Chapter 3

The Midsumma...

’Mardi Gras’ Policewomen

Their lips parted finally.

Susie appeared dazed – on the other side of The Esplanade, Senior Sergeant Monica O’Rourke was now kissing another woman. Senior Constable Lindy Schroeder had been watching ‘Probationary’ Constable Kelly O’Rourke with Savannah Richardson and Cheyenne McNamara, as were both Senior Constable Rochelle De La Rue and Senior Constable Belinda Preston. Neither Kelly Maree O’Rourke, nor Suzanne ‘Susie’ Raynor cared.

Dust swirled down the middle of The Esplanade – there were no traffic as the thoroughfare had been blocked for ‘The Midsumma’ Festival.

Senior Constable Diana Webster had disappeared. Along with both Constable Jane Bell and Senior Constable Margaret Stewart, the former ‘Miss Victoria Police’ had moved into Acland Street – not far away in Fitzroy Street, the notorious Dimmatina’s Café offered all three of the ‘Public Relations’ girls a chance to enjoy ‘The Midsumma’ now that they’d handed out all the appropriate literature.

“We’re to keep an eye on things here for a while, Kelly...” whispered Susie finally.

Kelly nodded without speaking – she’d not seen Sergeant Tess Gallagher, ‘Probationary’ Constable Deirdre ‘Dash’ McKinley or Senior Constable Maggie Doyle and ‘Acting’ Sergeant Lindy Schroeder, for almost twenty minutes,

“Tess will be along soon enough – Lindy too, if that’s what you’re wondering?” Susie added.

Kelly nodded again. Savannah caressed at the sleeve of her uniform shirt...

“Seems, I’m to position myself about twenty metres back along the street...”

Susie’s voice sounded surprisingly soft – it almost felt to Kelly, like she was in some sort of a trance

“I understand...” Kelly assured Susie.

There was a moment of silence.

Opening her mouth to speak again, Susie found that she was unable to say anything more – she had delivered Sergeant Tess Gallagher’s final instructions as yet another Nurse wandered passed.

Saying nothing, Cheyenne still held Susie’s knotted uniform shirt. It wouldn’t have be the first time at ‘The Midsumma’ Festival that a policewoman had her crisp uniform shirt torn open by somebody like Cheyenne McNamara. To a certain extent, the ‘Stripper’ had been tempted by Susie.

Savannah licked at her lips, savouring the taste of the older blonde’s strawberry-flavoured lip gloss – there were other women kissing nearby, but she took little notice. Stewardesses and Nurses. Wealthy businesswomen and ‘Strippers’ – there were Prostitutes, University Students and Toorak Socialites, as well. Savannah Richardson however, was content to just tease at ‘Probationary’ Constable Kelly O’Rourke’s nipples through the translucent pale-blue fabric of her uniform shirt as they enjoyed the moment...

“Cheyenne...” purred Susie softly – the ‘Stripper’ let go of the policewoman’s shirt,

“S-Savannah...” Susie added, taking an awkward step backwards. She almost stumbled.

Snatching a hurried deep breath, she glanced at the two Qantas stewardesses.

Pausing a moment longer, she glanced back along The Esplanade towards the intersection with Fitzroy Street – Sergeant Tess Gallagher was watching them from a distance. But, there was no sign of the nineteen year old brunette ‘trainee’ who’d been with her,

“Maybe later huh...?”

Kelly nodded.