Cause for Murder (7 page)

As she drove into the driveway, her eyes filled with tears. What had happened to her Maduk? Had he left her too? She let out a sigh as she climbed out of the car and locked it. When she turned around, a large shadow loomed over her. Before she could scream, a hand clamped over her mouth.

"Hush, Lilly, it's me, Maduk."

She fell into his arms. “Oh, my love, where have you been? I've missed you so much.” She smothered her tears in his chest as he held her tightly.

"I want to take you away."

Raising her head, she wiped her cheeks. “We can't talk out here. Even the trees have ears in this town. Let's go inside."

When he hesitated, she took his hand and pulled him toward the house. “Don't worry, Burke will never bother us again. He's dead."

"Yes, I know. That's why I'm here."

Once in the living room, Lilly closed the drapes. “Now, that's better. I feel we have some privacy.” Then she glanced toward the bedrooms. “Let me check to make sure Maryann's asleep. Did you know she's home?"

He nodded. “Yes, I spoke to her."

Lilly stopped in her tracks and glanced at him. “When? She didn't tell me you were here."

"It doesn't matter. Maryann knew I'd come back."

She peeked into her daughter's room, then softly closed the door. “She's in dreamland.” Lilly sat down on the couch and removed her shoes. “Oh, that feels so much better.” She wiggled her toes, leaned back on the couch and patted the cushion. “Come, sit beside me. It's so comforting to have you here. You've been gone a long time. Where've you been?"

Maduk sat down on the edge of the couch, his back rigid and his large hands resting on his knees. “We need to talk."

Lilly knew he had something very serious on his mind, but right now, she just wanted him to hold her. She could see it wasn't going to happen at this point. Rubbing her feet on the carpet, she reached over and touched his leg. “You want something to drink?"

He shook his head. “We need to get out of here very soon."

She frowned. “Why the urgency?"

"I have a job that takes me into other towns. We can't stay here."

Cocking her head, she stared at him. “That doesn't make much sense. You've had jobs where you went to other areas, but you never talked like this."

Maduk stood. “The police are going to ask a lot of questions about Burke's death. They'll come looking for me."

Lilly stiffened. “But I understood Burke died of natural causes."

"The police have asked for numerous lab tests. They wouldn't, if they didn't suspect foul play."

"How do you know these things?"

"I have my sources."

She gazed up at him with pleading eyes. “I'll tell the police you were with me."

His arms rose and dropped to his side. “You can't, my sweet one. The coroner doesn't even know Burke's exact time of death. All they know is he'd been dead for several days when they discovered the body. And with this new job, there were times I traveled all over the area and no one saw me for days."

Lilly got up and paced, her hands clenched into fists. “I'll tell the authorities how Burke beat and raped me when he was drunk."

"Since you never reported the abuse when it happened, they certainly aren't going to believe you now."

She threw up her arms. “If I'd ever told the police what all Burke did, they'd have taken Maryann away from me and put her in a foster home.” She hugged herself as tears slid down her cheeks. “I couldn't have stood losing my little girl."

Maduk pulled her into his arms. “Regardless, Lilly. We've been lovers for years and it hasn't gone unnoticed. People can see Maryann isn't Burke's daughter. Once she reached the age where her black hair and dark brown eyes became apparent, Burke made no bones about announcing it in every bar.

I don't know if the police know me by name. But they'll be looking for a Native American as their first suspect. So I can't be seen with you or hang around the area for much longer. Someone will soon spot me."

She threw her arms around his neck. “No! They can't take you away. I've waited too long for this day."

Maryann opened her eyes, glanced at the bedside clock, then stared at the closed door. It was well after midnight, but she could hear muffled voices somewhere in the house. Pushing back the covers, she threw her legs over the edge of the mattress and slipped her feet into the scuffs next to the bed. She shrugged into her robe, then quietly opened the door a few inches. Standing rigid, she listened to her mother and Maduk for several minutes.

Finally, she stepped into the hallway and strolled silently into the living room. Maduk spotted her immediately, and turned Lilly around by the shoulders to face their daughter.

