Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer

It was almost exactly a week later on the dot when my phone began to chirp. I had been expecting a phone call; but instead what I received was a text. Though, with how busy I had been the past week with the club I did not mind a text instead of a call. Simply because I would have had to send the call to voicemail instead of answering it, where with a text I can wait to answer it later. 

"B can you take this file and just put it on my desk for me? I've got to get changed so we can rehearse. We're so far behind." I breathed out. B took the file from me, freeing up my hands to allow me to reach up and pull my cardigan off of my shoulders. 

"I'm sorry, Lil, but I'm not sure if you'll have time to rehearse. We have a booze delivery any minute now and Wendy still hasn't shown up." I cursed under my breath upon hearing B's words.  That girl is going to be the death of me. She didn't show up for her shift last night, and now we still hadn't heard from her today. "She was supposed to be here an hour ago. Have you called her? This makes the second time." I clutched my cardigan in my hand tightly as I spoke. 

I am not able to run this club and enjoy it at the same time on my own. The whole point of training Wendy to handle booze deliveries was so I would have on less thing on my plate throughout the week. 

Tonight is also payday, yet another thing that B and I would have to sit down together and take care of. It would take at least an hour to go through expenses, see what all the club had earned, and then another hour to write out checks for everyone. "Guess I'm not dancing tonight, get the girls started rehearsing the full line up tonight, I hav-" My words were cut off by a loud pounding at the front door of the club.

"What the hell?" B questioned. It wasn't the delivery, they always come around back and ring the bell. It couldn't be someone delivering a package or anything, I could tell. This wasn't just a knock on the door, this was someone beating on the door making sure to be as loud and aggressive as they could with knocking. 

B stayed close on my heels as I made my way over to the door and opened it. 

"Uh, can I help you officers?" I asked the men in uniform that were standing on the other side of the door. "Are you Lilith Barnes?" The man asked, looking down at me. There were two of them, standing side by side in front of me. 

"I am. Can I ask what exactly's going on?" I didn't allow my voice to give off any kind of tone that would make it seem like they were intimidating me.  I knew better than that. "We found a piece of paper with your name and phone in the pocket of a Wendy Nester." My heart dropped out of my chest and into my stomach as he spoke. "We'd like you to come to the hospital with us, please."

"She's alright?" I gasped out, my hand reaching behind me in search of B. It only took a few seconds before my hand found hers and gripped it tightly. 

"She'll be fine; but she said she won't answer any of our questions until she sees you." Even though he said she would be okay, I still couldn't help feeling panicked and worried about the girl. She had only worked for me a short amount of time, but that doesn't change the fact that the girl is family. We all are here.

"O-Okay, what hospital is it? I just have to grab my things, and I'll be there." I nodded my head. 

The officers told me exactly where to go, room number and all. As soon as I closed and locked the door to the club, my feet were moving. All but running through the bar towards my office, and B was right on my heels the entire time.

"I'll go with you." B said, slightly out of breath as I was gathering my things. Shoving anything I thought I might need down in my purse. "No, I need you to stay here. Run the club, we open in a few hours. I trust you to do payroll on your own, just call me if you need any help." I ordered. Setting my bag down for a few seconds, I pulled my cardigan back on over my shoulders before digging my keys out of the bag. 

"Lilith, you need someone to go with you. You don't know who attacked Wendy, and until you do  you need to make sure you're safe. At least take Michael with you." B ordered. Her voice was stern. It almost reminded me of my mother. 

A thought crossed my mind. "I'll get someone, Michael will stay here. Just, don't worry, and make sure everything goes smoothly tonight. Call me if you need anything." I didn't give her a chance to say anything else as I threw my purse over my shoulder and walked out of the office. I didn't hear her footsteps behind me this time, and knew that she was still standing in the office. I left through the back door, hearing it lock as it closed behind me.

My car was parked only a few feet away. I quickly jumped in, throwing my purse over into the passenger seat before starting the car. 

Thought before pulling out of the small lot behind the club, I picked my phone up and unlocked it. Completely ignoring the text I had received, and instead hit 'dial' on the number. The phone rang three times before being answered. "Everything ok, love?" The familiar voice floated through my ear.

I had held myself together this whole time; but upon hearing his voice I couldn't do it anymore. A sob tore through my throat, and tears started pouring from my eyes. "Lilith? What's wrong, what's happened?" He asked again. "C-Chibs. One of my girls got attacked. I don't know why or who. Can you meet me at St. Thomas?"