Steve Vance

A loud pounding on the door woke Morgan from a very hazy sleep. His best friend, Gentleman Jack, wasn’t the only one who had visited last night. “Open this Goddamn door! I know she’s in there, Morgan, you bastard.”

He looked over at Vicki, whose eyes had just popped open. Now she had a look of anxiety on her face.  

“Open this door, Morgan, before I kick it down.” More loud pounding. “I know you're here. Your car is down on the street. I want my wife!”   

Morgan held his finger up to his lips to silence Vicki, who looked like she was about to speak. Steve pounded hard enough to shake the door a couple more times, then tried a new tactic. 

“Vicki, baby, I love you.  Please come home with me. I know you still love me and the kids. Please.”

When there was still no answer, her husband became angry again. “Damnit, Morgan, open this fucking door.” That was followed by more heavy pounding, and what sounded like possibly a few kicks. The heartbroken man was persistent. 

A neighbor started yelling. Then another. Morgan couldn’t make out what they were saying, but he did hear something about someone calling the police.

“I’m going to be sitting down on the street until you send Vicki out, Morgan. All day if that’s what it takes.” Then Steve was gone.  

“All day?” Morgan scratched his head and stared at the naked woman in his bed. “Do you want to go?”

“No. I’m not ready to go.” The black-haired woman slid down under the covers and took him in her mouth. A couple minutes later, when it was over, Vicki got out of his bed and went into the bathroom. 

The smokey-eyed beauty had been stopping over for an hour or so every night after work. Last night they must have fallen asleep. 

Morgan sat up in bed and stretched his arms, yawning. I really didn’t want dramatic ties with anyone. I should have ended this thing after that first night. 

He hadn’t because she was insatiable. He had finally met someone who could not only match his sexual appetite, but his drinking as well. They spent the day trading shots of whiskey, peeking out of the windows to see if Steve had left, and having sex all over Morgan’s apartment.   

From the living room window, they saw Steve drive away from the complex several hours later. Morgan let out a long whistle. He was relieved because he was physically and emotionally drained.  

“What are you going to do?” Morgan had seen the wistful look on the woman’s face as her husband sped off.

“Go back to him.” Vicki sighed.  

“Is that safe?”

“Oh, Steve’s a big pussycat. And I really do love him. Besides, we have children together.” She smiled sadly at Morgan. 

“So why this?” Morgan was curious, if not feeling a little bit guilty.  

“Boredom. I guess I just got tired of missionary position sex once a month.  Steve and I are more like roommates than lovers. Besides, I’ve always had a small crush on you. You’re one sexy man, Morgan Harper.” Another weak smile. “This has been fun, best week of my life in fact, but it has to end.”

Hearing her words brought about a flood of realization. Damn. I don’t want it to end. This almost seems real. Normal. I could get used to having her around. “If I were in a different time and place in my life, I would never let you leave Vicki Vance, but I understand.”

Vicki finished dressing and leaned over and kissed Morgan on the forehead. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Sure. I’ll survive.” He smiled, knowing what she meant, but joked around anyways. “I mean, thank God it’s Saturday. You really wore me out. I’m pretty sure that once you leave I’m just gonna go back to bed and not get up until I need to go to work  Monday morning.”

She shook her head while giving him a genuine smile, then went to the door and opened it. Standing there, just about to knock, was Tamra.  

“Oh my! I didn’t know you had company, Morgan.” The short, flustered blond looked tiny next to the tall Vicki. “I’ll just come back later.”

“No, come in. I was just leaving.” Vicki squeezed past Tamra and, after blowing Morgan a kiss, disappeared down the hall.  

Once Tamra closed the door, she pointed towards where the woman had departed and said, “Huh? Wasn’t that Vicki Vance? Debra’s old friend?”

“She’s not that old, but yes.” Morgan wondered how this was going to go.  

“You know what I meant.” She hung her purse over a chair.” I didn’t know you two were—“

“It’s nothing. Just a fling.” 

Morgan grabbed his robe and put it on, realizing his sister-in-law was staring at his revealing boxer briefs. “Why are you here?”  

“Oh, I tried to call. But I couldn’t get through, so I grew worried and came over.”  

“Oh, yes. I shut my phone off. Must’ve forgot to turn it back on.” He frowned. 

“All night and day? That’s some fling.” He detected more than a hint of jealousy in Tamra’s voice.

Morgan grabbed her by the shoulders, managing to stare at her forehead. “Tam, that was goodbye with her. Why are you really here?” 

“Look, I just wanted to apologize for hitting on you last week.” She grabbed his chin and turned his face to make him look at her, but he pulled away. “I’m sorry. It's just that Kevin had left me and I was feeling vulnerable.”

“Apology accepted.” He gave her a smile. “We’re always going to be friends, Tam. I hope you know that.”  

“Friends? Okay . . . I’m guessing that you haven’t eaten anything today?” She was already digging through his cupboards. 

“Does whiskey count?” He shrugged.  

She gave Morgan a stern look. “Go jump in the shower and I’ll get you a good meal cooked right up. You could even shave off that scraggly mess.”

He didn’t have the heart to tell her that he and Vicki had just spent an hour together in the shower. He went and rinsed off once more, and came back and joined her. The beard, if that were a legitimate term for what he had cultivating on his face, remained. 

Tamra pulled together a pasta dish, which they enjoyed, laughing about old times.  

Throughout the meal, memories kept creeping into his head. The same thoughts he had been having all week. But they weren’t about Vicki. They were about that one unforgettable kiss from Tamra. Best not to think about such things.

Character/Suspect List: 

Homicide Detective Morgan Harper - The heavily faulted main character who never recovered from the suicide of his wife.  

Kelly Pierson - a young, new to the game, prostitute who is frequented by Detective Morgan. 

Debra Harper - Morgan’s deceased wife who committed suicide.  

Tamra Burns- a crime scene technician who is Debra's identical twin.

Internal Affairs Officer Brian Anderson - Investigating Morgan Harper.

Homicide Detective Hutch Kelly - Morgan’s partner. 

Doctor Millison Parker - Morgan’s psychiatrist.

Paco Sanchez - A local pimp and street thug.

Mac Yung- Aggressive reporter. 

Steve Vance - Vicki's husband.

Vicki Vance - An old friend of Morgan and Debra’s.

Jennifer Collins - The first victim prostitute. 

Amy Henderson - The second victim prostitute.