Free Death on the Range: Target Practice Mysteries 1 by Nikki Haverstock

was going on with Honey and Bruce. Bruce is a cool guy, always polite to me even though we never worked together. He seemed to do his best for Honey while not stepping on anyone’s toes, unlike a lot of coaches. But at the Summer Games, he and Honey must have had a falling out. Right after Honey and Owley’s match, he disappeared and I didn’t see him again. Honey didn’t seem to care. We asked where he went, and she said he was a stick in the mud and left.”
    I chewed on that thought. What could have happened during the match to cause such a rift between the two?
    “My arrows are all done. Have you guys eaten? Let’s go grab some food.” Minx stood up. It sounded deceptively like a question but with the forcefulness of a command.
    We hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “Sure, but let me change. I fell asleep in my clothing, again, and I feel gross.”
    ***
    I grabbed some stuff and went into the bathroom to run a washcloth over my face and skin. The whole process helped me to feel fully awake and ready. Moo followed me in the bathroom and wedged his face into the sink to drink from the faucet. When he was sated, he stepped back and swiped his mouth across my pants, leaving an immense wet spot. “Oh, Moo.”
    I shooed him out of the bathroom and went to change into drop pants. I took a few seconds to drop my parents a message on the computer, with only the vaguest of details. I would have to call them soon to tell them the whole story once I knew the whole story.
    I stepped into the middle room to tell Mary and Minx I was ready but was startled to see Moo standing in the middle of the room with a black T-shirt on. Emblazoned across his back was the iconic Batman logo.
    Mary was standing proudly behind him. “It’s Batdog.”
    Minx snorted from the couch.
    I looked at them then back at Moo. “Where did you get that?”
    “It’s mine.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Take it off him, and let’s get going.”
    Mary rushed over and ran her hands over the shirt. “No, it stays. He likes it.”
    “I’m not sure I’m ready to be the type of lady who dresses her dog.” I stared at Moo dubiously, but he pranced around the room. Suddenly, he lifted to nose to the sky and let out an extended “woo” while dancing. He pounced onto the floor, his paws straight out and wide, his chest brushing the floor while his rump waggled back and forth high in the air.
    Minx got up and opened the door, and Moo hopped up to rush out. “Batdog has made his decision. Y’all coming or not?”
    With a shrug, I followed them out. Mary grabbed her notebook and tablet, then we headed to the center across the parking lot.
    ***
    The cafeteria was off limits to Moo, but just next to it was a more casual seating area separated by a half wall with tables and booths for eating or hanging out. This area was open all day, even when the cafeteria was closed. Of course, right now, the cafeteria was unlocked while the staff was gone. Someone had hung up a sign saying “Celebration of Honey’s life and career 6:00 p.m. Liquor provided.” I went to grab a sandwich then joined Mary and Minx. They had spread out in a booth, legs crossed on the long seats. I sat at a nearby table after grabbing the tablet and notebook from next to Mary.
    I bit into my sandwich and turned open the page, angling myself so Minx couldn’t see the page. Minx and Mary were discussing next year’s archery season and which events were required for National Rankings and debating the value of the Field and Indoor national tournaments.
    Mary took a bite of her sandwich and started talking around it. “How can you not love Indoor Nationals? It’s just you and your bow. No wind, no weather, no excuses. It really is pure archery.”
    “Ew, gross, how about not talking with your mouth open, you pig.” Minx laughed and threw a wadded-up napkin at Mary. “Indoor archery is cool, but even one bad arrow throws you out of the race. Plus, there is no challenge. Field archery, on the other