Contents
Dedication
Back Cover
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Author's Note
Author's Bio
Copyright
To my father, who told me bedtime stories about Nikki and the magical horse when I was a little girl.
When opportunity "nocks"...
A tournament in Vegas means gambling, archery... and murder? The last thing Di, her roommate Mary, and Great Dane Moo expect when they arrive in Sin City is to be swept up in another investigation. But when friend Loggin fears he might be the next victim, the competition takes a back seat to finding a killer.
A wholesome cozy murder for every sleuth in the family
This is the fifth book in the Target Practice Mysteries series.
Target Practice Mysteries 5
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CHAPTER ONE
Moo, my Great Dane buddy, and I pressed our noses to the window of the Westmound Center for Competitive Shooting Sports's van as we flew down the freeway past the glittering casinos of Las Vegas. I imagined how they would sparkle at night.
"Just a few more exits to the casino," Jess called over her shoulder as she maneuvered to the right lane.
Jess, a friend from college who was now my boss at the Westmound Training Center for Competitive Shooting Sports, was driving the center's van to our first travel tournament of the year. Next to me was my roommate and coworker, Mary. Moo was on my other side. Tiger and Minx, two of the on-site athletes from the center, had also hitched a ride from Wyoming to the casino just off the Vegas Strip, where the tournament was being held.
Suddenly the van was filled with the sound of chirps and beeps as several phones, including mine, alerted to a message. I pulled out my phone as Mary and Minx did the same.
I had a message from Loggin, an archer that worked for the same parent company as us, that read, "Hurry! Someone is trying to kill me."
Minx leaned her head over the back of the seat between Mary and me. "Kill him? What's the knucklehead going on about?"
Mary looked up from her phone. "Why don't you call him and see?"
Minx sat back and punched a few buttons before talking into the phone.
Tiger turned around in the front seat as our van turned down a wide road. "Another mystery, eh? We can't take you two anywhere."
I snickered at him as he turned back to his phone, where it looked like he was texting someone.
"Don't be so dramatic," said Minx. She looked at me and rolled her eyes. "We'll be there in a few minutes. I can see the casino now. Bye."
I turned back to the front of the van as we went through an intersection and approached a large casino. It was several miles from the Vegas Strip, which meant there was ample parking. A parking garage was off to one side, but Jess pulled into the open parking area in front of the casino. On the electronic marquee beneath the name of the casino flashed the name of the tournament, the Casino Cup.
"Casino Cup?" I turned to Mary. "I didn't know this tournament actually had a name. You've just been calling it the Vegas tournament."
Mary unbuckled and reached to slide the door open. "This is the first year it's been called that. There are a ton of new changes: bigger prize money, sanctioned betting on the tournament, and the new name." She leaped out of the car, twisted, and stretched.
Moo was two steps behind her. I grabbed his leash as it snaked out and was dragged out of the van. Once he hit the ground, he raised his nose to sniff the air, and I was able to catch my balance. Holding tightly to his leash, I reached back into the van to grab my messenger bag. The air was still cool but much warmer than the Wyoming winter we had escaped. We had left a day earlier with an overnight stop in Utah on the way down. I was almost as thrilled as Moo was to be out of the car.
I stretched down to touch my toes then fidgeted to get rid of the stitch in my side from Moo pushing up against me for hundreds of miles. Jess popped open the back of the van. Mary grabbed the bow case that we were sharing and passed me my rolling bag.
Once the van was locked up, we headed toward the casino. Minx's phone rang. "Hello. Yeah." She spun in a circle. "Where? Okay. Bye." She raised her voice to call out to us as we continued toward the entrance. "Jess, can you check in without us? Mary, Di, and I have to go meet with Loggin."
"Sure." Jess and Tiger continued walking.
"Where is he?" I looked around the parking lot, trying to spot Loggin's tall, athletic build, but except for us, the parking lot appeared empty of anyone standing around. As I spun in a circle, a dark blue truck flashed its lights.
Minx was facing the opposite direction. "He said he's in a truck."
I grabbed my bag. "Then I know where he is." Moo raced ahead, darting one way then the other as I moved toward the truck.
Loggin rolled down the window and peered around. "Are you alone?"
Minx crossed her arms. "Do you see anyone else out here? Why do you think someone is trying to kill you? "
"I don't think, I know. After a few months around these two"--he pointed at Mary and me--"I think I know when violence is about to happen."
He had a good point. "Fair enough," I said. "Can we go over to that grass? Moo's been stuck in the car for a while."
He exited the truck and gave each of us a quick hug. "I'm glad that you guys are here. Finally, people I can trust."
"Awww, Loggin, that is so sweet of you." I followed him to the back of his truck, where he pulled out a bag and a bow case. "I thought you'd been here a few days. Why aren't your things in your room?"
We fell into stride with him, and I walked double-time to keep up with his long strides. "You know I won this tournament last year, and I feel even more confident this year. The payout is way up this year, a hundred thousand for the men's pro division. I really want to win. I still have debts from last year."
