I’d gone home after the memorial and slept for a few hours before going in for my shift. From the time I’d run into Garrick, spoke to Jackson, and had left the memorial to now, I’d had a funny feeling that something bad was going to happen. I did my best to put that silly thought to the back of my mind and push on with my night.
The bar was packed, and I could barely hear Cara over the music in the bar. “What did you say?” I shouted as I turned the music down a little.
“I asked if you were doing okay?” she shouted over the bar and then let out a laugh.
The music had been cranked all night, people were everywhere, and I had never been more thankful for being on bar duty. It saved me having to make my way through the crowd time and time again, taking orders and then going back out to find people. I glanced over at the clock and signaled to Glenn that it was just about closing time. Glenn flipped the music off, not bothering to offer a last call. I gathered up the mess of bottles and caps on the bar counter. I was looking forward to having the place to ourselves. It took a little longer than thirty minutes for the bar to empty, and once the bouncers escorted the last patrons outside, I walked over to the door and turned the lock. My stomach turning at the fact that I still hadn’t seen Jackson tonight.
“You sure you’re all right?” Cara asked as I walked back in behind the bar.
“Yeah, just worried about Jackson,” I said as I started collecting glasses from a nearby table. “He promised me he would stop by after work because of what happened today.”
“Don’t worry. I heard from Ryan a couple of hours ago. They were swamped tonight. The calls never stopped. I mean, just look at this place. I’m shocked you guys didn’t have to call them tonight.”
“True. Look, I just need to run in the back to get some cleaner. I’ll turn the TV on for you, okay?”
“Thanks, babe. Can I get a soda before you go?”
I quickly grabbed a glass and poured Cara a soda, and then made my way into the back to grab some cleaner. Once I had filled my bottle, I grabbed three plates of leftover fries from the kitchen and took them out front, dropping them down in front of Cara and Glenn. Then I took a tray and started collecting more glasses from the floor. The place was a mess, and I already knew it was going to take me a while to get it cleaned up. I had just picked up my tray full of dirty glasses when I heard Cara gasp.
“Bailey, quick, can you turn up the TV?” she asked, standing up from the stool she was sitting on.
I walked fast, placing my tray on the bar. “What is it?” I questioned as I reached for the remote when I caught the headline on the TV. I turned up the volume and stood watching the nightmare unfold before my eyes.
“They have released no names. Again, a robbery in progress turned bad. Two Sunset Cove officers are dead, and they have transported one other to the hospital, injuries unknown. Suspect is still at large,” the news reporter stated.
The room spun and my vision blurred as I stared up at the screen; the words blurring together, and then the room went black.
“Bailey. Bailey. Please wake up.”
I blinked, slowly opening my eyes. It surprised me to find Glenn sitting beside me, his arm around me. Cara sat across from me, a look of worry on her face, and then Marcus appeared with a glass of water.
“What...what happened?” I asked, looking at them both.
“You fainted. After you heard the news.”
I looked at both Cara and Glenn, unsure of what they were talking about. “The news?”
“The shooting,” Cara bit out, Glenn giving her a look. “I’ve been trying to get hold of Ryan, but he hasn’t answered yet.”
“What about Jackson?”
Cara looked to Glenn and then back to me. “He’s not answering either.” She said, her voice low.
“We need to get to the hospital,” I said, trying to get up, but Glenn wouldn’t allow me to.
“Bailey, you just fainted. I think you need to wait a little longer. Make sure you are all right before you get up.”
“Yeah, I agree. I’m monitoring my phone, Bailey,” Cara said, rubbing my thigh.
“No, we need to go. Please, I’ll get my stuff,” I said as Glenn helped me slowly sit up, then helping me stand, making sure I was steady on my feet before I took a step.
* * *
My heart was in my throat as we walked into the entrance of the hospital. Immediately, Cara went over to the information desk and, in a panic, started asking if they had any information on the officer who had been shot. I watched as the woman behind the desk shook her head, refusing to give her any information. I hung my head and looked around when I finally spotted Dave Specter standing off in the corner, talking on his cell phone.
I walked over and tapped Cara on the shoulder, but she shrugged me off and continued bombarding the nurse with questions.
“Come, Cara, I know where they are,” I said, pulling on her arm, smiling at the girl behind the desk who looked annoyed.
