Free Cause for Murder by Betty Sullivan La Pierre Page A

a toxic potion from plants. Richard shook his head. Maryann and Mrs. Parker also had a reason to kill the late Mr. Parker.
    His thoughts were interrupted when Maryann hurried out the front door, ran down the steps and headed straight toward him. He stepped over some dirt chunks to the narrow sidewalk.
    She folded her arms at her waist and smiled. “Hi, how's it going?"
    "Real good. We should finish the lawn today. Then we'll start painting tomorrow."
    "That's great.” She glanced around the yard. “Where's Sam?"
    "He'll be back shortly."
    She looked down at her feet, then up at him. “Uh, Richard, I'd like to ask a favor."
    "Sure, if I can."
    "Don't tell the cops I was here over the Memorial Day weekend."
    Richard felt a stab of shock at her request. “Why?"
    "It's just important they don't know."
    "But there were other people who saw you."
    "That's true, but I doubt the police will track them down."
    Richard frowned. “I won't lie, Maryann. If they ask me, I'll tell them, but I won't volunteer the information. I don't see why it should matter if you've nothing to hide."
    She dropped her hands to her side. “Of course, I don't expect you to understand, and your response is fair.” Turning on her heel, she hastened back into the house.
    Richard always thought he could read faces pretty well, especially eyes, but Maryann concealed her feelings extremely well. Her orbs were like two big black obsidian stones set in a beautiful face, but they reflected no emotion. Deep in his gut, he felt an ominous squirm. He now realized Sam had tried to warn him against establishing a relationship with Maryann, without telling him point blank to stay away from her.
* * * *
    Maryann dashed back into the house and went straight to her room. She flopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Her mind told her she'd just made a big mistake. Thinking Richard had fallen for her, she believed he'd do anything she asked. What a surprise to find his ethics outweighed his feelings. Now she'd raised his suspicions and more than likely he'd tell Sam. She'd made too many blunders in the past week. When Sam offered to fix up the house for her mother, she translated it as his wanting to get closer. But he hadn't made one advance toward her since he'd been coming to the house. In fact, he avoided her as much as possible. Even if she caught him looking at her, his gaze held mistrust. What had she done to make him dislike her so? She hit her fists on the bed. “Dammit,” she muttered, “I've got to change his opinion. I don't want his pity."
    The aroma of food wafted under her nose. She jumped off the bed and traipsed into the kitchen. “Mom, what the heck are you doing? Looks like you're cooking enough for an army."
    Lilly had cut up two chickens and proceeded to drop the flour coated pieces into the large hot iron skillet on the stove. Potatoes were boiling and salad makings were strewn across the cabinet.
    "I've got to keep busy, Maryann. I can't just sit around and think about Burke's death. I decided those boys have been working very hard on our place and I'm sure they have big appetites. The least I can do is make them a good meal. And I don't know of any young man who doesn't like fried chicken."
    "That's good of you, Mom. I hope you've told them so they don't go get sandwiches for their lunch."
    She put a floured hand up to her forehead, causing a white smudge. “Oh, dear, I hadn't thought that far ahead. Will you go tell them?"
    Maryann let out a sigh. “Sure."
    When she went outside, Sam had returned and the two were unloading what looked like rolls of grass. “What the heck are you doing?” she asked walking toward them.
    "I really lucked out,” Sam said, huffing, as he carried a large bundle to the edge of the yard and dropped it onto the ground. “Some guy had just finished putting in a sod lawn and had all these left over pieces. When I told him what we were doing, he just loaded them right into my truck without ever taking