"Even with the job at Andersson Archery?" I followed Moo onto a patch of grass while Loggin, Mary, and Minx huddled on the sidewalk.
"I've only been there for about a month. I'll eventually pay everything off, but a win will be a big load off my shoulders financially. Plus, I want to win. Twice as many guys are in our division as last year--the best from all over the world."
I nodded along. Archers, like most athletes, were competitive by nature. "This doesn't explain why you think you're in danger."
"Right. Last night a group of about twenty of us went out to eat on the strip. They ordered a round of shots, but I passed. I never drink on a competition weekend. The two buddies I was sharing a room with started to feel sick, so we left. We had parked on the other side of the road. When we started to cross, this van tried to run us down."
I turned my back on Moo so he could do his business. "It's a big city. People drive like jerks all the time."
"It wasn't an accident. I saw that van come to a complete stop then go. The license plates were gone as well, but that's not the entire story. I hear that about an hour later, another group of guys left, and one of them got hit by a white van on the same corner. He's in critical condition."
I sucked air in through my teeth. "That's pretty dang suspicious."
"And it gets worse. My two roommates were still feeling awful this morning, so I drove them over to the clinic. The doctor there thought that someone might have slipped something into their drinks. That was the final straw. They packed up and left th
e second they got back to the casino."
I turned to Mary and raised my eyebrows. She pursed her lips and nodded back. "Did you, your roommates, and the guy that was hit with the van have anything in common?"
"We're all shooting in the same division, the men's pro division. Clearly a competitor is trying to take us out." He looked around furtively. "I figured that you can protect me. You can be my angels, like Charlie's Angels."
I chuckled. "Loggin's Angels. You know we are always up for an adventure. So your roommates bailed. Is that why you were hiding in your car with your luggage?" I cleaned up Moo's mess and threw it in a trashcan.
He nodded. "I can't afford to put the entire room on my credit card. I'm hoping to find someone I trust to share a room with."
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and a smile broke across my face when I saw the call was from Liam. I stepped away to answer. "Hello."
Liam's muffled voice came through. "Hey, Orion, Mom, and I just landed. You there yet?" The heavy engine noise of the Westmound company jet roared in the background.
"We just got here. Jess is checking us in."
"Can she check us in as well? But only if it's convenient."
I took a few steps away and lowered my voice. "Sure, I'll run in and ask her in a second. But first, what kind of room do you and Orion have? Loggin's in a bind for a place to sleep after his roommates quit the tournament."
"Uh, hold on." His deep, rumbly voice was muffled before returning. "Tell him if he wants to dogsit Moo on Saturday evening when we take you and Mary out to dinner, then he's welcome to have the fold-out couch in our room."
"You guys are so nice."
"Only for you. We'll be there within the hour."
"I'll wait for you. Bye." After I hung up, I took a few seconds to try and wipe the smile off my face but failed. I gave up and turned back to the group.
Mary looked at me and laughed. "Let me guess. Liam's here?"
"Yes, Miss Smartypants, they should be here any minute. And I have a possible solution for Loggin if he wants, but we need to get inside so I can pass a message on to Jess. Come on." I grabbed my luggage in one hand and pulled Moo in close with the other as Loggin joined me on the sidewalk.
"What's the solution?"
"If you want and are willing to walk and watch Moo on Saturday evening, you can crash on the couch that pulls out into a bed in Liam and Orion's room."
"Seriously? That'd be awesome. You're saving me already, Princess." He tapped the automatic door button at the front of the casino.
Minx giggled behind me. "I love that my nickname for Di is catching on."
I rolled my eyes but continued to the check-in line. Nothing had been able to dissuade Minx from the nickname I hated, so I did my best to ignore it.
We all made it through the doors and halted to let our eyes adjust. The line to the front desk snaked back and forth through velvet ropes. The clanks of the slot machines filled the air. The doors were tinted, and no windows meant that the interior was insulated from any sense of time. It was like stepping into an alternate world.
Moo danced and pranced at the end of his leash. He lifted his nose in the air, and his head jerked in all directions as buzzers, bells, and machines flashed and chimed.
"We're not in Wyoming anymore, Moo." I pulled him close and patted his ribs. "Can you watch my luggage while I talk to Jess?" I shed my jacket and threw it over my bag before walking over to Jess as she approached the desk.
"Good, you're here. I'm pretty sure they will want to see Moo." She pulled out a credit card.
"Liam called. Can you check them in as well?"
"Sure." She gave the gentleman Liam's mother's name, Elizabeth Andersson, too.
He dutifully nodded. He rapidly typed in his screen and started pulling out room keys. As he did, I realized that on the front of the room keys were pictures of archers holding their bows. I turned around. There were banners with pictures of archers and the words "Casino Cup" hanging from the ceiling.
"Wow. I had no idea that the entire casino was going all out for the tournament. Or that they'd allow Moo to come."
The gentleman leaned over the counter slightly then ducked down to pull out an additional bag. "We are thrilled to have both the tournament and your dog here with us this weekend. These are additional supplies for your canine companion, including a map to all our pet facilities. Should you have an accident, there's a number you can call, and we'll handle the situation immediately."
