Death in the Casino by Nikki Haverstock

Author:Nikki Haverstock [Haverstock, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, Cozy Mystery
Goodreads: 29987505
Publisher: Ranch Dog Entertainment, LLC
Published: 2016-04-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

Breakfast rolled in my stomach. I had noticed that the food was swimming with butter and grease when we had eaten, and now it alternated between sitting like a lead weight and trying to make a run for it.

I swallowed hard and stared at the ugliest carpeting I had ever seen as I waited for the whistle to blow so we could head down to the target to score the arrows, return to the line, and start the next end. The rules for this tournament were mostly the same as the other indoor tournaments I trained for. We shot three arrows per end, with one group going to the line and shooting, then stepping back for the second line to shoot, then everyone going to the target, scoring the arrow with the four archers on the same target mat, then returning. The round consisted of ten ends of three arrows per end for thirty arrows and a possibility of three points max.

The main difference between this tournament and the one I'd shot a few weeks ago was how the group that went up and went second alternated. I was used to alternating who went first every end, while here the same group went first for five ends, then switched. It was a minor detail except that I had to pay constant attention to make sure I didn't miss my turn.

I checked my quiver, and the top slot was empty, meaning I had already shot, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I was shooting well, and I was holding it together by the skin of my teeth. I turned around and found Liam in the crowd. Moo was lying across four chairs with his head in Liam's lap as Liam talked to another archer. A steady group of people had come by to say hi to Liam and drop subtle hints about potential sponsorship.

I had gone back to sit with him a few times, but even the polite greetings from people were a distraction to me right now. I took a slow, deep breath in, held it for a count of four, and let it out just as slowly. I had been working on my expectations and nerves since the last tournament went sideways, and I felt that I was holding it together.

The whistle blew, and the announcement crackled overhead, echoing around the room. "That was your final end. Congratulations."

My head jerked around in surprise, and the instructions continued overhead. How had I not noticed that we were done?

Mary bounded over to me, her armguard, finger tab, and chest protector already removed and hung on her quiver. "How'd you do?"

My target had been far enough away from her that except for the occasional thumbs up when we caught each other's eyes, I hadn't seen her since we arrived for practice.

"I... I don't know. Okay, I think. I made the best possible shots I could in the moment. But I didn't realize we were done. I have no idea what my score is.

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