1 Target of Death

by Madison Johns

  Mary puffed up her chest. “I wouldn’t set one foot in Hidden Pass if you paid me to.”

  Margarita held her head high as she pushed the cart up to the cash register, waiting as the cashier rung her up. She pulled out her debit card and glanced at me nervously until the cashier handed her a number pad to key in her secret code. She punched the numbers, and once the transaction went through, she had a relieved look on her face. Just how destitute was Margarita?

  I waited patiently while the order was bagged up and placed into the cart. I all but ignored the other customers who were speculating on who might have been murdered. I propelled the cart forward and was thankful that nobody stopped us to ask any more questions about the body that had been found.

  On the way back to Hidden Pass, I apologized. “I guess I should have kept my yap shut, but I had hoped Mary might have had something insightful to add about the body being found.”

  “If word gets back to Simon about this, I’m sending him your way.”

  “Who?”

  “The sheriff.” She pressed her lips together and added, “Under no circumstance are you to tell anyone Jeffrey Albright told us Clayton Percy was the man murdered. He’s my only source of information about what’s going on inside that department.”

  “I’m not an idiot. I know better than to do that. You need to trust me. It’s important that people know someone died.”

  “Why is that?” Dixie asked. “If they don’t know who, how is that going to be of much use?”

  “Because it gets people talking, is why. Who knows—the real killer might even reveal him or herself.”

  “I can’t believe anyone would be that stupid,” Margarita said.

  “Mistakes can and will be made eventually, and when they are, we’ll be on top of it.”

  I made the turn into the parking lot and parked in a spot that was so packed with snow that I wondered if I’d be able to get back out, but surely Margarita had four-wheel drive.

  We climbed out and grabbed a few bags, trudging through the ankle-deep snow. As we made way for the door, the wind had picked up and the snow whipped in our faces. Once we were inside, we stomped the snow from our boots and strode into the back, where Margarita ordered the staff to retrieve the remainder of the groceries.

  Laughter could be heard as the front door opened wide and slammed shut. I made my way toward the sound and stood face to face with the local archery champ, Daniel Adams. This time around he shucked his parka, revealing a toned body with a hint of a beer gut, not exactly repulsive in my book. Under different circumstances, I might even have thought he was attractive. As it was, he was the one person who stood in my way of claiming the ten thousand dollar prize. I wouldn’t allow myself to think that he might be any competition to me. I had faced opponents from all walks of life and nationalities, not one of them any competition to me really, but had my luck run out? I couldn’t allow myself to think that. There was simply no way I’d allow this Michigander to best me.

  “I see you found a place to stay,” Daniel said. “It’s too bad I’m going to send you back to Louisiana empty-handed.” The crowd that had wandered in with him roared in laughter. I stared at the lot of them; they were all wearing camouflage.

  “It’s gonna be so embarrassing when I make you eat those words.”

  His brow shot up. “That’ll be the day. Women just aren’t cut out for this sport. It takes a man with stamina,” he hinted. He flexed his arm upward, tapping his bulging bicep with his other hand.

  I stared him down. “Go ahead and flex the only muscle you probably have.”

  “Would you care for a practice run?” Daniel asked.

  I clenched my hands into fists and unclenched them.

  He smiled. “No, I meant we could practice together, unless you’re chicken?”

  This fool had no idea those were fighting words, or how close he came to me socking him in the eye. “Sure, why not? But it’s snowing rather hard out there.”

  He glanced out the large windows, and said, “It appears to be letting up. I’ll meet you outside in ten minutes.” His friends clapped him on the back as they shouted, “You’ll show her, Daniel. I can’t wait to see you take her down.”

  Daniel’s brow shot up. “What? This isn’t a spectator sport, just a friendly competition, one we don’t need any onlookers for. Isn’t that right, Sassy?”

