Cause for Murder (25 page)

She glanced at her father. “Do you think the police will be back tonight with a warrant?"

Maduk nodded. “Yes. As soon as they can get a judge to okay it. And this time I won't be able to stop them from searching the house. So, get your stuff together. I'm going to take you to a safe place. We'll be going out the rear way, so we won't be running into them. Tomorrow, I've made arrangements to meet with a lawyer. He can help us plan what to do next."

Maryann raised a brow. “How do you know all this stuff before it actually happens?"

"I have my sources."

"You've said that before. It doesn't answer my question."

"Don't worry your pretty head, my daughter. It keeps us a jump ahead, and that's important. Now, let's get rolling."

Lilly got up immediately, went to the bedroom, and returned in a few seconds pulling her suitcase. “I didn't unpack anything, so I'm ready.” She placed a hand on Maduk arm as he waited by the kitchen door. “Are you coming back here?"

"Yes, it has to look like I never left."

As they drove away, Lilly looked longingly at the house. “If I'd only known you'd bought this lovely place."

On the way to town, Hawkman thought about the encounter with Maduk. He'd watched the windows while Williams talked with the Indian, and swore he saw the curtains move in the room at the far corner of the house. His gut told him the women were there. But no way would Maduk allow them inside without a search warrant.

Williams would have to go through the Yreka authorities, and Hawkman didn't know how well he knew the judge. Having no more evidence than fingerprints on food containers, he might have trouble getting one. If he couldn't get permission to search the premises tonight, they might as well forget it. Hawkman figured, the chances of finding Lilly and Maryann at the house were probably nil, as Maduk would have them out of there in a matter of hours.

Maduk loaded the two women's luggage into the trunk, then had them climb aboard. He drove down the driveway to the fence line where he replaced the blasted padlock and rebolted the chain across the gate.

When he climbed back into the car, Maryann let out a sigh. “What good will that do? The police will only shoot it off again."

"I expect them to. It will warn me they're coming."

Maduk drove back to the house, and circled to the rear where he took what looked like a cow path across the field which led to an asphalt road. Lilly sat erect in the front passenger seat and stared straight ahead. “Where are we going?"

He patted her arm. “Someplace safe until I can decide what we're going to do.” Then he turned his head slightly toward Maryann. “Do you have those pictures?"

"Yes."

Lilly twisted around and looked at Maryann. “What pictures?"

"The ones you took of yourself after Burke beat you. I found them in the closet when Sam and I cleaned out your room to paint."

She closed her eyes and rested her head against the seat. “What good will those do now?"

"Lilly, anything that shows what Burke did to you will help,” Maduk said. “Maryann also told me about taking you to the hospital in Medford after one of his beatings. I want to get the record of that visit."

"I never told them my injuries were due to Burke's abuse. I claimed I'd fallen down some stairs."

"Maryann said the hospital staff didn't believe it and she saw them write the word ‘suspicious’ on the chart."

Lilly threw her hands in the air. “That could mean anything."

Maduk shook his head. “I don't think so."

Lilly's tears glistened with the colors of the dashboard lights as they rolled down her cheeks. “I hated that man with a passion. And when he told me he was going to move back into the house, and evict us, I couldn't believe it. I knew if I showed any resistance, he'd have killed me on the spot. Instead, he cruelly threw back his head and laughed. You should see your face, he said.” Her chin quivered and a few soft sobs escaped her mouth.

Maduk reached over and took her hand. “Did anyone ever see you with bruises or injuries? It's important you tell me."

She took a deep breath. “Once I went to work with a black eye that I couldn't conceal very well with make-up. No one asked any questions. I think they knew about Burke. But before I started working, I'd stay in the house after one of his brutal beatings. However, there were times when I had to run errands or go to the grocery store. People would stare at me, probably knowing full well what had happened. If anyone asked, I made up some story, which, of course, they didn't believe. They weren't stupid.” She raised her hands and let them drop to her lap. “I tried to hold my head high, but it was hard."

"But Mom, you still gave that horrible man food and liquor."

