Cause for Murder (20 page)

She frowned. “Why would he say that?"

"I guess he spoke with Mr. Casey and isn't too happy. Anyway, Maduk said he wanted to talk to you and that he'd be back. I don't know if he meant tonight or when."

Maryann thought she saw a flash of fear in her mother's eyes. “Mom are you keeping something from me?"

"I'm worried about Maduk. If anything happens to him, then all my dreams are smashed."

"Mom, he hasn't taken you away yet. When are you going to give up on him?"

Lilly pointed a finger at her daughter. “Maryann, how can you say that? He's stuck by me all these years."

"Yeah, on the sidelines,” she said, slapping her hands against her thighs.

"I forbid you to talk like that about your father,” Lilly said, her voice quivering.

Maryann closed her eyes and raised her hands. “Okay, I'm sorry. I'm just trying to be realistic. But I think you've been living in a fantasy world too long."

Her mother sighed. “You might be right, but I feel in my heart things are going to change."

"I hope so, Mom. For your sake.” Maryann jerked her head around at the sound of footsteps on the porch. “I think he's here."

Maduk opened the door and stepped inside. He glared at the two women with ferocity.

Lilly came out of her seat. “Maduk, what's wrong?"

"The police discovered Burke Parker was murdered."

Her face paled. “Are you sure?"

"Yes. The big man called Hawkman told me."

Lilly slumped back down on the couch. “How?"

"Poisoned by paraquat."

Maryann stared at him wide-eyed and stepped back against the wall. “Dear God, that means we'll all be under investigation."

"That's right. Lilly, I need to talk to you privately. Let's go for a ride."

"Let me get on some comfortable shoes,” she said, heading toward her bedroom.

Maryann watched out the window and made sure the car had turned the corner before she grabbed the flashlight from the pantry and dashed out the back door. Making her way around to the carport, she knelt down and opened the cabinet doors. Shining the light inside, she sucked in her breath, as she frantically searched the shelves. Finally, she slammed the doors and stood up. Leaning against the cabinet, she ran the beam around the area. “It's gone,” she mumbled. “But who took it?"

"What's the problem, child?"

Her heart skipped a beat as she whirled around and shined the light into a man's face. “Frank, you scared me half to death. What are you doing here?"

"Just checking to see if your mom left me any food."

"Not tonight. Sorry."

"That's okay, she's a good woman."

Her heart still pounding, she hurried into the house and locked the back door. “That guy gives me the creeps,” she said aloud.

Early Saturday morning, Hawkman received a phone call from Detective Williams.

"Called your office yesterday, but didn't catch you. More of the lab test came in and traces of paraquat were found in the liquor bottles that we confiscated from the motel room. Looks like someone tampered with Parker's booze."

"Any fingerprints?"

"A thumb print. We're running it through the system now."

"What's your next step?"

"Going over to the house in a couple of hours and talk to the two women. Want to join me?"

"Yeah. I'd like to talk to you before we go. Are you busy right now?"

"Nothing that can't wait."

"Okay, I'll see ya shortly.” Hawkman grabbed a thermos of coffee and locked up his office. He wondered if he should warn Sam so he could cancel painting the house today. On the other hand, the interview with Lilly and Maryann might not take long. And the boys wanted to finish this project.

When Hawkman reached the station, Williams had a couple of officers in his office, but waved Hawkman in. “I've told these guys I want them to accompany us. I don't think we'll need them, but I'd like the back-up just in case."

Hawkman agreed.

Williams turned to the policemen. “Wait for us outside.” Once the officers left, he turned to Hawkman. “Now, what do you have to tell me?"

"There are several things you might find of interest.” Hawkman scooted a chair up to the desk and unfolded the map showing the location of Maduk's new home. He proceeded to tell Williams what he'd found buried in the woods. Then he related how he'd visited the bar where Lilly worked and discovered the owner gave his help the partially filled bottles of liquor before each new supply arrived. “Lilly started work in that bar about five or six months before Parker's death. When Burke discovered she got free booze, the bartender said Parker insisted she get some for him."

