Cause for Murder (24 page)

"I want you to call your mother at work and get her home. We've got to get out of here."

"Why?"

"Sit down, Maryann. I've got something to tell you. Then you'll understand."

When Maduk finished, Maryann went to the phone, her hand trembling as she lifted the receiver. “Mom, you need to come home right now. It's urgent."

"I can't just leave."

"Tell your boss your daughter's been in an accident and you're taking the rest of the day off."

"It's that serious?"

"Yes."

After hanging up, she turned to Maduk. “She'll be home in about twenty minutes."

Maduk nodded. “Good. Pack a couple of bags for you and Lilly. Enough for a few days."

Maryann flew to the bedrooms and had the luggage ready when her mother drove into the driveway.

Lilly dashed into the house, her face contorting into fear when she saw Maduk. Then her gaze shifted to her daughter with the two suitcases. “What's happened?"

"The police are coming to arrest you and Maryann for the murder of Burke. I want to get you out of here."

Her face paled. “I don't understand."

"I'll explain later. We don't have much time. My car's out back."

The three hustled out the door and climbed into the Buick.

Hawkman received a call from Sam telling him the about his conversation with Maryann, and how she feared Maduk had killed Burke. He told him what she'd said about the paraquat in the carport disappearing. “However, she got mad at me and I never did find out if Lilly ever fed Burke or if she supplied him with any booze."

"You've done a good job, Sam. You found out information we didn't know."

"Yeah, but I blew it when I asked her if she'd killed Parker."

"No, you let her know she's under suspicion. The girl has to realize her actions have been questionable."

"I shouldn't have said it so soon, though, because then she got mad and clammed up."

"Those answers might turn up through other sources."

"How?"

"I'll let you know later."

About that time, Hawkman's landline rang. “I'll talk to you tonight; got another call coming in."

After hanging up from Sam, he punched on the speaker phone.

"Tom Casey here."

"Hawkman, Detective Williams. The tests results are here. Also the ones from the police lab. Think you better get your ass down here as soon as you can."

"I'm on my way."

He hung up, quickly stashed away his work and was out the door. When he arrived at Williams’ office, he met a somber faced detective.

"Sit down and take a gander at these.” He shoved the file in front of Hawkman.

After going through the sheets of paper, he glanced up. “I had my suspicions. Everything I've discovered pointed in that direction."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"I wanted to see these tests first. My hunch was right.” He placed the folder back on Williams’ desk. “Looks like the box I found did contain paraquat. I figured the bottle wouldn't have any prints on it. So we definitely can't pin anything on Maduk."

"But he could well be an accomplice."

Hawkman picked up the folder again and glanced at one of the reports. “It states Maryann's print was found on the liquor bottle. For some odd reason, I expected Lilly's."

"Yeah, me too. There were several of the bartender's prints and some smudged ones. But they lifted her print off the neck of the bottle. Then on the outside of the plastic food container, they found a nice clear thumb impression of Lilly's and traces of paraquat inside. The aluminum foil held some bones, which appeared to be remnants of fried chicken. They were laced with poison."

Hawkman scratched his sideburn. “You've definitely got some evidence that points to Lilly or Maryann. However, it's all circumstantial. They obviously gave Burke the food and liquor. But someone else could have doctored it after he had it in his possession. No one knows when he ate the food. He might have eaten in the car and carried the trash inside, or it could have sat in his room for several hours."

Williams groaned. “Do you have to be the devil's advocate?"

"It's a good start. You might be able to get a confession out of Lilly. I have a feeling she might crumble under interrogation."

"We've at least got enough to make the two arrests. You with me?"

Hawkman sighed, slapped his thighs and stood. “Yep, it's got to be done."

Before leaving the station, Williams alerted the Yreka police, then called in a couple of his officers for back-up.

Hawkman pointed toward his 4X4. “I'll take my vehicle since we're heading for Yreka."

Within an hour, they pulled in front of the Parker home.

Hawkman got out and joined Williams beside his car. He gestured toward the driveway. “Lilly's station wagon is here. She must be home."

Williams nodded. “Let's go."

