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Bailey put her face in her hands and started to sob. I pulled her against me, while I scanned the park for signs of him or any other member of the Donnelly gang, but saw nothing out of place.
"You don't need to worry. I will stop in the bar later tonight okay. I will make sure I am there to pick you up okay," I whispered, placing my thumb and finger under her chin, tilting her head back, leaning in and meeting her lips.
"I know. He just gives me the creeps I guess," she said, wrapping her arms around me, giving me a hug. "Please be careful tonight," she whispered in my ear.
"Always am, you know that."
She kissed me once more behind heading off in the direction of her mother, while I stood there still scanning Sunnyville Park for Garrick.
17
Bailey
I'd gone homeafter the picnic and slept for a few hours before arriving for work. From the time I had left the picnic after the run-in with Garrick 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 and was so happy to be able to finally turn it down. "What did you say?" I shouted.
"I asked if you were doing okay?" she shouted over the bar and then let out a laugh.
I nodded. 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 Dan that it was just about closing time. Dan flipped the music off, not bothering to offer 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 only took 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 starting to turn 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 what happened today in the park."
"Don't worry. I heard from Ryan a couple of hours ago. They were swamped tonight. I mean, just look at this place. I'm actually shocked you guys didn't have to call them tonight."
"True. Look, I just need to run in the back to get some more 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 two plates of leftover fries from the kitchen and took them out front, dropping them down in front of Cara. 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, and reached for the remote when I caught the headline on the TV. I quickly turned up the volume and stood watching the nightmare unfold before my eyes.
"No names have been released. Again, a robbery in progress turned bad. Two Sunnyville officers are dead and one other injured. Suspect is still at large," the news reporter stated.
The room started to spin and my vision began to blur 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, and was surprised to find Dan sitting beside me, his arm around me. Cara sat across from me, a look of worry on her face, and then Ben appeared with a glass of water.
"What...what happened?" I asked, looking at them both.
"You fainted. After you heard the news."
I looked to both Cara and Dan, unsure of what they were talking about. "The news?"
"The shooting," Cara bit out. "I've been trying to get hold of Ryan, but he hasn't answered yet."
"What about Jackson?"
"He's not answering either."
"We need to get to the hospital," I said, trying to get up, but Dan wouldn't allow me to.
