand out candy with us at Ellen’s house? Jonathan has promised to bring several bottles from his wine cellar. We could make an evening of it, then go to karaoke after, all hyped up on Halloween candy.”
“You’re up for karaoke night now?”
“Thought I’d give it a go,” she said. “And you’ll never guess who’s dying to join us there: Naomi.”
“The Nemesis?”
“Yeah, might be best if you don’t call her that to her face.”
He chuckled. “Is she one of your new friends, as well?”
“Leaning that way. We’ll see. She’s a bit prickly, but then, so am I.”
Tariq reached out and cupped her cheek with his hand. “Harp, before this goes much further, I suppose I should confess something: I do have an ulterior motive.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Which is?”
“Since the schoolteacher fantasy went so well, I have this other fantasy…”
“It doesn’t involve ghosts, does it?”
“I thought you don’t believe in ghosts.”
“I’m…opening up to the possibility,” said Harper. “Apparently, I’m sensitive.”
“Yes, you are a bit touchy sometimes.”
They shared a smile.
“As it turns out,” Harper said as she rose on her toes to loop her arms around his neck, “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts. Now, tell me about this fantasy of yours.”