Chapter 4

Senior Sergeant Monica Draper stood in the doorway.

It was still early. A few minutes before seven o’clock in the morning.

A quiet Sunday in Melbourne.

Sergeant Tess Gallagher stood on the far side of the ‘Muster Room’ – alone with her thoughts, the thirty-year-old blonde Divorcee knew better than to interfere. ‘The Black Widow’ as she was known, had called for a formal Morning Parade. And she would not be denied.

And even though it was a Sunday, she had rostered the whole of her all-female ‘City Patrol Group’ on for the Morning Shift. The ‘Officer in Charge’ however, lingered in the doorway and said nothing. She just stared sullenly at Tess.

‘Acting’ Sergeant Lindy Schroeder opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it.

She had been the longest serving policewoman at the ‘City Patrol Group’ – Anne Belinda Schroeder had been the first policewoman to be stationed at the old Melbourne District ‘Traffic and Patrol’ Division and was still for all intents and purposes, the ‘heart ‘n’ soul’ of the newly renamed Melbourne ‘City Patrol Group’...

“M-Monica...?”

It was Senior Constable Maggie Doyle talking – ‘The Black Widow’ ignored the twenty-five-year-old blonde,

“Senior Sergeant Draper...?” called the former ‘Miss Victoria Police’ – Margaret Ann Doyle was not really a part of the Morning Parade for she had worked the previous Friday when many of the other policewomen had simply failed to show,

“I really think you should see this, Monica?” Maggie warned.

There was more than a hint of desperation in her voice,

“P-Please...?” she begged.

‘The Black Widow’ hesitated.

Teresa Annette Gallagher raised an eyebrow.

“N-No...?” gasped Lindy.

Standing beside her, Constable Joanna Parrish uttered a muffled groan.

“M-Miss Angelique...?” exclaimed Lindy finally.

From where they stood, neither Senior Constable Rochelle De La Rue, Constable Deirdre ‘Dash’ McKinley nor Constable Kelly O’Rourke could see what was happening...?

Senior Constable Rosemary ‘Rosie’ Egan could.

And so too, Senior Constable Robyn Taylor and Constable Belinda Preston.

However, they’d not been a party to anything that had occurred at ‘The Steamworks’ and had no idea who the tall dark-skinned woman was at first...?

Not till Lindy had announced that is was ‘Miss Angelique’ that is,

“What are you doing here?” Lindy asked.

Maggie muttered an obscenity. And, so did both Lindy and Joanna a moment later.

‘Mistress Angelique’ Nicholson had come through the front door to ‘The City Patrol Group’...

“M-Miss Angelique...?” protested Maggie.

In her hand, ‘The Black Widow’ held a report from the Criminal Investigation Branch on Prostitution.

And, she’d heard some disturbing rumors.

It had been suggested that several policewomen from Russell Street were carrying Angelique Nicholson’s baby...?

That was not what she called the Morning Parafe for though - she had no real idea of what had occurred at ‘The Steamwoks’ Sauna...

“N-No...?

But for the most part, Senior Sergeant Monica Draper had intended just reprimanding those policewomen who’d gone ‘missing’ two days earlier,

“You really shouldn’t be here?”

Circumstances had supervened though, for ‘The Black Widow’ now also held a ‘Search Warrant’ for ‘The Steamworks’ Sauna – that had come through unexpectedly just minutes before Morning Parade,

“What the...?”

Monica now saw the half-caste Aboriginal hermaphrodite.

Not that ‘Mistress Angelique’ looked anything like a ‘Pimp’ or prostitute, for she wore the uniform of a policewoman,

“B-But...?” Maggie gasped – ‘Mistress Angelique’ bushed passed her arrogantly,

“So, you’re ‘The Black Widow’ huh...?” she hissed – Monica hesitated.

Penelope Ngo and another of ‘Mistress Angelique’ Nicholson’s prostitutes followed on behind.

Sensing that there might be trouble, Maggie closed the front door again – she locked it,

“My name’s Angelique...” the ‘Pimp’ announced,

“B-But...?” Monica protested – she’d read something of ‘Mistress Angelique’ in the confidential report on Prostitution that she still held in her hand,

“What are you doing here, Miss Nicholson...?”

Penelope wore her usual white nurse’s uniform dress as did the Somali-born prostitute with her,

“Oh, I think you know why I’m here, don’t you?” replied the hermaphrodite – ‘Mistress Angelique’ grabbed the startled forty-year-old policewoman and forced her back into the ‘Muster Room’ as all the other policewoman watched in stunned silence...

“M-Miss Nicholson...?”

Maggie took hold of Penelope’s arm, but the Masseusse just pushed her aside.

‘Mistress Angelique’ slammed Monica against the wall – the older policewoman raised her arms, reaching high above her head as she tried to come to terms with what was happening,

“Miss Angelique...?” cried Lindy.

In less than fifteen seconds, the Morning Parade was a shambles,