  I nodded, racing up the stairs to retrieve my bow with a few arrows. I didn’t want to use too many because lord knew if I’d be able to get more before competition time. Dixie came upstairs and asked, “What on earth are you planning to do?”

  “That local archery pro challenged me to a friendly competition.”

  Dixie just shook her head. “Why on earth are you giving that man the time of day? Let him stew and wonder what you have to offer at the competition. You’re gonna let him know your technique and he’ll use it against you.”

  “I have more than one technique. Don’t worry. I got this.”

  “I don’t even want to watch this.”

  “Not to worry. It will just be him and me.”

  “What are planning to do, roll in the hay?”

  “Are you crazy, Dixie? You, more than anyone, should know that I have no interest in that man.”

  “Oh, really? That’s not what your eyes were saying downstairs.”

  “How would you know? You were in the back.”

  “Because there’s a mirror near the door. I believe you were checking him out.”

  I slapped my head. “You really should get your eyesight checked, Dixie. Nothing could be further from the truth. My interest in him is only in what he can bring to the table.”

  Dixie laughed. “You do know how that sounds, right?”

  Instead of answering her, I took my bow and arrows down the stairs and met Daniel out front. He held a Hoyt Pro Edge Elite bow and I had to bite my lip to stop from oohing and aahing. I gripped my Bear Home Wrecker bow that happened to have the ‘Bear’ name on it in pink. It’s the perfect bow for me, since its shorter draw length accommodates my chest.

  I followed Daniel out back, where he had two targets set up on bales of straw. Not exactly the correct height for a competition, but good enough to show this man who was boss.

  He snickered. “Cute white and pink fletches, and that pink on your bow ... it’s so girly. I can already see you’ll be easy to beat.”

  Okay, so he wants to judge me for having pink on my bow and arrows? “This is one girly who is gonna show you what’s what.”

  He rolled his eyes at that. “Doubtful.”

  Changing the subject, I announced, “I only brought two arrows.”

  “I’ll only need one to send your sorry behind straight back to Louisiana with your tail ... well, I guess you don’t have a tail, but you do have a pretty fine looking ass.”

  He roared in laughter as I gritted my teeth and went into my stance. He had no clue with whom he was messing. Just as I was at full draw, Daniel walked in front of my target. “Knock it off!” I shouted, but he was trying to be cagey so he kept at it. Instead of letting this bastard get the best of me, I aimed between his spread legs, sinking my arrow, narrowly missing him.

  “You almost hit me!” he shouted.

  “Luckily for you, your package is small.”

  “How would you know? It just might be bigger than you think,” he said with a wink. He took his place beside me, drew back, and easily hit the target. “Your turn.”

  Instead of taking a turn, I whirled away. Not because I couldn’t do it, but because I could have really hit Daniel and maimed him for life. That’s not how I wanted my competition days to end, by some stupid mistake. Tammy, get ahold of yourself, I told myself.

  When I rounded the corner, Dixie stood there with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. “Here,” she said. “Don’t let that man get the best of you like that.”

  “You have no idea what I just did.”

  “Sure I do. I was watching out back with half the town, I think
.”

  “I didn’t see anyone.”

  “Course you didn’t. They all cleared out when you almost lanceted the local hot shot.”

  “I didn’t meant to do that—”

  “I know, you lost your temper, but Tammy, you could have maimed that man for life.”

  “I know. I just lost it when he kept walking in front of my target.”

  Dixie gulped, her eyes widening. “I sure hope the sheriff isn’t here to talk to you, then.”

  I turned to greet the sheriff, who stopped mid-stride, glancing down at my bow that I still held. “Isn’t it bad enough that I already suspect you of murdering Clayton Percy?”

  “I’m not sure I know what you mean, Sheriff.”

  “That little stunt you pulled today. I received at least five calls claiming you shot your bow when Daniel Adams hadn’t cleared the target area.”

  “That wasn’t my fault. My fingers slipped.”

