Chapter 1

The Midsumma...

’Mardi Gras’ Policewomen

Kelly hesitated.

Standing at the kerb, she glanced back along The Esplanade and smiled to herself.

Along with Senior Constable Maggie Doyle and ‘Acting’ Sergeant Lindy Schroeder, the twenty-two year old blonde had been rostered to work the annual ‘Midsumma Festival’ in St. Kilda. It was still quite early though. A little after seven o’clock in the morning – Kelly Maree O’Rourke stood on her own by the Catani Gardens, enjoying the early sun. The forecast was for thirty degrees Celsius. But, the young policewoman doubted it would be too uncomfortable for there was a cool breeze blowing in off Port Phillip Bay as she waited. Alone with her thoughts however, ‘Probationary’ Constable Kelly O’Rourke was content to just enjoy the moment.

Fitzroy Street was closed off. So was Acland Street.

From where she stood, Kelly could see another three policewomen on the far side of The Esplanade. She didn’t know who they were, but that didn’t matter, Maggie and Lindy were down by the sea wall.

And another of her colleagues, ‘Probationary’ Constable Susie Raynor, was wandering through the Catani Gardens – Sergeant Tess Gallagher and ‘Trainee’ Constable Deirdre ‘Dash’ McKinley too, were somewhere further along The Esplanade.

Kelly raised her hand. She watched three women walk pass and tugged at the collar of her uniform shirt – what had Maggie said to her earlier...?

Kelly hesitated – the tallest of the three women had smiled at her. Not just a friendly grin. But, more a suggestive smirk it appeared to Kelly. She licked slowly at her lips and the tall brunette blew her a cheeky kiss, but kept going,

“You take my word, Kelly...” Maggie had whispered in her ear after the morning Briefing...

“You’re almost guaranteed of ‘pussy’ today, Constable O’Rourke – there’s no greater aphrodisiac at ‘The Midsumma’ than a policewoman’s uniform?” the twenty-five year old had assured her.

And, Kelly had already heard the rumours. ‘The Midsumma’ Festival was notorious.

“We have carte blanche to enjoy it all...?” Maggie had added – she had kissed Kelly’s cheek,

“Seems, they have an open invitation to do whatever they want with us too, Constable O’Rourke?”

Senior Constable Maggie Doyle was seated comfortably on the sea wall on the far side of The Catani Gardens – her pale-blue uniform shirt unbuttoned almost to her waist; she was ‘flirting’ unashamedly with several girls from the St. John’s Ambulance.

Kelly licked again at her lips – she tugged at her shirtsleeve and looked back at Susie.

She couldn’t see Maggie now. Nor could she see Lindy.

The young policewoman could see the St. John’s Ambulance Cadets. They wore a white short-sleeved uniform shirt and Kelly had spoken to them earlier – their uniform shirts were knotted ‘halter style’ about their slender waists and they seemed more interested in Maggie than their participation in ‘The Midsumma’ Festival.

But, Kelly had caught a glimpse of ‘Probationary’ Constable Susie Raynor.

Laughter and a gentle murmur of excited voices had replaced the usual rumble of traffic along The Esplanade – a nurse wandered passed Kelly, but the young blonde policewoman didn’t see her.

Susie had knotted her uniform shirt ‘halter style’ as well...

“So, the rumours are true huh...?”

There were no rules at ‘The Midsumma’ – it was almost Law.

The annual ‘Lesbian Mardi Gras’ was unique. And though, it was held in Melbourne’s notorious ‘Red Light’ District of St. Kilda, all the accepted rules and conventions were cast aside by political decree – there would be no arrests, that much Sergeant Tess Gallagher had reminded all her policewomen at the Briefing,

“Well, what do we have here?” a voice asked – Kelly at first, didn’t hear the blonde.

Susie had disappeared from view – hidden behind the lush foliage of The Catani Gardens.

And, Kelly could no longer see Tess or Deirdre either. She had thought that she was alone.

But, Kelly Maree O’Rourke was no longer on her own, for she had been joined at the kerb by two ‘twenty something’ brunettes – Savannah Richardson was a ‘Stripper’ and her girlfriend, Cheyenne McNamara, an ‘Escort’...