Williams ran a hand through his hair. “Sounds feasible. So you think Lilly could have spiked them with paraquat?"

"Either that, or she passed them on to Maduk and let him do the dirty work."

"Then how'd he get it to Parker without arousing suspicion?"

"I thought about that. Parker lived in that run down motel for months at a time. Maduk could have slipped into the room when Burke wasn't there, switched the bottles, or poured the concoction into the ones already there. I doubt Parker would have even noticed in his state of inebriation."

"So you think Lilly and Maduk planned this?"

Hawkman scratched his chin. “Hard to say. I'm more wary of Maryann. When she figured out where those partial bottles of booze were coming from and discovered her mother passing them on to Parker, she could have doctored them up."

"This is all getting very interesting. I'm going to ask a lot of questions today, and I'd like to search that house. But I'll have to get a warrant first. Which may take a day or two."

Hawkman changed positions and faced Williams. “I had a chance to scout around the Parker house while the boys were there. Now this is just speculation, but while searching through a cabinet under the carport, I spotted a space on one of the shelves where a small box or something square had been sitting. I felt it had been removed recently because the area was still clean. It looked to be the same size as the box I found in the woods behind Maduk's house. I realize this is all circumstantial, but it might give you ammunition for questions."

Williams stood and shrugged into his jacket. “Yep. And everything points in the direction of the family as our suspects. So let's go."

Sam paced in front of the movie theater until he spotted Richard's truck. He waited for him to park, then hopped into the passenger side. After he told his friend about Maduk approaching him at Maryann's house, Richard smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand.

"Oh, damn! And you still stayed there and finished painting? You're braver than I am."

Sam laughed. “You make it sound funny; but let me tell you, when I saw that big Indian standing there, I thought my heart would jump right out of my chest."

"You still want to go over and paint tomorrow?” Richard asked.

"Hell, yes. The police will probably be swarming the place. At least we won't miss anything."

Richard guffawed. “Okay, I'll plan on picking you up. Now, let's go take in a movie."

The next morning, Sam and Richard arrived at the Parker place about nine and prepared to paint the outside of the house. Sam took the taller ladder and Richard rested the shorter one several feet away.

"I don't want you splattering me with paint,” Richard said, as he placed the bucket on the ladder shelf.

Sam grinned. “Don't tempt me. I liked your hair all different colors. Makes you resemble a skunk.” He flicked the bristles of the dry paint brush toward him.

Richard ducked and they both laughed.

The boys painted for about an hour when Richard spotted a man standing a few yards away near the street staring at the house. “Hey, Sam,” he nodded his head toward the street. “There's an old guy over there watching us."

When both boys turned to look, the fellow advanced toward them with a big grin on his face. “Howdy there. You boys are doing a nice job for a gentle lady."

"You know Mrs. Parker?” Sam asked.

"She leaves me food almost every night on her porch. Takes care of me like family. Even gave me a blanket to keep warm at night."

"You know her husband died?"

The man's expression changed to an angry scowl. His odd colored light blue eyes even turned paler until he looked unnatural. “A very evil person. Good thing he's dead. Now Ms. Lilly can have peace."

At that moment, a look of fear registered on the man's face as he glanced toward the front of the house. He turned quickly and scurried away.

The boys looked to see what frightened him. A patrol car, plus Detective Williams’ unmarked vehicle pulled in front of the house. They climbed down their ladders and walked around the corner just as Hawkman climbed out of Williams’ car.

"Hello, boys. Making good progress?"

"Yeah, we're moving right along.” Sam edged closer to Hawkman. “What's happening?” he whispered.

Hawkman placed a hand on his shoulder. “Nothing for you to be concerned about. Go on about your work."

Sam reluctantly headed toward the side of the house. Richard followed. When they were sure they were out of earshot, Sam nudged his friend. “Something's going down,” he mouthed.

Richard glanced down the street. “Where'd the old man go?"

"Don't know, but he's a crazy, that's for sure. Did you notice his eyes?"