  “Why were you at full draw, then? Everyone knows you don’t do that unless the target area is clear.” When I gave the sheriff one of my questionable looks, he added, “I’ve been around the competition circuit for quite some time now. My grandson, Chad, competes, too.”

  “Oh, and how old is your grandson?”

  “He’s twelve and placing well in competitions in his age bracket,” he said with pride.

  “That’s great. So, Clayton Percy was the name of the man murdered?”

  “Yes, we contacted his wife earlier today so it’s now official. I still would like to know why you’d have an interest to kill Clayton?”

  I moved my toes inside my boots to keep them warm. “I already told you that we had just arrived in town.”

  “That’s what you said, but I haven’t decided just yet if I’m ready to believe it.”

  “Sorry, I can’t help you with that. Was this Clayton the type of man who someone might want dead?”

  “Not sure about that one just yet. We’re still investigating. You might be well-served not to be blabbing all over town about a body being found. You really got the town’s gossip mill up and running.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean by that,” I said.

  “Mary Clink came to the sheriff’s department not long ago asking questions. She also mentioned that someone with red hair who accompanied Margarita told her about a body being discovered. I figured out it was you since I told you to come here. Seems like that was a mistake on my part.”

  “Now, that’s not fair. It’s not like you’d be able to keep a secret like that for long.”

  “Perhaps not, but you might have just compromised the investigation at a time when I already have enough to worry about.”

  “That’s quite an accusation. How does telling someone a body was found compromise anything?”

  “Because I’d have liked to investigate further without every busybody in town bugging the bejesus out of me.”

  “I never meant to cause any problems. Maybe we could help.”

  “You sure can, by staying out of our way and allowing us to do our job, Miss.” With that, he turned on his heels and left.

  Once he was back in his car, I was able to exhale. “He’s bluffing. There is just no way the sheriff could possibly think we had anything to do with Clayton Percy’s death.”

  “We’re perfect suspects since we’re new in town. All we have to do is—”

  “Is what?” Daniel interjected. When we both stared at him, wide eyed, he added, “I hope you don’t think a local committed such a crime.”

  “Oh, and why is that?” I asked.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know just about everyone in town and I can’t imagine any of them capable of murder. Besides, it’s a bit of a coincidence that the fletches on the arrow that killed Clayton were the same color as the ones you have.”

  “I hardly think having pink and white fletches is all that odd.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “Why are you so quick to pin the murder on us?”

  “Well, you were near the scene of the crime.”

  I cocked a brow. “Oh, and exactly where was that?”

  “Yes,” Dixie said. “You seem to know more than we do about where the man was murdered, and by the way, you were dressed in a ski mask, which makes me think you were trying to conceal your identity.”

  “It’s cold up north, don’t ya know? Most everyone I know wears a ski mask when they’re outside in the elements.”

  I squared my shoulders. “What were you doing out there?”

  He stared into my eyes, and said, “If I was the man who murdered Clayton, I’d never have stopped to help you ladies out. I’d have been long gone.”

  I softened my features. “What can you tell us about Clayton?”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “Because it would seem we need to clear our names.”

  “I’m sure the sheriff will do a proper investigation, and he’ll find out what really happened.”

  “So, you won’t even answer a simple question? What do you have to hide? I’m sure it won’t matter what you have to say, since the man is long gone.”

  “I don’t have anything to hide. I just don’t feel comfortable talking to complete strangers about the town’s business.”

  I was beginning to get it. “All I asked was about Clayton. What does he have to do with the entire town?”

  “Bear Paw just doesn’t need any bad press right now. Unless you haven’t noticed, there’s a winter festival ready to start tomorrow.”

  “Of course I know. Why else would I be here?”

  Dixie rubbed Daniel’s sleeve. “Please help us out and tell us what you know about Clayton. It’s not like we’ll tell anyone you told us.”

  He took a glance around. “It’s just that Clayton wasn’t the most liked man in town.”

