Death at the Summit (14 page)

I pointed in the general direction of the entrance where the bathrooms were located next to the front desk. He gave a wave as he walked away.

I looked back at Liam. “I guess the huge bathroom sign in the hallway needs to be about three times bigger.”

As we exited the room, we ran into Brian.

“Where’s M.C. off to?” Brian ran a hand through his hair, looking exhausted.

“To the bathroom,” I answered

“Not unless he is planning to go in the parking lot. He just raced out the entrance.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I ran down the hallway toward the entrance, with Brian close behind. I passed Minx and Loggin chatting on the floor of the hallway, and Mary let out a startled, “What’s going on?” as I ran past my office. I hit the entrance doors hard and burst into the clear night.

The snow had stopped, and the sky was clear overhead, a solid blanket of black and twinkling stars. The air bit into my skin immediately. They said that the clearer the sky, the colder it was in winter. There were footsteps in the snow interrupted by a huge mess in the otherwise-smooth snow—it looks like a snow angel created by someone with no control over their limbs. The footsteps continued again then halted into another failed snow angel.

Mary pushed out the door next to me and followed my gaze. “I guess those fourteen-thousand dollar boots aren’t good for running in the snow.”

Minx, who came out the door with Loggin, pointed out across the empty field. “There he is. Why is he running like that?”

M.C. was barely visible in the parking lot lights. He was running with a wide-legged pace, as though he were smuggling bricks in his pants.

“I think he is trying to keep from falling over again. But where is he going? It’s freezing, and there is nothing that direction for hundreds of miles.”

Suddenly, Moo took off. Huge galloping strides tore across the distance between him and M.C.

Tiger and Kandi stepped up to join to group. I took a deep breath and started to call after Moo, but Liam shushed me.

“Let Moo take care of this.”

Our group huddled close to watch Moo as he caught up to M.C. and hit him from behind. M.C. went down hard. Moo danced around him, jumping on his back, looking to play.

I rubbed my hands together in the cold air. “Jinkies! I think we found the killer.”

Brian burst out laughing, and after he caught his breath, he turned to us and said in an over-the-top stern voice, “And he might have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for you meddling kids and dog named Scooby-Moo.”

We laughed and groaned in unison.

Brian jogged away, snickering to himself. “I’ve been waiting for that all day.”

Kandi looked around the group. “What just happened?”

“We know who killed your husband.”

“But why?” She asked, snuggling under Cold’s arm after he came out to join us.

“That’s a good question.”

***

It had been a week since M.C. had been arrested, and I still wanted answers. After Brian handcuffed him, the snowplows and police had arrived. The rest of the Westmound Summit was relaxing after that.

I finished packing a light suitcase for my trip home. I was going to Texas to be with my parents for a short Christmas break. Jess was taking me to the airport in a few hours, but first, I needed to take care of two gifts.

Walking to the center, I passed Brian in his squad car. I gave him a wave around the packages I juggled in my arms.

He rolled down his window. “Di, come here for a second.”

I maneuvered closer to his vehicle. “You gonna tell me all about the murder?”

He chuckled. “You’ll want to talk to Liam. I had a question about why you asked me if Mac was poisoned. Did you see or hear something?”

The memory card was long gone. I swallowed hard. “No, nothing. Why?”

He examined my face closely. “The coroner had some suspicions. I’m not sure if they will follow up on anything, but if you had some evidence to share…”

I shook my head. “No evidence.”

“Okay then. See you after Christmas.” He rolled up his window and drove off.

Brian had been scarce since the arrest, but the fact that he had been here today hopefully meant that he had some news to share. I stepped into the center and jogged down the hallway of the center until I reached the equipment room.

Knocking on the door, I saw Liam working at the far side of the room. I called out, “Did you get any dirt from Brian?”

Liam turned around and waved me in. Moo came over for scratches. I don’t know what I was going to do not seeing their fuzzy faces daily.

“I did. And it explains a lot of things. Now, don’t repeat this to anyone.”

I crossed my heart. “I promise, no one except maybe Mary.”

He chuckled. “M.C. had been embezzling for years under his dad’s name, but when the company sold and we did an audit, he was worried that we would catch it. If his dad was dead, then he could blame it on him. I think he freaked when he heard us talking about financial records, figured we knew something.”

