Free Cause for Murder by Betty Sullivan La Pierre

down on the arm of the chair next to her mother.
    The detective cleared his throat. “It's never easy to be the bearer of bad news."
    "I already know my husband is dead, Mr. Williams. What worse news could there be."
    Unfortunately, we suspect your husband didn't die of natural causes."
    Lilly put a hand to her throat. “You mean murdered?"
    Williams raised a hand. “No, I'm not saying that. It could have been accidental. But we need some personal information about him. Did he have health problems? Was he on medication?"
    Maryann stared at him with a piercing gaze. “Why don't you go to his doctor and find out those things?"
    "I intend to do just that. But I need to verify the name of the doctor on the prescriptions we found in the room. Was Dr. Clevenger his regular doctor?"
    Lilly nodded. “Yes."
    "Mrs. Parker, did your husband consume a lot of alcohol?"
    Maryann's eyes narrowed. “If you mean, was he an alcoholic? Yes. And an abusive one at that."
    Lilly grabbed her daughter's hand. “He probably drank more than he should? Why?"
    "Some of the tests have come back showing a high percent of alcohol in his blood. Which could have reacted with the medications.” Williams stood. “I will probably have to ask you more questions as we get deeper into the investigation. Please don't leave town."
    "Why would I leave? I live here."
    He nodded. “Don't get up. We'll show ourselves out. Thanks for your cooperation."
    When Lilly heard the door close, she rose from the chair and crossed to the window. Hugging her waist, she peered through the sheer curtains as the two men got into the unmarked car. She noticed Sam's and Richard's heads turn toward the house as soon as the vehicle drove away. Her hands dropped to her side and she glanced at Maryann. “I don't like this. It's just the beginning."
    Maryann put an arm around her mother's shoulders. “Maduk will be safe. He knows how to hide."
    She nodded. “I wonder what they found that makes them so suspicious? It certainly wouldn't surprise me if Burke died because he mixed his medications with booze."
    Maryann moved away from her mother, and headed toward the kitchen. “I need a cup of coffee."
    Lilly followed her daughter and poured her cold coffee down the drain and replaced it with the hot brew.
    Maryann sat down at the table. “I gathered from the way the detective talked, they don't have all the test results."
    She sighed. “Well, once they talk to the doctor, they'll know Burke trod on dangerous ground with all his drinking."
    "Do you think the doctor realized how much Burke drank?"
    Lilly threw up her hands. “I don't know. But I might as well prepare myself for a lot of questions."
    "Me, too,” Maryann said, taking a sip of coffee.
    "You weren't even here, so the police probably won't bother you."
    "Mom, you've forgotten. If Burke had been dead for a few days before they found him, I could very well be a suspect. Remember, I was home over the Memorial weekend. In fact, I spent most of the day with Richard.” She pointed toward the yard. “The deaf boy helping Sam."
    Lilly felt the blood drain from her cheeks as she stared at her daughter.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    Richard broke up the clumps of dirt caused by the rototiller, then raked the ground smooth so they could sow the grass seeds. Sam had taken his truck to return the machine. While in town, he planned to check a couple of the garden centers and inquire if they had any leftover patches of sod from previous landscaping jobs which they might be willing to donate.
    Sam had suggested the authorities suspected Mr. Parker hadn't died of natural causes. Richard's gaze drifted to the front door. This worried him, because he knew Maryann and her mother would be questioned extensively, especially if the rumors of Burke's abuse were true.
    He wondered if the detective knew anything about Mrs. Parker's boyfriend, in his mind, a prime suspect with a motive. And being a Native American, the man might well know how to mix up