They stood at the front door and the detective knocked several times. “That's odd,” he said, trying the knob. The door opened, and he poked his head inside. “Mrs. Parker, police."

When he received no answer, Williams motioned for the officers to go around back. Pulling his gun, he stepped into the living room. Hawkman followed with his pistol poised.

Williams called out several times, but heard nothing. Hawkman silently made his way down the short hallway and cautiously opened Maryann's bedroom door. He noted the made bed, but several dresser drawers stood ajar with clothes dangling over the edges. The closet revealed empty hangers and garments dropped or tossed to the floor. Remembering Sam had told him the girl had a gun, he ran his hand under the pillows of the bed, and opened the drawers of the small bedside table, but found no weapon. Without searching any further, he assumed she either had it with her, or possibly didn't have one at all.

He slipped back into the hallway and met Williams standing outside Lilly's cluttered room. “This area's a total disaster. Do you think there's been a scuffle?"

Hawkman peeked inside. “Hard to say. It looks more like messy housekeeping."

"Find anything interesting in the other room?"

"No, other than it appears they left in a hurry."

The detective moved toward the front door. “Let's go check Lilly's work place."

As the two men hurried down the steps of the porch, the back up patrol rounded the corner of the house.

"See anything suspicious?” Williams asked.

"No, just an old vagrant making his rounds of the garbage dumpsters."

Hawkman's interest piqued. “Did you ask him if he'd seen anything?"

"Yes. He said he'd just gotten here and hadn't seen anybody around the area, except us."

They left the Parker house and headed for Lilly's work place. When they arrived, one of the waitresses led them to Mr. Thomas’ office.

She knocked softly on the door. “Mr. Thomas, two men here to see you about Lilly."

"Show them in."

When Williams stepped into the room, the manager came out of his chair, his face pale. “Is Lilly's daughter okay?"

"Why do you ask?"

"A call came in reporting that Maryann had been involved in an accident this afternoon. Lilly dashed out of here in a flurry."

"Who made the call?"

"I don't know. It didn't come through my office."

"Could you find out who took it and what time it came in."

"Sure, just a moment."

When Thomas left the room, Williams quickly called the station to see if any accident had been reported this afternoon. He shook his head at Hawkman, then hung up before the boss returned.

"It turns out Lilly answered the phone about three this afternoon."

Williams handed him a card. “Thank you Mr. Thomas. If she calls in, notify us immediately at this number? It's very important."

Thomas placed the card on his desk, then clasped his hands together atop his large belly. “Certainly."

They stood outside Williams’ car and Hawkman studied the ground in thought. “Think I might see if I can catch that homeless guy in the next day or two and ask him a few questions. Sam seems to think he lives in that alley behind the Parker place. Hawkman strolled over to his SUV and placed his foot on the running board, then dropped it to the ground and raised a hand. “Oh, by the way, who else had access to those lab reports?"

Williams threw up his hands. “The sealed envelope arrived about two o'clock. I read the results and called you. The only other people would be at the lab facility. Why?"

"It's interesting how those two women have just up and disappeared before we got there. It's like they found out you were coming. Someone picked them up."

"Maduk?"

Hawkman nodded. “He's my first guess."

"You think Maduk has a snitch at one of the labs?” Williams asked.

"Or on the Yreka police force. He's been around a long time and knows a lot of people."

"Thanks, you have a way of making my day.” Williams climbed into his car, turned on the radio, and reported to the Yreka police department that they'd reached the Parker house and found no one home. They had a clue to check out and would report back later."

"You need a back-up?"

"Don't think so. I have Hawkman and a couple of officers with me. But stay tuned in case we run into trouble."

"Will do."

Hawkman jumped into his 4X4 and Williams gave him the signal to move ahead. It took them close to thirty minutes to reach Maduk's driveway. Hawkman pulled up to the gate, climbed out of his vehicle and walked back to Williams.

"The gate's padlocked."

Williams stepped out of the car, pulled his gun, aimed and shot off the lock. The blast echoed off the surrounding hills, making it sound like more than one shot. “Well, if Maduk hasn't spotted us by now, he'll know we're here."