"Oh, honey. Did we wake you?” Lilly asked, wiping tears from her cheeks.

"No, Mom, it's okay.” She studied the dark eyes of her father, identical to her own.

Lilly tossed a quick look at Maduk, whose expression didn't change as he stared at his child.

Maryann took a step forward. “Maduk, how do you know so much about Burke's death?"

Lilly's hands flew to her mouth. “Honey, how can you ask such a thing? You act like your father might have done something bad."

"I'm not asking you, Mother. I'm asking Maduk.” Her gaze locked with his.

"As I told Lilly, I have my sources."

"If people know Mom has a boyfriend, then why should it bother you to be seen around here?"

"Because no one really knows who I am except you. But the police have their suspicions and are going to be looking for me as a suspect involved in Burke's death. They'll be looking for a Native American. The only other person who has ever seen me in this house was Burke. And I'd have killed him then, if your mother hadn't stopped me."

"I wish you had.” Maryann's eyes narrowed. “But it's hard to believe after all these years living in this little town, no one has ever connected the two of you."

"We were very careful."

Maryann threw up her hands. “Why the hell didn't you take us away from this place?"

Lilly shot her daughter a hard look. “You have no right to ask that question."

"Yes, I do. He's my father."

Maduk stared fixedly at Maryann. “I had no money and no shelter."

She advanced toward him, her shoulders set in defiance. “You could have taken us to the reservation. They'd have made sure we had a roof over our heads and food to eat. And we wouldn't have had to contend with Burke anymore."

His gaze never swayed. “They'd have turned their backs on us."

Maryann frowned. “Why?"

"Because I'd been banned from the tribe."

Her head jerked up. “What! How come?"

Lilly stepped between her daughter and Maduk. “Maryann, that's enough. You're going where it's none of your business."

Maduk put a hand on Lilly's shoulder. “Maybe it's time she knows."

Maryann gave her parents a questioning look.

Lilly clenched her hands together, and moved out of the way. “Do whatever you think best."

Maduk took a deep breath. “I killed one of my own people."

Maryann dropped into the overstuffed chair in the corner of the living room. “I can't believe what I'm hearing.” She glanced up at her father. “How and why did you kill a person of your own tribe?"

"He was an evil man and had been harassing me for a long time about going out with a married lady. Even though he came into town regularly to take advantage of the white women in the bars. One night after he'd had too much whiskey, he came back to the reservation, yelling for me to come out of my house. By the time I stepped outside, a large crowd had gathered. He claimed I dishonored our people."

"How did he know?"

"Our people know many things about each other. Not much goes by they don't see."

"So what happened?"

"He walked to the center of the yard waving a long blade and challenged me. I took my knife and met him."

Maryann's eyes were wide. “You mean, you killed him in self-defense."

"The white man called it that, but they never got involved. They let the tribal council handle it. My people said I won because I proved the better fighter. But they banned me, saying, if I killed once, I'd probably kill again and they didn't want me among them."

"That's stupid,” Maryann said in disgust. “What if it'd been the other way around?"

"The same thing. The evil one would have been run out."

Maryann rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands, then shoved her hair behind her ears. “So what are we going to do?"

Lilly stepped forward and took her daughter's hand. “Nothing for now. If you and I disappear, it will look bad. But Maduk must leave until he's cleared of suspicion. When it all blows over, we'll join him.” Lilly glanced at Maduk. “Hopefully far away from this place."

Maryann thought she noticed a tic in Maduk's cheek as he contemplated what Lilly said.

"If you think it's the right thing to do,” he said. “Then I'll go. When things are safe, I'll come for you."

"How will we stay in contact?” Maryann asked.

"We can't. Any message or phone call can be traced."

"But how will you know when it's safe?"

"I'll know."

Maduk pulled Lilly into his arms and kissed her. “I hope we'll be together soon.” He glanced at Maryann. “I'll see you shortly, my daughter."

The two women watched Maduk walk out the front door.

Lilly took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Maryann put an arm around her mother's shoulders and guided her to the couch.

Jennifer and Hawkman glanced at Sam when he walked in the door.

