Joi and Payne

Prologue

 

The subdued faces of the two policemen standing outside of Joi Campbell’s door spoke volumes to her overactive nerves.

            Her heart pummeled against her chest as their stern demeanor rendered her speechless. Struggling to see behind one of the officer’s wide physique, she’d noticed her parents speeding into the driveway almost on two wheels. Her mother got out of the car before her father came to a complete stop. Charging toward the house, she ran upon the porch, pushed past the officers, and grabbed hold of her daughter. Like a movie playing in slow motion, the scene wasn’t going to turn out well. Especially when her father made it into the house, gasping for air as he clutched his chest. Now, Joi had reasons to panic.

            After finding her voice, Joi addressed one of the officers who had partnered with her husband on The Shreveport Police Department. “Where is Michael, Jacob?” Her hands began to shake out of control as she continued to question him. “Where is Michael?” She screamed louder, knowing that policemen only made personal visits to families of fellow officers killed in the line of duty. Jacob and Michael had partnered for ten years and now the day she feared, had come. Joi held her breath and waited for the officer to give her the dreaded news.

            Officer Jacob Winn tried putting on a brave face, but no words formed. It was apparent that whatever he had to say was not good, leaving the escorting officer to be the bearer of bad news. Joi’s stomach clinched as she braced herself for the words she had hoped to never hear.

      “Mrs. Campbell,” The agony shone in his poignant blue eyes, as his chubby cheeks quivered. “Your husband and kids were killed this afternoon in a car wreck involving a teenage driver, texting behind the wheel. The young lady ran a stop sign, causing her to crash into your family’s vehicle.” His words caught in his throat as he struggled to keep his taut posture.

            Joi stared into the officer’s sorrowful eyes as he delivered the worst news no wife or mother ever wanted to hear. As she tried wrapping her brain around losing her husband and ten-year-old twin boys, Jayden and Kayden, her airwaves seemed to have closed, making it difficult to breath. The realization of his statement had become too much for her to process.  Her brain felt as if it had short-circuited and like the flip of a switch, everything around her went black, causing her limp body to collapse into her father’s arms.