I laughed. “We might have figured it out eventually. Did Brian tell you how Mac was killed?”

“Only in a really vague sense. M.C. used a hunting knife on display to stab his dad and used some shirts somehow to block most of the blood. Then he rinsed off in the bathroom. If the forensics had been able to get there sooner, it would have been an easier case.”

I nodded. “That’s it?”

“Yep, maybe we will get more details in the future, but for now, that’s all I know. Hey, I got you something.”

I perked up. I had been unsure about giving him a gift, but now I felt confident that I made the right decision. “Me too.”

I extended my gift as he turned around with a stack of company catalogues and a sandwich bag on top.

A blush crept up my neck, hot and awkward. “Oh, I thought you meant…” I had asked for information on all the companies that Westmound owned to research during my vacation. I picked up the sandwich bag with a memory card in it. I felt uneasy. “What’s this?”

“The night of the murder, Moo got sick, and guess what I found?”

“A pile of vomit?”

“Yes, and it was disgusting, but there was also a memory card. I figured you would know what that meant?”

I looked at the baggy distastefully. A vomit-y memory card was new to me.

Liam chuckled and took the presents I had offered him. “And I also have this for you.” He pulled out a wrapped gift about the size of a phone book and handed it to me.

I pointed to the larger box. “That one’s for Moo.” Anxiety knotted my stomach as I waited for his reactions to the presents.

He opened up a rubber bone and a black backpack screen printed with the words “Crime Stopper.” Moo walked over to sniff the backpack then took the bone out of Mac’s hand. He lay down and starting chewing on the corner.

I rushed to explain. “I read that Great Danes are working dogs, and having a job helps.”

“Did you get him a job at the police station?”

“No, you put like rice or sand in the backpack, and it helps the dog to feel accomplished. Plus, he has helped solve two murders. He has earned it. Now open yours.”

I held my breath as he opened up the tiny box.

First, he pulled out a wooden stand then carefully removed a marble that filled his palm. “That’s awesome. There’s a gun in there.”

I rushed to explain. “I have a friend that works glass for a living. I sent a picture of the 1911 pistol that Westmound is introducing next season, and she made a marble. I hope you like it.”

“I really do. That’s amazing and very appropriate. Open yours.” He carefully placed the marble on the stand, turning it until the gun was right side up.

I pulled the paper off a plastic box. On the side were sliding locks, which I undid then flipped up the top. Nestled in the foam egg crate was the same 1911 pistol that I had showed the glass artist. I gasped.

“Do you like it?” Liam stepped next to me. The tips of his ears were red.

“It’s a gun. That’s way too much.”

“As opposed to a custom-made marble? Plus, I know someone. This is more of a target gun, but when you get back, we’ll get you into the concealed carry class and hook you up with something smaller to carry daily.”

I turned to him in shock. “You want me to wear a gun at work?”

He chuckled. “Di, you work at a gun range in Wyoming. You are probably the only one here not wearing a gun already. I want you to be safe. You’ve found two dead bodies. If you had been a bit earlier either time…” He shook his head.

A warmth fluttered in my stomach, and my cheeks were hot as I checked the time. I couldn’t knock the goofy smile off my face. “I really have to get back to packing. I’ll……” I swallowed. “I’ll miss you both.”

He opened his arms, and I stepped into his hug. Muffled into my hair, he said, “Travel safe and hurry back.”

I hope you enjoyed my second book. I would love to interact with you more. If you would like to learn more about me, join my mailing list, or discover my social media accounts, please check out my website.

http://nikkihaverstock.com/

Target Practice Mystery #3 to be released in late 2015 or early 2016.

If you would like to learn more about Target Archery, check out this great resource from the Archery Trade Association http://www.archery360.com/

Nikki Haverstock lives with her husband and dogs on a cattle ranch high in the Rocky Mountains.

Before escaping the city, Nikki taught collegiate archery for ten years. She has competed on and off for fifteen years in the USA Archery women’s recurve division.

Nikki has more college degrees than she has sense, and hopefully one day, she will put one to work.

© 2015 by Ranch Dog Entertainment, LLC

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.