Cause for Murder
by Betty Sullivan La Pierre

EXCERPT

CHAPTER ONE

Hawkman sat in the living room in one of the swivel chairs overlooking Copco Lake. His legs were stretched out on the ottoman as he tried to read the paper, but Jennifer kept running the vacuum around him, making him move. “Honey, for crying out loud, it’s only Sam, not the president coming home. Like most kids, he won’t hang around long enough to notice whether the place is clean or not.”

She shut off the noise maker and put a hand on her hip. “Hawkman, if it weren’t for women, men would live in pigsties. And not only that, there wouldn’t be any birthday celebrations, no Easter bunny, no tooth fairies and probably no Christmas if it were left up to the male population.”

He looked at her with furrowed brows. “What brought that on? I didn’t say anything about holidays. I just wanted to read the morning paper in peace.”

She waved her hand and flipped on the vacuum. Hawkman finally exited to the deck. He’d no more gotten comfortable on a lounge chair than Pretty Girl let out several loud squawks from the aviary.

Hawkman glanced at the falcon. “Good Lord, what’s with you females today? Can’t a man have a little peace and quiet?”

The bird finally fluffed her wings and settled on the perch. Hawkman continued to read the local news, and spotted an article about a Mr. Burke Parker from Yreka found dead in a motel room. An autopsy would be performed.

The name rang a bell and Hawkman rubbed his chin. Reading down a few paragraphs, he spotted the list of survivors and it brought the name into focus. Parker’s daughter, Maryann, was one of Sam’s high school classmates and they now attended the same university. He raised his gaze to the lake and speculated on why Parker would be in a motel room. If he remembered correctly, they had a home in Yreka and he’d not heard mention of the Parkers separating. He scratched his sideburn. Have to ask Jennifer about that one. She knew more about Sam’s friends than he did and might have heard some scuttlebutt.

When Hawkman didn’t hear the vacuum for several minutes, he took a chance, ventured inside and sat down in his chair. Jennifer marched from the back of the house, rearranging strands of hair that had slipped out of her pony tail.

He smiled. “You sure look cute when you’re frustrated.”

She shot him a grim stare. “Hawkman, don’t mess with me right now. I’m not in the mood to fool with your remarks. I’m worried about Sam. He should have called by now.”

He put up his hands in defense. “Okay. I’ll be good. Did he say he’d call?”

Her shoulders slumped. “Well, no, but he should.”

“Come on, honey. He’s a grown man. Men don’t call their moms every time they head home.”

“That’s why I bought him the cell phone, so he’d keep in touch.”

“Maybe he’s got a buddy with him. But if it bothers you, call him.”

“I tried. But I can’t seem to get through. I keep reaching his voice mail.”

“Maybe he lost it, or packed it away.”

She threw up her hands in disgust. “You’re probably right. Kids drive you nuts.”

“Now, getting off that subject, can I ask you a question?”

She nodded.

“I read in the paper where a Burke Parker from Yreka died. The survivors listed are Lillian Parker and his daughter, Maryann. Do you know his wife and didn’t Sam go to school with the girl?”

Jennifer flopped down on the couch and wrinkled her forehead. “That’s sad. I don’t think I ever met Burke and Lilly personally, but I do remember seeing Maryann at the high school on a few occasions. A beautiful girl, but very quiet and reserved. I believe Sam took her out a couple of times. I recall a big stink arose about Lilly and Burke last summer.”

“Oh yeah, what about?”

“I gathered he drank a lot and they fought constantly. I heard he came home one night roaring drunk, staggered into Maryann’s room and tried to rape her. When she let out a terrifying scream, her mother came running with a gun in her hand. Lilly chased Burke outside and shot at him, wounding him in the leg.” She shrugged. “Of course, it’s all gossip, so who knows the truth.”

Hawkman flipped open the paper to the article and handed it to her. “Well, there might be some veracity to it. Your story certainly explains why they found his body in a motel and not at home.”

Jennifer read the article and shook her head. “Poor Maryann. That’s all she needs to have happen now. At least school is out for the summer. It will give her time to recover from the loss of her father.”

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