I rubbed behind Moo's head as he rested his chin on the counter to assess the man that was talking. "You're not concerned about his size?"
"Not at all, ma'am. We often have horse shows in our arena."
"But I bet the horses don't stay in the rooms."
He winked at me. "You never know. I have marked down that he is a pet, is that correct? As opposed to a service dog, I mean."
"Yes, that's correct."
"Then I would like to let you know that while he is a welcomed guest in our facility, much like children, he will need to stay on the dark red pathway as opposed to the gambling area. He is not allowed in our dining rooms, either, but they will deliver to your room if you would like. "
No gambling for me this weekend. "Thank you."
He had just passed over the keys to Jess when Moo barked and jerked on the leash. I turned, and there was Liam a dozen feet away.
"Liam," I chirped, but it got caught in my throat as I launched myself into his arms.
He picked me up and squeezed me to his chest. His lips grazed my cheek before settling onto the curve of my neck. He put me back on the ground but didn't let go. "I've missed you so much," he breathed into my ear.
Moo wedged his nose between our legs. He pushed until he was completely between us, his tail whacking me as he wagged it.
Liam chuckled and let go of me. "Hey, Moo, I've missed you, too." He kneeled down and scratched Moo behind the ears.
Moo lifted his head and let out a deep howl of pleasure. "Wooooo!"
We walked over to a collection of couches set up between the casino floor and the check-in desk. There was a half wall around the seating to block some of the noise from the slot machines. Mary, Minx, Jess, Tiger, and Loggin were already there and had been joined by Orion and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth extended her arms to me. "So good to see you, Di. I bought you something." After we hugged, she handed Mary and me each a bag with the Clear-Optics logo. "You both did such a great job evaluating the company at the OIT Show that I thought you earned these."
Last month at the Outdoor Industry Trade Show, Mary and I had gone around to two optic companies to give our opinion. We were unsure of what was expected, but we did our best then told Liam and Orion what we thought. After the show, we typed up our thoughts and sent them over to Elizabeth's executive assistant so they would have a copy.
Opening the bag, I pulled out a set of high-end binoculars that I recognized from the show. I tore open the packaging and took a moment to stroke them lovingly. I felt the heft in my hand and noticed the immaculate design meld into my grip. Knowing the suggested retail price only heightened my appreciation of the gift. I removed the lens caps and swooned over the crystal-clear image of the far side of the casino. "Elizabeth, this is too much."
"Hush, Di." Mary pulled out her binoculars and also looked to where the far end of the casino disappeared out of sight. "If Elizabeth wants to give us a gift, then it is rude to not take it. Check that out! I can read today's specials on the sign outside of the Italian restaurant."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Listen to Mary. She's smart."
I carefully put the caps back on the binoculars to protect the glass while a swell of appreciation and contentment rolled over me. I gave her a smile. "Thank you, Elizabeth."
Mary stepped away to show the binoculars off while everyone exchanged greetings and chatted.
"You're welcome." Elizabeth pulled me to the side. "I've been very impressed with the contributions you've made since we hired you. Do you lik
e working at the training center?"
"I love it, and I really enjoy the additional projects I've been able to work on like the training blogs and the research we did at the OIT Show."
"Good. If other projects come up, would you like to have the opportunity to work on them?"
I couldn't imagine what type of projects these could be, but I loved the idea of new adventures. "Absolutely."
Mary and Orion walked away from the group to the far end of the lounging area. He was rubbing his neck and avoiding looking at her.
"Wonderful. We'll chat this weekend." Elizabeth greeted everyone in turn with a small wave. "Aren't we missing someone?"
"Who?" I looked, and everyone that had driven with us was present.
"You, Mary, and Jess are Westmound Center staff. Don't we have three on-site athletes? Minx, Tiger, and wasn't there another OSA?" She paused with a furrowed brow.
"Mouse," I supplied. "She's driving down with her family. They pretty much have the weekend off from OSA duty. I think they're going to hang out at the Westmound Center booth?" I lifted my voice at the end and turned to Jess, looking for confirmation.
She came to join us. "Yes, Mary, Di, and Moo will be helping at the table located inside the larger Andersson Archery booth, but Mouse, Minx, and Tiger are not officially required to work it, though they all agreed to swing by and answer questions. They were given the option to ride down in the van since we were already coming, but they're paying their own way."
Tiger bounded off the couch. "Speaking of being off duty, Jess, can I have my room key? I have places to go and ladies to meet." He stuffed the key into his pocket, grabbed his gear, and disappeared into the casino.
"Jess, could I get my key as well? I think I want to lie down. Is my room near Liam's and Orion's?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, our rooms are all in a row. Here's your key." Jess passed out the remaining keys.
"Here, Mom, let me grab your stuff." Liam grabbed Elizabeth's bag, and Orion offered to grab the bow case from Mary. The large, black, hard case had wheels on one side but was still very heavy.
Everyone else stood up and gathered their luggage as we prepared to head up to the rooms.
Death in the Casino: Target Practice Mysteries 5 Page 1
