Chapter 1

‘Acting’ Sergeant Candice McNamara

... and the Swan Hill ‘Women Police’ Section in 1998

The last thing Desiree had expected was a visit from the Victoria Police.

It was late. A little before midnight. A warm evening in Swan Hill.

Desiree Louise Murchison had only just relocated address – the thirty year old former prostitute having moved to Swan Hill, some four hundred kilometres from everything that she’d once known. She’d not told anybody back in Melbourne. Nor did she know anybody in Swan Hill. And, she doubted anybody would know who she was too...?

Desiree had been waiting patiently for her kettle to boil. It had been a long day. And, she needed a coffee. But, her little after evening interlude had been interrupted by a sudden ‘knock’ at her front door...

“What the...?”

Desiree had not been expecting visitors.

“Who could that be at this time of night...?” she wondered aloud.

Hesitating, she slipped her short-sleeved white shirt back on. There was another ‘knock’ – Desiree paused a moment longer, carefully knotting her shirt ‘halter style’ about her waist,

“So...?”

Desiree had only been living in her new townhouse by the Murray River for a little more than a day.

As far as she knew, nobody knew of where she now lived, other than the pretty young ‘Estate Agent’ who’d sold her the property almost a month ago. And, she was quite certain that had no idea who she really was...

“Hello...?” Desiree called.

She moved slowly towards the front door.

“Police...” a female voice replied. Desiree hesitated again.

Her front door was located on the opposite side of her lounge room. Desiree had locked it earlier.

There was a window to the side of the doorway, but she’d also closed the curtains for privacy...

“Police...?” the former prostitute queried.

“Sergeant Candice McNamara...” the policewoman answered – she sounded tired,

“I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour – may we have a quick chat please?”

Reassuringly for Desiree however, Sergeant Candice McNamara sounded friendly...

“And, Constable Sonya Gallagher...” added the unseen policewoman, almost as an afterthought,

“We’re from the Swan Hill ‘Women Police’ Section – it really shouldn’t take too long at all, Miss...?”

Desiree raised an eyebrow. What did the local ‘Women Police’ want with her?

“Just a minute...?’ she responded with a sigh. Resting her hand on the doorknob, she carefully looked out through the peephole. Desiree had left her outside light on, and she could now see the two police officers – the former prostitute unlocked her front door but did not open it,

“We just need a moment of your time this evening...?” assured Candice.

Desiree smiled to herself, content to look over Sergeant Candice McNamara for a moment or two.

The thirty year old blonde policewoman was not quite what Desiree had expected...

“We just need a moment of your time this evening?” Sergeant Candice McNamara added the brunette.

“Of course...” replied Desiree, finally opening her front door.

“Hello there...” greeted Candice with a smile. She looked familiar to Desiree.

“We’re terribly sorry...” the younger policewoman added – Desiree shrugged,

“But, we’re just making a few enquiries around the neighbourhood, you see...?”

“Is there a problem, Constable Gallagher?” Desiree asked.

She lived alone. And for the last twelve hours, she had been preoccupied with unpacking,

“I’ve just moved in today, Constable Gallagher...?” continued Desiree...

“So, I hope I’ve done nothing wrong?”

Constable Sonya Gallagher shook her head,

“Not at all...” she assured Desiree.

Desiree now focussed on Sonya – the former prostitute had taken an immediate liking to the younger blonde policewoman. But, she still couldn’t quite recall where she knew Sergeant Candice McNamara from...?

“We’re just checking the neighbours...” Sonya then explained.

Pausing, she tugged at the sleeve of her uniform shirt – Desiree turned to Candice,

“There was a burglary earlier, a couple of houses down the street you see, Miss...?”

“Oh dear...?”

Candice glanced back at Sonya. The older policewoman’s eyes were hidden beneath the brim of her older-style uniform hat – Candice’s glistening ‘Victoria Police’ capbadge caught Desiree’s eye,

“I’m not sure whether I can really be of any assistance?” the former prostitute continued apologetically,

“I’ve been a little busy for most of today, Sergeant McNamara – Constable Gallagher...?”

She knew instinctively that Candice at least was bi. And, she suspected Sonya might be lesbian,

“Are you alone...?” the older policewoman asked. Desiree nodded without speaking.

“I suppose,” Candice then said, “We should welcome you to Swan Hill too, don’t you think?”

“Thankyou...”

