Friendly Compition ends with Murder

A sunny day in Miami, only a few clouds on the bright blue sky. Natalia sat in her apartment, being on call that day. She was on her balcony, looking over the city, a cup of coffee in her hands. She just wanted to take another sip of the coffee, when her phone rang and she was called to a crime scene: the shooting range of a gun club nearby. She sighed, walked inside, closing the door to the balcony, finished her coffee and put the cup into the sink before she got ready for work and drove over to the crime scene.

Sgt. Tripp was already there, filling her in on what the owner though had happened here. The crime scene was their outdoors shooting range.

[Note: this topic takes place before Natalia and James got married]

James arrived a few moments later, getting his kit, he exited his car and walked over to the crime scene, seeing his fellow CSI Natalia, "Hello Natalia" he said to her

Nat, who was looking at the victim at that time, turned around and nodded to James.
"Hey." she said, smiling a little bit.

James nodded to her, "This is a first" he said to Natalia

"Your first victim on a shooting range?" she asked, as she looked back at the young man who had been killed.

James nodded, "That and its the first time I'm working a case with you." he replied

She looked up at James and then nodded slowly.
"True." she replied. "But probably not the last time."

James nodded in reply, "Wrong thing to say?" he asked

She smirked a bit, shaking her head. "Nope." Natalia replied. "Sorry, but they threw a monkey wrench into my possible day off."

"I know the feeling" James replied, "Criminals just don't understand that we are human too."

"Wish they would just take a day off and let us in peace, but... oh well." she replied, rolling her eyes a little. "That's gonna stay a dream."

James nodded, then walked inside the shooting range

At the same time Dr. Loman arrived at the scene. Natalia had already taken a few pictures and was examining the area around the victim.

James walked up, "What do you got, doc?" he asked

"Well, looks like the shot to his chest was COD. But I'll have to confirm that in autopsy. See these burn marks on his shirt around the entrance wound?" Tom asked, pointing to the spot.

James looked at them, then nodded, "Close range?" he asked

Tom nodded. "I suggest the gun was pressed onto his chest as he was shot."

James nodded, "Agreed" he replied, "The outline of a gun barrel is clear on his chest."

"From what you see." Tom replied. "He died... approximately an hour ago."

James nodded, then looked around the body

"Traces I found prove that they stood close to each other." Natalia said.

James looked over, then nodded, "So, were they arguing before this guy was shot?"

"Probably. Though I don't see signs of a fight." Natalia replied.

James nodded, then looked at the body again

"Maybe they started with words and the killer ended up using the gun instead of pushing or beating the victim..." Nat said, following James' eyes.