I studied him, taking in the dark circles under his eyes and the overall weariness on his face.“But something happened that kept you from going?”
“I got sick.”He took a sip of coffee.
“I see.”
He rubbed his face tiredly.“We’d planned on checking the pots in the north channel together, but after lunch, I got really sick with some kind of stomach bug.I ended up calling Eddie around 5:00 p.m.to tell him I couldn’t go.He said he’d go alone.”His mouth turned down.“That was the last time I talked to him.”
My chair creaked as I leaned back.“What time did he leave the harbor, do you know?”
He shook his head.“Ray would know better than me.I wasn’t there, remember?I was home.”
“Right.Sorry.”I gave an apologetic smile.“So, you were home all night sick?”
“All night.Sick as a dog from both ends.”He gave an embarrassed laugh.“I ended up crawling into bed around eight.I felt like I was dying.”
I smiled faintly.“Anyone who can confirm that?”
He paused.“I live alone, so no.But I was home.”
I nodded and rested my elbows on my desk.“I have to ask you something, and it might be uncomfortable.”
“Go ahead,” he said cautiously.
I met his wary gaze.“I’ve heard from a few people that you and Eddie had been having some tension lately.Some arguments.Can you tell me about that?”
He shifted in his seat.“Oh, that was nothing.Just business stuff.We disagreed on some things, the way partners do.Where to fish, how much to invest in new gear.Normal stuff.Both Eddie and I could be stubborn.But we always worked that shit out.We were like brothers.”
It was true most people said they’d been very close.It was only recently they’d had issues with each other.I really needed to know what had caused the friction.“Eddie’s wife supports the stuff other people have said about you two fighting.She said he wasn’t sleeping well before his death.She attributed it to something going on between the two of you.That doesn’t sound like the normal stuff.”
Gil’s expression didn’t change, but something behind his eyes did.A door closing.“Rosa is grieving.People remember things differently when they’re hurting.Eddie and I were fine.If he hadn’t had the accident, we’d have been right as rain again.”
It was a smooth answer.He definitely didn’t want to talk about the fights he’d had with Eddie.Not that it meant anything bad.Losing your best friend before you could work through issues you might be having would be a gut-wrenching thing.I could understand his reticence to talk about what probably felt very private and painful.
“You two were partners, but Eddie owned the Pacific Lady, is that right?”I asked.
His cheek twitched.“Yes.”
“What happens to the boat now?”
He grimaced.“It’s kind of complicated, and I haven’t wanted to talk to Rosa about that just yet.”
“Did you and Eddie have an LLC?”
He let out a harsh breath.“No.We had a handshake kind of deal because we were buddies.He bought the boat, but I’d pay for repairs and anything the boat needed.Then we’d put out our pots and split the catch, fifty-fifty.We worked well together.We trusted each other.”
I frowned.“What does that mean for you now that Eddie is gone?”
He gave a pained laugh.“It means I’m kind of fucked, if you want to know the truth.”
“Why is that?”
“I believe the boat goes to Rosa, unless Eddie had a will that left it to me.But I’m sure he didn’t.Eddie didn’t like talking about wills or death.He thought it was bad luck.”He drained his coffee and crumpled the paper cup.“If Eddie didn’t have a will, Rosa will inherit everything.She could sell the boat, lease it, or let it sit.”
“Damn, that’s rough, Gil.”
“Yeah.”He sighed.“I’ll have to talk to her when things have settled down.Hopefully, she’ll be willing to sell the boat to me or at least lease it to me.If not, I’m in real trouble.I… I don’t know any other way to make a living other than fishing, and I’m too damn old to start over.”
“That’s rough luck.”Crabbing permits in Oregon were limited and worth serious money.If Eddie had held the primary permit, that was potentially worth tens of thousands of dollars.It might transfer to Rosa or it might revert, depending on how Oregon handled their partnership.Either way, it didn’t sound like Gil was going to be in good shape.
