10
Victor
All the extra bodies buzzing around his office was beginning to get under Victor’s skin. He was more than ready to be done with his photo shoot. As a matter of fact, he was more than ready for a conclusion to the entire campaign. As far as Victor was concerned, November 6thcouldn’t come soon enough.
“Kenyatta,” he shouted over the babble.
She looked up, and instead of talking over the other voices, she crossed the office. “Sir?”
“Has Taylor called? She was supposed to be here forty-five minutes ago.”
“No, sir. Maybe she got caught up at work. I’ll put in a call.”
“Thank you.”
Victor managed to tolerate the photographer, the stylist, and their assistants for fifteen more minutes before he was on the verge of completely losing his patience. Kena blew into his office just as he was about to, less than politely, ask everyone to leave.
“Everybody out!” Kena ordered.
“What?” the photographer shrieked. “We’re all set to go.”
“Get! Out! Now!” she shouted.
Without any more words, folks were tripping over each other as they scrambled out of the office. Victor had never heard Kena’s raised voice. Hell, even he was tempted to leave.
Once everyone was on the other side of the door, she closed it gently and slowly turned to face him.
“Governor, Superintendent O’Conner called.” Her solemn tone gave him pause.
“And? What did he want?”
“It’s Taylor, sir.”
Victor’s heart nearly stopped. He rose to his feet but held on tight to the edge of his desk. If Kena was about to tell him that he’d lost his wife, he would surely die where he stood.
“What about Taylor?” he asked in a shaky voice.
“First, she’s okay.”
Victor heard her words, but her demeanor was still a concern. “Oh, God. Is it the baby?”
“Baby?”
“Kena! What the fuck did the superintendent say?!” Victor snapped.
“S-sorry,” she said, blinking back to the reason she was there. “She’s been shot.”
“What?!” Victor roared. “She works at a desk! How did she get shot?”
“I’m not sure. It was some kind of robbery.”
“Did they rob the fucking police station?! What did he say?!”
He could tell she was flustered, but he needed her to be clear.
“All he said was that she got shot during a robbery, but she’s okay.”
Victor was confused as to how his pregnant wife, who worked as the secretary to the commander, got shot during a robbery. But he wasn’t going to get answers talking to Kena.