“And, the name’s Desiree...”

“Desiree...” acknowledged Candice – the older policewoman glanced at her colleague again,

“You’d better come in?” Desiree suggested. She beckoned both policewomen inside...

“Though,” she cautioned, “I’m not sure how I can help you this evening, Sergeant McNamara?”

“Candice...” corrected the policewoman.

“Candice...” Desiree answered – she appreciated the irony of the moment.

As a prostitute, she had worked for Diana Murdoch at her notorious ‘Black Rose’ Massage Parlour.

“Desiree Murchison that is, Candice...”

“It’s nice to meet you, Desiree...” Candice replied,

“You can call me Sonya too, Desiree...” added the younger policewoman.

“Sonya...”

Desiree took a step to one side, indicating Sonya should enter her townhouse,

“Make yourself at home, Sonya?”

“ ... Candice?” Desiree added...

Some eighteen months earlier, Desiree Louise Murchison had been arrested whilst having sex with a female police - Senior Constable Anna D’Constanzo having been recruited by the kinky ‘Madam’ to work as a prostitute for her; Desiree forced by Diana to break the Italian-born policewomen in...

“Thankyou...” Candice whispered,

“I hope we’re not interrupting anything...?” asked Sonya – the former prostitute shook her head.

What she hadn’t realised, was that she wore only the short-sleeved white shirt knotted about her waist. No panties. Nothing else. Constable Sonya Gallagher licked slowly at her lips,

“It doesn’t really worry me, Desiree...”

Desiree hesitated.

Sergeant Candice McNamara opened her mouth to speak,

“You really should wear knickers when you answer your front door, Miss Murchison?” Sonya teased.

“Oh...?”

Desiree blushed – Candice shook her head at Sonya. The young policewoman stepped between Desiree and Candice, entering the townhouse without further comment. She did giggle a little,

“I’m sorry, Candice...?” whispered Desiree. She felt rather foolish. Embarrassed.

“It’s nothing, Miss Murchison – we won’t be too long tonight...” the policewoman assured Desiree.

“Coffee...?” the former prostitute offered. She now recognised Candice,

“That would be nice, Desiree...”.

“I don’t often get to entertain policewomen, Candice?”

“Certainly not a former ‘Miss Victoria Police’...?” Desiree whispered – Candice lingered in the open doorway. She had once been the ‘Poster Girl’ for the Victoria Police,

“You were the ‘Miss Victoria Police’ a few years back, weren’t you, Candice?”

“Guilty as charged...”

“Maybe, you’d prefer something a little stronger huh...?” Desiree then asked Candice.

Standing in the middle of Desiree’s comfortable lounge room, Constable Sonya Gallagher closed her clipboard and looked around – a number of scented candles ‘flickered’ away along a shelf by the door to Desiree’s bedroom. And, a large window offered a panoramic vista of the nearby Murray River...

“Coffee will be fine...” confirmed the older policewoman finally. Almost reluctantly.

“You’ve just moved in huh...?” enquired Sonya – the former prostitute nodded, confident that the young policewoman had no idea who she was,

“You have a nice home...?” Sonya observed.

Desiree bit her lip. There were a number of photographs by her television set.

Pictures of Diana Murdoch and several of her prostitutes, including Desiree...

“Coffee huh...?”

“I was just getting myself a coffee...” Desiree explained – Sonya removed her baseball-style uniform cap, brushing a few loose strands of hair from her eyes with her fingertips. It was obvious to her, that Desiree had been looking her over a few minutes earlier,

“I really could do with something a little ‘stronger’ though, Desiree?” the young policewoman admitted,

“Coffee...” prompted Candice. She too was tempted by an offer of something ‘stronger’...

“Like what you see, Miss Murchison?” Sonya asked – she knew Desiree Murchison was bi-sexual,

Sergeant Candice McNamara entered the townhouse.

Desiree followed, pausing to close her front door again. She locked it. Candice didn’t notice, but Sonya did – she moved towards the kitchen where Desiree’s kettle had started to boil,.

“What’s not to like, Constable Gallagher...?” the former prostitute replied – Constable Sonya Gallagher smiled, satisfied with the thirty year old woman’s candid response,

“Sonya...?” Candice protested. The young policewoman blew her ‘Officer in Charge’ a kiss.

Leaning back against her front door, Desiree focussed her attention on the young policewoman,

“So, you like ‘pussy’ huh...?”