Hawkman tossed the chain aside and opened the gate. He drove through, followed by the other two cars.

When Maryann heard the shot, she jumped out of the chair and ran to the window. “It's the police. What are we going to do, Maduk? Shall I get my gun?"

He strolled over to the window and looked over her head at the parade of cars coming up the driveway. “Absolutely not."

Lilly grabbed his arm. “They're coming to arrest me."

He pulled Maryann away from the window and raised a finger to his lips. You two get to the back of the house and stay out of sight unless I call you."

Once the two women had left the living room, Maduk opened the front door, and moseyed out onto the porch.

Hawkman got out of his 4X4 and glanced up at the big Indian who appeared as a towering giant. His gaze went immediately to the knife dangling from the man's belt and the gun poked in his waistband. “Hello, Maduk. Nice place."

"Thank you. This is private property and may I ask what urgency caused you to destroy the lock on my gate?"

Detective Williams came forward and flashed his badge. “We're here on police business."

"I'm listening,” Maduk said, folding large arms across his chest.

"We're looking for Lilly and Maryann Parker."

The Indian glared down at the detective. “Why?"

"For the murder of Burke Parker."

Maduk raised a brow. “Both women?"

"Yes. We have reason to believe they are responsible for the man's death."

"That's a little hard to swallow."

"May we search your house?"

"You have a warrant?"

"No. But we're asking for your cooperation."

"You don't have it without a search warrant. Good day, gentlemen.” Maduk turned toward the door.

Hawkman stepped forward. “Maduk, have you seen Lilly or Maryann?"

He glanced over his shoulder. “Not for several days. I expect you and these officers to get off my property within the next five minutes."

He entered the house and shut the door, then stood at the window watching as the men piled into their cars and drove down the driveway. Maduk could see the dust rising on the road, and once they'd disappeared from his sight, he called to Lilly and Maryann. “You can come out now."

The two women hurried into the living room. “I heard you tell them we weren't here,” Lilly said. “If they find out, you could be in serious trouble."

Maduk chuckled. “My dear, my dear, they wanted Lilly and Maryann Parker. Remember you're no longer Lilly Parker. You are now Lilly Madukarahat.” He winked. “How soon you've forgotten we were married this afternoon in the home of Rita Randahl, the Notary Minister? And Maryann, as far as I'm concerned has never been a Parker."

Maryann shook her head. “Maduk, you know that isn't going to make any difference. And I don't understand why they want me? I had nothing to do with Burke's death."

"Your fingerprints were on the liquor bottle they found in Burke's motel room."

She gasped. “Oh, my God. They're probably on every one of those bottles. Mom would bring them home, set them on the counter and I'd put them away."

Tears ran down Lilly's cheeks. “I can't let them take her away. She had nothing to do with it."

Maduk put an arm around Lilly. “I know. They have no proof either of you administered poison to Burke's food or drink, even though your prints were on the plastic container. They're just guessing. Hawkman discovered the paraquat I'd buried out in the forest and they ran some tests on it. No fingerprints were evident."

Maryann jerked up her head and scowled at Maduk. “Where'd you get the paraquat?"

He pulled Lilly around in front of him and held her at arm's length as he stared into her face. “I found the poison in the cabinet under your carport. If the police found it first, they'd pretty much have you in jail by now. I had to get rid of it."

Lilly moved out of his grasp and collapsed in a fit of sobs on the couch. “We're all going to end up in jail for the rest of our lives."

Maryann paced the room, gnawing on her lower lip. “Get hold of yourself, Mother. It's hard to think when you're making so much noise.” She grabbed her father's arm. “So how did Hawkman know you'd buried the poison?"

Madux shrugged. “That, I can't tell you. But, he's a smart investigator and learned I'd bought this place. When I found evidence someone had been snooping around, I figured it was him. I didn't realize he'd been out in the field until one of my sources told me they were testing a bottle of paraquat they found on my property. I went out and discovered it'd been removed. But there's no way they can prove I buried it. I'd wiped it clean of fingerprints. The only thing they have to go on is the stuff they found in the motel room."