  “We gathered that already. He cheated on his wife and kept her a virtual prisoner in her own home.”

  “That’s not so. I’ve seen her plenty of times around town.”

  Dixie shook her head. “Yes, but he gave his wife an allowance and kept their finances a secret from her, a measly fifty dollars. She doesn’t even know if he had a bank account.”

  “That hardly makes her a virtual prisoner. Fifty dollars is plenty of spending money.”

  Dixie and I gasped. “Obviously, you have no idea how much it costs for a woman to get her hair and nails done,” I said.

  He gave me a once over. “Obviously, you don’t either.”

  I wanted to clock him, but instead smiled sweetly. “My, but aren’t you a charmer.”

  He smiled back, revealing dimples. “I try.”

  Dixie interrupted us as she said, “Let’s get back to Clayton. What else can you tell us about him?”

  “He works at Hank’s Tool and Die.”

  “Hank’s?” I asked. “Isn’t there a restaurant in town called Hank’s Hotspot?”

  “Yes, Hank opened that to appease his wife, Mariah.”

  “What’s Hank’s last name?”

  “Hank Foster, but why is that important.”

  I pursed my lips. “We might need to question him about Clayton, is all. Clayton’s wife gave us the names of a few of his friends who we’ll be questioning, too.”

  “I don’t see why this is so important to you girls.”

  “I already told you why,” I said. “Is there something else you’d like to add about Clayton that you haven’t told us yet?”

  He glanced away. “What makes you think that?”

  “It’s a hunch. Plus, you looked away.”

  He stared at me. “Clayton has been flashing cash all over town, like more cash than he must be making at Hank’s Tool and Die.”

  “Was he involved in any illegal activities that you know of?”

  “Nope. Not much of that in this small town.”

  “How about growing and selling marijuana?”

  “No way would Sheriff Price put up with that. He searches the nearby woods by ATV’s and by a
ir.”

  “I had no idea that was such a big deal in Michigan.”

  “It isn’t exactly, but there are folks in town who don’t exactly follow rules, if you get my meaning.”

  “Okay, so you have no idea where he was getting all that money from?”

  He shook his head. “That’s all I know.” He walked away, tossing his bow on the passenger side of his truck, and drove away.

  Chapter Five

  I walked back inside, ignoring the stares of the patrons who I had to wow with my Cajun cooking tomorrow. After I had taken my bow back upstairs, I joined Margarita and Dixie in the kitchen as they were going over the menu.

  “Do you have any mystery meat in the freezer?” I asked Margarita.

  “I have some ground deer meat, if that interests you.”

  “Sounds great.”

  Margarita retrieved the meat and handed it to me. I unwrapped the white freezer paper and placed the frozen brick of meat in a frying pan, where I slow cooked it, scrapping the meat little by little into the pan, adding generous chunks of diced onions. I also added my special seasoning, which I had tucked in the bag that I always carried with me. Once the meat was browned, I added tomato sauce and cooked it on low.

  Margarita set a large pot on another burner and I added tomato sauce, kidney beans, green peppers, and the sautéed deer meat. In another pan, I fried up part of the Andouille sausage and then added that to the large pot. I also added the Louisiana hot sauce. Once all the ingredients were combined in the large pot, I covered it and put it on low.

  “We should be good,” I said. “If that chili doesn’t wow them, then I don’t know what will.” Dixie and I excused ourselves and headed up to bed. I breathed in deeply, enjoying the medley of spices that wafted in the air, even here upstairs. Before long, I fell fast asleep to the sound of crickets chirping from my alarm clock radio.

  ***

  I woke up to an empty room and pulled myself together, heading toward the shower. Twenty minutes later, I wandered into the kitchen, where Dixie and Margarita were going over the menu for tonight.

  Ingredients were scattered about the kitchen counter, but I didn’t see any pots on the stove. Along one wall was a grill loaded with eggs and bacon, carefully being watched by a man with a bald head.