“What? Where are they?” she said, almost falling as she stumbled over the carpet.
“Dave is right there,” I said, pointing in his direction.
We both walked over and stood in front of Dave. Every part of my body remembered this exact scene. It had happened only a few short years ago. My eyes burned at the memory of the night Connor had been killed. It was like I was stuck reliving that night all over again. Everything, right down to the smell, was the same.
“Any news?” Cara questioned as Dave looked at both of us.
“Ryan is fine, Cara. He just went to grab some coffees,” Dave said, looking at me with a look I had seen once before. Panic filled my body, and everything seemed to move to a dream-like state as I stood there looking back at Dave.
“Oh thank God,” Cara said, sitting down on the closest chair, looking relieved.
I couldn’t even focus on Cara or anything she had said as I looked back at Dave, waiting for the news I already knew I wasn’t ready to hear. He went to say something, but I held my hand up, stopping him. I tried to take a deep breath as a feeling of dread filled me. My chest felt like it was going to explode at any minute, and I covered my mouth to stop the sobs from escaping.
Dave took hold of me by the shoulders and walked me over to a quiet corner where we had a little privacy, yet not far away from Cara. “It’s Jackson, sweetie. He’s in surgery. We are waiting to hear.”
In that instant, every ounce of air had been sucked from the room, and I turned around to gather whatever strength I had in me. Instead of strength, all I felt was myself crumbling with each second that passed. I was numb all over, and I turned back to see Dave standing there looking at me. I felt his hands on my shoulders and immediately I collapsed into him, hugging him tight as I allowed the tears to fall.
“He has to be okay, right?” I cried. “I mean, he has to be.”
Dave said nothing. He just hugged me tight as I sobbed, mumbling those same words repeatedly.
“Come, Bailey, sit down.” Dave guided me over to the empty chair beside Cara and helped me sit down. “Cara, can you please get a tea for Bailey?”
“Of course.”
Before I knew it, Dave held a hot cup of tea out for me to take. “Just sip on this, okay?” he said, sitting on the edge of a chair beside me.
I took a sip of the hot liquid and tried to calm myself down. I looked at Cara, who placed her hand on my thigh.
“Sir, can we speak to you for a moment?”
I looked up to see two young uniformed officers standing before us, waiting to talk to Dave. Dave made sure I was okay before getting up and moving off to the side with the other two officers. Cara and Ryan now sat with me, doing their best to distract me, when Dave approached us.
“I’ve got to head back to the station. They’ve brought in the guys we’ve been looking for,” he said, clearing his throat.
“The guy responsible for doing this to Jackson?” I asked.
Dave nodded. “A member of the Green Cobras, Dorian Patton,” he said and turned to leave the hospital.
My blood ran cold at the name of the Green Cobras member. I got up and ran after Dave, finally getting his attention just outside of the emergency room doors.
“Bailey, what is it?” he questioned.
“Dave, I just wanted to let you know that Garrick and Jackson had a confrontation the other night at The Crooked Judge. I didn’t hear what they said, but I am sure he threatened Jackson. Garrick also approached me in the park today at the picnic. He wanted to know things about Jackson and I.” I said, my voice low, my cheeks heating. “He’s been after me since the first night he walked into The Crooked Judge. Anyway, he said something about meeting me at the bar tonight and waiting to take me home since my boyfriend wouldn’t be able to.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” he said. “Now you get inside, rest.”
I thanked Dave and watched him walk across the dark parking lot of the hospital before returning to the waiting room to wait with Cara and Ryan. The next three hours felt like forever. We all sat there quietly, watching the same news reel replay. I was going to ask Ryan to ask a hospital staff to turn the channel off when my stomach spun. Only I didn’t have to because, finally, a doctor appeared in the waiting doorway.
“Who’s here with Jackson Walker?” he asked.
“We are,” Ryan called, holding his hand up in the air.
The doctor walked over to us and smiled. “Hi. I’m Doctor Maddox. The surgery went fine. He was lucky. We were able to remove all bullets and fragments. It took a little longer than we expected, but there were no complications.”
“Can we see him?” I asked, sitting forward, ready to jump up if he said yes.
“I’m afraid not. He’s still in recovery for another hour. As soon as they move him up to his room, then we can allow one person in. So whoever is related,” he said, looking at all three of us.
“That would be me,” I said, standing up.