"I heard Burke Parker's name. Have you found out something new?” he asked.

"Well, his death might not have been from natural causes."

Sam sat down on one of the stools at the kitchen bar beside Hawkman. “Did they find a bullet hole in his body?"

Hawkman shook his head. “No."

"So what'd they find?"

"All the tests aren't in, but they've discovered some unnatural things that occurred in his body. Which could mean anything from an overdose to a reaction to alcohol in his system. Or, he could have been poisoned."

Sam's eyes opened wide. “Poisoned?"

Hawkman raised a hand. “Don't jump to any conclusions. And keep this to yourself. Nothing's final yet."

"Oh, man!” Sam rubbed a hand over his chin. “That means Maryann and her mother are going to be involved in a murder investigation. And police will be swarming all over the new lawn we're putting in.” He slapped his hands on the counter. “And I thought I'd have a peaceful summer."

Trying to suppress a smile, Hawkman patted Sam's back. “If the reports show a shadow of a doubt that he died of anything but natural causes, Lilly and Maryann will have a few hectic months ahead. Welcome to the real world, son. And yes, family members are the first suspected."

That night, Sam tossed and turned before finally falling asleep. Richard and Maryann kept popping into his mind. If it turned out Burke was murdered, Richard's compassion for Maryann might grow. After all, he'd been a suspect in the murder of his mother, and knew the anguish they'd be going through.

Early the next morning, Sam paced back and forth across the driveway as he waited for Richard to pick him up. He debated whether he should confide in his friend about the latest news on Burke's death. Hawkman warned him to keep quiet until all the tests were in, but it tore at his gut to think the police could converge on the Parker property at any time, and catch Richard off guard.

Sam finally spotted his friend's truck coming across the bridge. As soon as the pickup rolled to a stop, he hopped aboard and they took off toward town. He observed how well Richard had mastered the art of driving by using all the mirrors. They’ drove a few miles before Sam spoke. He leaned forward so that Richard could see his mouth without too much distraction.

"If they discovered Burke had been murdered and the first suspects investigated were Mrs. Parker and Maryann, how would you feel?"

Richard shot a look at Sam and swerved, but quickly corrected his error. “I'd feel terrible. I've been there. It's not fun. What makes you think Burke might have been murdered? Does Hawkman know something?"

Sam shook his head. “It just crossed my mind as a possibility. Sort of gives me the willies."

"Yeah, me too."

Sam changed the subject to the latest mountain lion attack in the area. A sheep rancher had lost several of his prize ewes before he finally bagged the big cat with the help of animal control.

The boys arrived in Yreka and stopped by a garden shop where they rented a rototiller. They reached the Parker residence shortly before nine and immediately worked on the lawn, taking advantage of the morning cool air.

Even though they'd watered the ground and left instructions for Maryann to change the sprinklers often, they still found it very hard. But fortunately, due to the smallness of the yard, it didn't take long to turn over the chunks of soil.

They'd just stopped for a cool drink and wiped the sweat from their brow when Sam noticed a white car slow to a stop in front of the house. A uniformed police officer stepped from the passenger side as Detective Williams came around the front of the vehicle. Sam shot a glance at Richard, whose gaze was already glued to the two men strolling up the sidewalk.

Sam grabbed his tee shirt off the ice chest and quickly slipped it over his head, then stepped onto the narrow walkway. “Hi, Detective Williams."

The detective stopped, smiled and put out his hand. “Sam Casey, my Lord, it's been a couple of years since I've seen you. You look great. How's school?"

"Real good.” Sam turned and motioned for Richard. “You remember Richard Clifford."

"I sure do.” They shook hands. “So what are you guys doing here? Looks like you've been hired to do some rather heavy work."

"We're volunteering to help Mrs. Parker out."

"That's mighty kind of you,” Williams said and glanced toward the door. “Is she home?"

Sam shrugged. “I don't know. Haven't seen her or Maryann this morning.” He pointed toward the station wagon in the driveway. “Her car's here. So, she must be inside.” He frowned. “Is there a problem?"