The neon sign above the Dancing Lounge promised girls, drink and music; it didn't promote the gloomy fog of smoke, the tables scarred with drink and cigarette burns. It didn't promise the dim lighting, the watered down alcohol and broken sound system that pumped the music out with the accompaniment of static crackle. All of which didn't seem to bother the customers gathered in the small, cramped club, eyes following the writhing girl on the stage.
Caitlin wondered what she'd been thinking as she tried to resist the urge to tug at the cut-away shorts that showed the full length of her leg as she made her way from the bar with another full tray of drinks. She hadn't been thinking, she thought. She'd been too angry that the guys were underestimating her abilities – again. After she completed her flight lesson, she'd marched out of the airfield and straight down to the Dancing Lounge to get herself a job.
It had been easy to sass her way through the door; adrenaline had carried her through a nervous interview with Darrow and on the basis of her sheer gall, he'd given her a tryout as a waitress. She'd had some crazy idea about being able to sneak into the back office and find a clue to Ana's disappearance but she hadn't even had time for a break. Her other potential sources of information, the other waitresses, weren't going well either; they were busy or unfriendly and there was little chance of picking something up by gossip.
She unloaded her tray and flashed a false smile at the guy patting her bum as she sidestepped away. She made her way back to the bar. Brick, the barman, greeted her with a ready smile. He was a bald black man with muscles that bulged from the frayed grey t-shirt he wore. Caitlin waited whilst he loaded up another tray of drinks.
'This one's for the boss' table.' Brick swiped the grimy bar counter and nodded at the private booth located just off the stage. Darrow was sat there with two men who Caitlin had tagged as criminal associates. Darrow wasn't the dodgy club owner cliché that she had expected. The blond attractive forty-year old was dressed nicely in an understated expensive suit. He was quick to halt any trouble in the club, including any customer getting too close to the dancers. He seemed to treat the girls well although with a business-like approach that categorised them as merchandise rather than as people.
Caitlin took hold of the tray and sauntered over to the booth. She slowed seeing the three men in deep conversation.
'I have buyers lined up, Jarvis. We're ready to go.' The greying man on Darrow's right-hand side commented.
'We need to wait.' Darrow said firmly.
The third man piped up. 'The warehouse is getting some heat, Jarvis. We need to move the…'
Darrow held up a hand, noticing Caitlin standing awkwardly to the side of the booth. He motioned her forward and she hastily stepped up and unloaded the drinks with a sassy smile to cover her eavesdropping. She stepped back and made her way back to the bar.
Another back-breaking two hours of work later, Caitlin finished her shift and made her way back to the small staff room. She rubbed the ache in her back and opened the battered locker she'd been assigned, reaching in for her handbag.
'You did a good job tonight.'
Caitlin spun around and pressed a hand to her racing heart. Darrow moved out of the shadows of the doorway, closing the door behind him. Caitlin tensed but held her ground. 'You scared me.' She managed to gasp out with another smile to cover her nerves.
'Did I?' Darrow placed a hand on the locker door beside her head, effectively trapping her between his arm and the door of her own locker. She jerked at the touch of his other hand on her hip. It travelled up her side and rested on her rib cage just under her breast. Caitlin glanced at the hand before meeting Darrow's eyes deliberately.
'This part of my job responsibilities?' She drawled aiming for insolence.
Darrow smiled. 'Could be.' His hand slid around to her back and pressed her against him. 'If you play your cards right.' He searched her expression and leaned in to whisper in her ear. 'How much did you hear?'
'Hear?' asked Caitlin trying to brazen it out.
'At the table.' Darrow's fingers played up her spine until his hand was cupping the back of her neck. 'And don't pretend you weren't listening.'
'Just…just some stuff about a warehouse getting some attention from the cops.' Caitlin didn't have to pretend the fear in her voice.
'Hmmm.' Darrow eased back and searched her eyes. 'You made a good choice in not denying it. Maybe you'll get those additional responsibilities.' He stepped back, releasing her and reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a wad of banknotes which he handed to her. 'Your pay. See Brick on your way out for your next shift.' Darrow left the room and Caitlin slumped against the locker door. Her heart was thumping in her chest and she could feel the sweat running down her back. It was definitely time to leave.