Chapter 2

An electric train rumbled onto the Flinders Street Railway Viaduct.

Several large puddles of rainwater had joined to form a small lake along Flinders Street - the stormwater drain was blocked and the water was edging its’ way into Banana Alley as Senior Constable Lindy Schroeder waded across. More water cascaded down from the gutter.

There was little steam. But, the alleyway had a certain humid ambiance.

The refreshing breeze that Lindy had enjoyed in Flinders Lane earlier, also blew down the main thoroughfare that was Flinders Street - beyond the ‘Banana Alley’ Precinct, the afternoon breeze swirled about the lower expanse of the Yarra River so it was a little cooler for both Senior Constable Lindy Schroeder and the prostitutes.

Lindy paused. She tugged at her shirt sleeve and smiled.

Perspiration dribbled from beneath the sleeve of her tight-fitting uniform shirt. And she could feel it oozing down either side of her face as she stared back along Flinders Street - several long strands of her hair clung to her cheeks. The once crisp pale-blue fabric of her short-sleeved policewoman’s shirt was now quite wet. An almost translucent blue, it seemed glued to her moist skin.

She was now trespassing - she could feel eyes watching her from the shadows.

Another train crossed the Flinders Street Viaduct above her as she entered Banana Alley.

The shadows were beginning to lengthen - Melbourne thought, seemed to slumber on. Quiet and sullen.

Navigating her way carefully between the rainwater that dripped down from the leaking gutter above, Lindy uttered a sigh - there was a screen of water cascading down from the roof of ‘The Back Alley’ Club and she knew that she’d have to pass through it. Snatching a hurried deep breath, she glanced back at Flinders Street. She wiped again at her brow.

Lindy was now in their territory - Banana Alley was Sandra ‘The Countess’ Avalon’s personal fiefdom, but she was now in ‘Fairlie’ Women’s Prison and both Senior Sergeant Monica Draper and Sergeant Tess Gallagher had been unable to do much about the ‘Pimp’ being in custody for the foreseeable future. If anything, Rebecca ‘Becky’ Campbell and ‘Charlotte the Harlot’ McNamara were running the ‘Banana Alley’ Precinct until ‘The Countess’ was released...

Lindy slid her issue handbag from her shoulder. She placed it under her arm.

She knew the prostitutes were watching. She couldn’t see either Rebecca ‘Becky’ Campbell and ‘Charlotte the Harlot’ McNamara, but she knew they were there - policewoman or not, Senior Constable Lindy Schroeder was intruding on their domain and she knew it.

For a moment, Lindy wondered if she should have brought another policewoman with her...?

Joanna or ‘Dash’...?”

Closing her eyes, she raised her free hand to her forehead and stepped into the curtain of rainwater.

The cold water engulfed the thirty-year-old policewoman.

Nevertheless, still clutching her issue handbag and shielding her eyes from the water, Lindy paused, allowing it to cascade down all over her - it felt like she was being cleansed of all her guilt and embarrassment over the ‘arrest’ of the notorious ‘Pimp’ for she blamed herself for not being able to intervene.

Now transparent, her uniform shirt was sopping wet - her hardening nipples protruded through the transluscent fabric from beneath her sports bra as she stood in the pouring water. Her uniform skirt too, was now wet through. And, even her ‘pussy’ for she had not bothered with panties.

Finally, Lindy stepped from the curtain of water - she was now almost ankle deep in uanother large puddle.

hesitating yet again, she opened her eyes. Lowering her hand, she shouldered her handbag once more, enjoying the reassuring warmth of the late afternoon sun on her wet skin. The breeze continued to tease at her.

Rebecca smiled. Charlotte licked suggestively at her lips.

Lindy pulled at the collar of her uniform shirt.

Running her fingertips along the distinctive dark-blue ‘trim’ as she offered both prostitutes a chance to look her over with their usual approving eye, she found herself standing at the rear door to ‘The Back Alley’ Nightclub...

“What am I going to do with your girls...?” she wondered aloud.

The glistening ‘Victoria Police’ badge that Lindy wore attached to the lanyard about her neck, caught Rebecca’s eye,

“There’s been a complaint, Miss Rebecca...?” explained the policewoman. Charlotte nodded without speaking,

“And I know,” Lindy continued, “That your ‘Pimp’ has been arrested, Miss Charlotte - we’re working on that?”

“But, I thought we had an arrangement with you girls...?” she reminded the two prostitutes. Rebecca shrugged.