"I didn't really have much of a choice. Once he found out I could get partial liquor bottles from work, he threatened to make me sorry if I didn't get him some. Also on the weekends, he insisted I fix fried chicken so he could have a good home-cooked meal. He said it was the only meal I cooked that he liked, then he'd complain about it. Made me laugh. I couldn't please the man."

Maryann leaned forward and squeezed her mother's shoulder. “Mom, you're a great cook. He was just mean."

Lilly put her hand over her daughter's. “Thanks, dear, I appreciate that. But I figured if it kept him away from me, I'd take the time and effort."

"When did he pick up the food and liquor?” Maduk asked. “You worked late every night, especially on the weekends?"

"He'd come by around midnight. But I finally got to the point where I'd just leave it on the porch, because he always came to the house roaring drunk. I lived in fear of him hurting me again."

Maduk furrowed his brow. “You say you left it outside?"

"Yes."

"Did you always do that?"

"As often as I could. But there were times I didn't have everything together before he pounded on the door."

"So anyone could have come by and doctored that food."

Lilly gnawed her lip and stared out the passenger window. “Yes, I suppose."

Maduk turned onto a narrow dirt road and drove a couple of miles before heading up a rough driveway. A small home, smoke curling from the chimney huddled in a nest of trees. An old rattletrap pickup sat at the side.

Maryann sat forward. “Who lives here?"

"Someone very dear."

With suitcases in hand, Lilly and Maryann stood behind Maduk as he knocked loudly on the old oak door.

A toothless man with long gray hair peeked out. He squinted at the group standing before him, then broke into a big grin. “Madukarahat, my son. Come in, come in.” The old gentleman stepped back and waved the three inside.

The house felt warm and smelled of food. Maduk sniffed the air. “Ah, you're cooking rabbit stew."

Grabbing the cane leaning against a chair, the old fellow hobbled over to the wood burning stove and raised the lid on the pot. “Aah, it's doing nicely, should be ready in about an hour.” He took a long handled wooden spoon and stirred the ingredients.

"I can't stay, but my wife and daughter will enjoy the cooking of the master.” Maduk turned to the two women. “This is my Father. Call him Happy, I don't think the man has ever had a sad day in his life except when mother died."

Maryann stared at the steaming kettle. “I've never had rabbit stew."

Maduk smiled. “It'll be a wonderful experience."

Lilly touched his arm. “Does he know we're going to spend the night and why?"

"Not yet. I will talk to him. But he'll be thrilled. He's quite a storyteller and will keep you entertained. Come and I'll show you where you'll be sleeping. The two of you will have to share a bed."

Lugging their bags, the two women followed him into a small but immaculately clean room filled with the aroma of roses. Lilly noticed the fresh cut bouquet on the top of a small chest in the corner of the room.

"What beautiful flowers."

"Before it gets too dark, take a peek out back at his garden. It's quite a wonder. Now, I'll go talk to my father, and then I must leave."

Maduk left the two women sitting on the edge of the bed. They could hear the male voices echoing through the thin walls, but couldn't make out the words. Maryann and Lilly glanced at each other questioningly, then grinned, realizing the men were talking in their native tongue.

"We'll never know how much Happy knows,” Maryann said, as she stood and walked around the barren room. She pushed back the sheer curtain and looked out the only window. The sun had dipped in the horizon and early evening would soon be upon them. She sighed and sat back down. “What's going to happen to us?"

Hawkman hung around the police station, waiting for Williams to return from negotiating with the judge. When the detective finally arrived, he entered the office wearing a sullen expression. “I take it the news isn't good."

Willams shook his head. “The judge says there isn't enough evidence to search Maduk's home."

"So what's your next move?"

The detective flopped down in his chair. “I'm sending a man out to keep a watch on the house."

"Would you like my opinion?"

"I'd appreciate it."

"I think it's a waste of man power. I'm sure the women were there, but once we left, he hustled them to another hiding place."

"What's his game?"

"Time. My guess is he'll get a good lawyer. Then the women will turn themselves in."

"How do you figure? This is a murder rap."

"Maduk knows you can't prove that either one of those women poisoned Burke Parker."

"Do you think he did it?"

"No. But he'll cover for either of them."

