Chapter 3

Sergeant Tess Gallagher sat alone.

The thirty-year-old blonde Divorcee needed a break – Senior Sergeant Monica Draper was at William Street ‘Police Headquarters’ and both Sergeant Matthew Graham and Sergeant Marcus Jacobs were pre-occupied with organizing ‘Traffic Control’ for this year’s AFL Grand Parade in Melbourne.

It was not her first time at ‘The Paragon’ Café.

But she rarely had the chance to enjoy a coffee as she was now - nor could she seek a few moments at ‘The Crazy Horse’ Strip Club as ‘The Black Widow’ had decreed it ‘off limits’ to all the Melbourne District ‘Traffic and Patrol’ Division.

Teresa Annette Gallagher ignored Constable Maggie Doyle and Constable Joanna Parrish.

She seemed distracted. It almost seemed she didn’t notice Maggie and Joanna, seated at their preferred table in the corner - the twenty-five-year-old blonde contentedly kissing her twenty-five-year-old brunette girlfriend. But she had. And probably more than she prepared to admit, even to herself.

Teresa Annette Gallagher glanced at the two kissing policewomen and smiled. IUt was her first acknowledgment of both Maggie and Joanna.

Tess turned ‘a blind eye’ to their unbuttoned uniform shirts too.

Despite being awarded a District Commendation each, both Maggie and Joanna had been earlier reprimanded by their new ‘Officer in Charge’ – ‘The Black Widow’ had humiliated them over nothing as far as Tess was concerned, but she’d been unable to really do anything about what had occurred. Fortunately for both younger policewomen, the arrogant Senior Sergeant Monica Draper had waited until after the Morning Parade and no other ‘City Traffic’ policewomen had witnessed their embarrassment. Nobody other than Tess that is.

She smiled to herself - she rather enjoyed the sight of Maggie and Joana kissing.

Rebecca ‘Becky’ Campbell and her ‘Pimp’ were seated together at the table by the doorway that led to the rear of ‘The Paragon’ - Sandra ‘The Countess’ Avalon gazed at Sergeant Tess Gallagher, as did her prostitute, in silence.

It had been Tess who’d offered the ‘Pimp’ and her prostitutes in the ‘Banana Alley’ Precinct their legal immunity, in recognition of Sandra’s ability to ensure that there was never any trouble there. Prostitutio0n may have been illegal. But, Sergeant Tess Gallagher had rewarded Sandra ‘The Countess’ Avalon with carte blanche to what she wanted with her prostitutes in Banana Alley - she’d even permitted them to ‘fuck’ most of her ‘City Traffic’ Policewomen as well. A concession to ‘The Pimp’ and the control that she had on the ‘Banana Alley’ Precinct off Flinders Street.

Nevertheless, ‘The Countess’ was content to give the older policewoman her privacy for the moment.

Alone with her thoughts, Tess toyed with the collar of her uniform shirt – not far away, Maggie and Joanna continued their tended kiss in the shadows.

Silhouetted by a row of ‘flickering’ scented candles behind her, Tess looked up. She was still smiling to herself as she pulled at the collar of her trim pale-blue uniform shirt.

Tess uttered a muffled sigh. Her smile faded away. The older policewoman’s mind had turned back to ‘The Black Widow’...

“Mmmm...?”

Sonya Williamson walked slowly towards her. She was the Manageress of ‘The Paragon’ Café.

Tess however, closed her eyes - she uttered yet another frustrated sigh,

“S-So then...?” whispered Sonya.

Tess didn’t hear her.

For some time, she had been the most ‘senior’ of the policewomen at ‘City Traffic’ – Senior Constable Lindy Schroeder may have been the first policewoman at the Melbourne District ‘Traffic and Patrol’ Division, but it had been Teresa Annette Gallagher, who was ostensibly ‘In Charge’ of all the ‘City Traffic’ girls until Senior Sergeant Monica Draper’s recent appointment...

“S-Sergeant...?” acknowledged the Managaress.

Sonya walked passed the seated blonde policewoman – she ran her fingertips lightly over Sergeant Tess Gallagher’s shoulders before standing between Tess and her two kissing subordinates in the corner,

“S-Sergeant Gallagher...?” greeted Sonya in a whisper.

Like both Sandra ‘The Countess’ Avalon and Caroline ‘The Bitch’ Montague, the attractive brunette had once worked as a prostitute for Diana Murdoch at her ‘Gaslight’ Massage Parlour,

“You seem a little reserved this morning Sergeant Gallagher?” observed Sonya.

It had been almost a month since Tess had been to ‘The Paragon’ Café...

“I suppose...?”

Pausing, Tess opened her eyes and looked up at Sonya - she smiled,

“I’m just enjoying the moment, Sonya...” Tess assured the Manageress of ‘The Paragon’ Café.

She was not about to confide in Sonya on what was happening at ‘City Traffic’ - Samantha ‘The Cunt’ Thompson, appeared in the front doorway. She was another former prostitute.

Tess acknowledged the fifty-year-old with a smile.

‘The Cunt’ as she’d been christened some years earlier, took care of the underground ‘Ladies Loo’ in Queen Street and it had been Tess who’d given her, Senior Constable Rochelle De La Rue, when the younger policewoman had taken too many liberties,

“You know,” continued Sonya, “The rear store room is available, Sergeant Gallagher?”

Tess raised an eyebrow.

Smiling suggestively, Sonya indicated the ‘Pimp’ with a nod of her head – Tess tugged at her shirt sleeve. And as she did so, another of Sandra’s prostitutes from the ‘Banana Alley’ Precinct, came through the rear door to ‘The Paragon’...

“Seems to me, you could do with a change of fuckin’ diet this morning...?” suggested Sonya.

‘Charlotte the Harlot’ Thompson hesitated. She could see Sergeant Tess Gallagher with Sonya Williamson talking – it took her another moment to see her ‘Pimp’ and Rebecca at the nearer table,

“Prostitution is illegal, Miss Williamson?” Tess reminded the Manageress with a smirk,

“Oh, I doubt Sandra’s looking to be paid...?” Sonya responded – she rested her hand on the seated blonde policewoman’s shoulder. She then indicated the ‘Pimp’ should join them,

“Nor do I intend charging you for the bed in the backroom, Sergeant Gallagher?” Sonya added.

The normal cost for an hour’s use of the bed was thirty dollars – fifty dollars with one of Sonya’s waitresses...