Death Indoors: Target Practice Mysteries 4 by Nikki Haverstock Page B
Authors: Nikki Haverstock
Tags: cozy mystery
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adults in most cases."
I looked around the group, trying to make eye contact with a variety of people as I spoke. A few gentlemen sat in back, their arms crossed over their bellies. Reverse Mullet Mom had her phone pointed at me. Davey Jones, who had shot on my target yesterday, gave me a tiny smile when I caught her eyes. She was pale, with her shoulders rolled forward. Another father had pulled out his phone and appeared to be recording.
I fell back on my years of presenting at computer meetings. I tried to keep the information clean and tight. I ran through the goals of sponsorship and moved on to my second point on the list. I spoke with my hands and kept my shoulders back to give off an aura of confidence as I continued to the next bulleted point.
A few parents nodded or looked surprised then thoughtful when I pointed out the additional responsibilities on the archers and their parents. The next idea was on the need for appropriate tournament and online conduct when an archer represents a company. I was just wrapping up that point and about to address the final point on my list, a resume, when a teenage boy interrupted me.
"But lots of archers get away with bad behavior at tournaments and online all the time, and they're successful." He flicked his head to the side, shaking the bangs out of his eyes, then smirked at a friend next to him.
My mouth hung open for a few seconds, still mid-word.
Liam stood and addressed the room. "That's a great question, and if Di doesn't mind, I'd like to answer it." He looked at me and waited for my reply.
I smiled gratefully. "I think that is an excellent idea."
He turned to the boy, who looked a little less confident. "You are right. There are professional archers that act up at tournaments: throw their bows, cuss out officials, post tirades online, or just act like all-around jerks--but I don't assume they get away with it. Many contracts haven't been renewed for athletes that prove to be unreliable. Companies won't publicly say what is going on behind closed doors, but I can personally say that many private conversations go on after a public meltdown."
He turned back to me, nodded, and sat down.
"Thank you, Liam. As I was saying, you'll want to have a resume ready." I continued through the last point while checking the clock. It was taking slightly longer than anticipated. "Thank you, and to those competing, strong shots."
A few people applauded while the rest left, I assumed to practice or prepare for the afternoon line of shooting.
Reverse Mullet Mom bore down on me like a freight train, dragging Pants and a girl with a side pony tail behind her. "We really want to get over to the practice range."
I check the list. I had a meeting set with Patricia Pedderson with chaperone Sally Johnston, followed by Marie Johnston and mother Sally Johnston. "Then let's get started right now."
I gestured to the table we had been using for the earlier meetings. I sat down and waited for everyone to settle in. Liam dragged his chair back to the table while Reverse Mullet Mom found another chair.
I reached across the table for the two resumes on the table. "I'll start with Patricia, or would you prefer Pants? Why do you deserve to be sponsored?" I smiled at her.
She gave her answer, and Liam pointed out areas that she could include or expand on. I nodded knowingly, hoping that I gave the appearance of competence.
Once her time was up, I moved on to the next archer, the girl with the side ponytail. "Marie, why do you deserve to be sponsored?"
As she gave her answer, I realized she was the same girl that Coach Ron had filmed the day prior, and her mother was the one who had threatened to kill him. I was eager to ask all three of them about their experience with Coach Ron, but in the meantime I nodded while I thought.
Pants had a great motive. He had picked on her, and basically she was alone. Sally might be her chaperone, but the fact that Pants had referred to her as Mrs. Johnston meant
I looked around the group, trying to make eye contact with a variety of people as I spoke. A few gentlemen sat in back, their arms crossed over their bellies. Reverse Mullet Mom had her phone pointed at me. Davey Jones, who had shot on my target yesterday, gave me a tiny smile when I caught her eyes. She was pale, with her shoulders rolled forward. Another father had pulled out his phone and appeared to be recording.
I fell back on my years of presenting at computer meetings. I tried to keep the information clean and tight. I ran through the goals of sponsorship and moved on to my second point on the list. I spoke with my hands and kept my shoulders back to give off an aura of confidence as I continued to the next bulleted point.
A few parents nodded or looked surprised then thoughtful when I pointed out the additional responsibilities on the archers and their parents. The next idea was on the need for appropriate tournament and online conduct when an archer represents a company. I was just wrapping up that point and about to address the final point on my list, a resume, when a teenage boy interrupted me.
"But lots of archers get away with bad behavior at tournaments and online all the time, and they're successful." He flicked his head to the side, shaking the bangs out of his eyes, then smirked at a friend next to him.
My mouth hung open for a few seconds, still mid-word.
Liam stood and addressed the room. "That's a great question, and if Di doesn't mind, I'd like to answer it." He looked at me and waited for my reply.
I smiled gratefully. "I think that is an excellent idea."
He turned to the boy, who looked a little less confident. "You are right. There are professional archers that act up at tournaments: throw their bows, cuss out officials, post tirades online, or just act like all-around jerks--but I don't assume they get away with it. Many contracts haven't been renewed for athletes that prove to be unreliable. Companies won't publicly say what is going on behind closed doors, but I can personally say that many private conversations go on after a public meltdown."
He turned back to me, nodded, and sat down.
"Thank you, Liam. As I was saying, you'll want to have a resume ready." I continued through the last point while checking the clock. It was taking slightly longer than anticipated. "Thank you, and to those competing, strong shots."
A few people applauded while the rest left, I assumed to practice or prepare for the afternoon line of shooting.
Reverse Mullet Mom bore down on me like a freight train, dragging Pants and a girl with a side pony tail behind her. "We really want to get over to the practice range."
I check the list. I had a meeting set with Patricia Pedderson with chaperone Sally Johnston, followed by Marie Johnston and mother Sally Johnston. "Then let's get started right now."
I gestured to the table we had been using for the earlier meetings. I sat down and waited for everyone to settle in. Liam dragged his chair back to the table while Reverse Mullet Mom found another chair.
I reached across the table for the two resumes on the table. "I'll start with Patricia, or would you prefer Pants? Why do you deserve to be sponsored?" I smiled at her.
She gave her answer, and Liam pointed out areas that she could include or expand on. I nodded knowingly, hoping that I gave the appearance of competence.
Once her time was up, I moved on to the next archer, the girl with the side ponytail. "Marie, why do you deserve to be sponsored?"
As she gave her answer, I realized she was the same girl that Coach Ron had filmed the day prior, and her mother was the one who had threatened to kill him. I was eager to ask all three of them about their experience with Coach Ron, but in the meantime I nodded while I thought.
Pants had a great motive. He had picked on her, and basically she was alone. Sally might be her chaperone, but the fact that Pants had referred to her as Mrs. Johnston meant
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