Hawkman left the police station and drove back to the Parker place. Stopping in front, he let the engine idle as he surveyed the property. The old station wagon hadn't moved and the house stood in darkness. Nothing appeared disturbed since the police invaded the dwelling.

He slid his foot off the brake and slowly drove around to the alley. Sam seemed to think the vagabond had made his habitat somewhere behind the Parker's. He eased his vehicle onto the dirt and let the headlights play along the back fences. In the beam of light he soon spotted a mound of blankets piled in the corner where two yards came together at an odd angle. He shut down the motor, turned off the headlights, and removed a flashlight from the glove compartment. Getting out of the 4X4, he flipped open the flap of his shoulder holster so he could reach his gun quickly. One never knew what sort of a reaction you might arouse from a destitute person, especially if they'd been drinking or on drugs. He approached cautiously. “Anyone here?” he said, moving the light over the pile of blankets.

The lump moved, and a waving gnarled hand pushed above the covers. “Go away. I ain't botherin’ nobody."

"I want to ask you some questions."

A head of dirty gray matted hair emerged from under the blanket, followed by a bearded face. Light blue eerie eyes studied Hawkman. “I seen you before. One don't forget a face with an eye patch. You talked to Harley at Larry's bar, didn't ya? You a cop?"

"No, I'm Tom Casey, a private investigator. And yes, I'm the one who talked to Harley."

"So whatcha investigatin'?"

"A murder case."

The old fellow's eyes narrowed as he slowly climbed out of his bedroll. “What's that have to do with me?"

"I'm trying to find someone who might help me out. By the way, what's your handle?"

"Frank."

"Well, Frank, we're actually looking for Lilly Parker and her daughter. Seems they've disappeared."

The old man furrowed his brow. “Who's ‘we'?"

"Me and the police."

Frank's eyes grew wide. “Why do they want Lilly?"

Hawkman scratched his chin. “She's a suspect in the murder of Burke Parker."

The old fellow jumped up and grabbed a walking stick resting against the fence.

Hawkman stepped back, not sure what to expect.

Frank jabbed the cane into the ground. “My Lilly didn't do nothin'. That old man of hers deserved to die."

Hawkman frowned. “What do you mean, ‘your Lilly'?"

"Just what I say. She's the only family I have. Makes sure I'm fed and warm.” He rested the cane against his leg as he picked up the blanket from the ground and caressed it, then held it toward Hawkman. “See this?"

"Yeah. What about it?” Hawkman asked as he watched the man fold it neatly, then slip it into a plastic bag.

"Lilly gave this to me last winter when it got really cold. She told me to keep it dry and I'd stay toasty warm.” He looked at Hawkman with a crooked grin, showing gaps of missing front teeth. “And you know what? She was right.” Then he frowned, slapped on an old floppy leather hat and spit to the side. “Enough talk, I gotta find her."

"Did you by chance notice any unusual activity going on around the Parker house this afternoon?"

He slung the plastic bag over his shoulder and using the cane limped toward the street. “Ain't seen nothin’ but a bunch of cops swarmin’ around."

Hawkman hurried to catch up. “Frank, you said Lilly fed you. What did you mean?"

"Almost every night, but occasionally she didn't have nothin'. The woman barely had enough food for herself and that no good husband. But she always managed to give me somethin', even if no more than a slice of bread.” He again spit, then continued. “She had a good heart, and I get mad every time I think of her old man hitting her."

Hawkman took hold of Frank's shoulder. “You saw him hurt her?"

He stopped, stiffened, and eyed the hand on his shoulder until Hawkman removed it. “Yeah, more than once. Parker was a mean devil. Glad he's dead."

Hawkman noticed the man's eyes had turned a light gray color, giving him a ghostly appearance. “When did you see him abuse her?"

Frank turned toward Hawkman and stared into his face. “You ask a lot of questions for not being a cop. Not sure why I'm answerin'. But you look like a mean sucker with that patch over your eye. You've been around, ain't ya? But how do I know you won't shoot or arrest me?"

Hawkman cocked his head. “Well, Frank, for one thing, I'm only mean when I have to be, and the other thing, I'm not a cop, so I can't arrest you. Oh, sure, I could make a citizen's arrest, but you haven't done anything that would warrant it. I look at it as two guys talkin'."