"Yeah, gave me the creeps. The color changed when you mentioned Mr. Parker to the point that he looked like an alien. And I caught his body odor clear up on the ladder. What'd he say, anyway? He had so much hair growing around his mouth I couldn't read his lips."

Sam grinned. “He definitely needed a shower and hair cut.” After relating to Richard what the stranger said, they moved their ladders to the back of the house. “Guess we better get busy."

A reflection bounced off Lilly's bedroom window, causing her to glance out. Her hand on the sill, she leaned forward, staring through the sheer curtains at the two cars parking in front of her house. Sucking in a deep breath, her hand fell to her side and she went to the closet. She slipped into a house dress, then ran a brush through her hair and secured it with a hair clamp at the nape of her neck. She sat on the edge of the bed, put on her shoes, wrapped her arms around her waist and waited. Maduk had warned her last night the police might be here today.

Her senses seemed extremely sharp, as she swore she could hear the brush strokes through the walls as the boys painted the outside. Soft footsteps alerted her that Maryann was coming down the hallway. She twisted around when her daughter entered the room.

"Mom, the police are here. Do you want to talk to them right now?” Maryann sat down beside her mother and took her hand. “You don't have to, you know. If necessary, we can get an attorney."

"I can't afford a lawyer.” She patted her daughter's knee and rose. “How many cops are out there?"

"Just the detective and Hawkman. The other two officers are still in their car. I think they're just back ups in case we give them trouble."

Lilly chuckled. “I guess they figure we're two dangerous women."

Maryann stood in front of her mother. “Mom, you'd definitely qualify for a court appointed lawyer and it wouldn't cost you a dime. You don't have to talk to these men."

"I have nothing to hide. If they get overbearing, I'll tell them I won't answer any more questions without a lawyer present.” She studied her daughter's face. “You'll be in there with me, won't you?"

"Absolutely."

Maryann led her mother into the living room and had her sit on the overstuffed chair before she invited the detective and Hawkman into the house. She then immediately went to her mother's side.

Lilly gestured toward the couch. “Have a seat, gentlemen. How can I help you?"

"Mrs. Parker, most of the lab tests on your late husband have come back. It appears Mr. Parker died of paraquat poisoning."

"What's that?” she asked.

"It's a very toxic herbicide used for killing or controlling weeds, and can only be used by a licensed contractor, so therefore it's not sold to anyone without proper credentials."

"How in heavens name could Burke have gotten ahold of such stuff. He never did any yard work."

"We need to know if Mr. Parker associated with anyone who might be able to obtain this poison."

Lilly threw up her hands and shook her head. “I haven't the vaguest idea.” Then she scooted to the edge of her seat and clasped her hands together. “Detective Williams, Burke and I had not lived together for some time. He tried to molest my daughter and I threw him out."

"We had a suspicion something had happened as we have it recorded in our records that you shot your husband in the leg one night. Is that because of his abuse?"

Maryann stepped forward. “She didn't shoot him, detective. I did."

Williams raised his brows? “You shot your father?"

"Yes.” Her eyes narrowed. “He tried to hurt me. I had a gun under my pillow and chased him out of my room. When mother heard my screams, she ran out the door behind me. When I shot him, she pulled me back inside and took the gun. He was a horrible man."

Lilly dropped her head into her hands. “Don't believe her, detective. She's only trying to protect me."

"Mrs. Parker, we'd like to search the house. If you don't give us permission, I'll get a search warrant."

Maryann glared at Hawkman and Williams. “Then that's what you'll have to do. If you think you can pin his murder on me or my mother, you're completely wrong. Just because we hated the man, doesn't mean we'd stoop to killing him."

"What about Maduk?” Hawkman asked.

Lilly’ jerked up her head, then dropped her gaze to her hands as she fiddled with the material of her dress.

Maryann shot a sharp look at Hawkman. “Are you insinuating that he had something to do with Burke's death?"

"What do you think?"

"I think it's time for you to leave unless you plan to arrest one of us."

Hawkman stood. “Maduk paid a visit to Sam in this house and in so many words threatened him."