Chapter 24

Bernadette paused.

She didn’t know Senior Constable Amanda Rowe...?

But, the cryptic message that she’d received from her was concerning nevertheless.

Sergeant Bernadette Woodville stood in the doorway. Behind her in the Female Changerooms, Senior Constable Desiree Blake was having a shower – the steam rising and swirling about the perfumed sanctuary. Standing nearby, the former ‘Miss Victoria Police’ gazed out the large window over the rooftops of Avondale Heights in silent thought. Along with Desiree, they’d not returned to the ‘Women Police’ Office the previous night. Not that it was a problem. However, ‘Probationary’ Constable Sonya L’Estrange had not returned either...?

Sitting together at their desk closest to the entry to the Avondale Heights ‘Women Police’ Division, both Constable Anna D’Constanzo and Constable ‘Juicy Lucy’ McIntyre had been making enquiries on the telephone. So far, they had ascertained from Alison at ‘The Paragon’ Café that Sonya had last been seen with two of her favoured ‘regulars’ - ‘Cheyenne’ Sanderson and Sister Yvonne Peterson.

Bernadette knew them both – Yvonne was a predatory lesbian Nursing Sister from the ‘Western General Hospital’ in Footscray, whilst Cheyenne owned the local ‘Scissors’ Hairdressing Salon in Military Road. ‘Probationary’ Constable Diana Lawson was on Leave. Nonetheless, through Reservist Samantha McKenzie so that Senior Sergeant ‘Killer’ Caldwell would never know, the downstairs ‘Uniform Branch’ had attended the townhouse that Sonya shared with ‘The Countess’ and Sabrina Morgan in Keilor East after the young policewoman had failed to report for duty.

Nobody knew where Sonya was...?

‘Trainee’ Constable Michelle Stewart and Constable Rhonda Hamilton had spoken to Cheyenne Sanderson and even Cassandra Hamilton too, for she was the lesbian ‘General Duties’ policewoman’s illegitimate mother, though neither ever spoke of it.

Sergeant Bernadette Woodville was worried.

Detective Constable Paula Robertson’s name kept coming up...?

And, the last thing she could afford was Inspector Jennifer Cartwright finding out now too.

‘Probationary’ Constable Sonya L’Estrange was missing.

She’d not been seen at home...?

Nor had she called the ‘Women Police’ Division...?

“Anything...?” Bernadette asked.

Anna turned and shook her head.

‘The Countess’ and Sabrina had no idea where Sonya was...?

The nearby ‘Housing Commission’ townhouse had been checked. Discreetly and off the books.

Rhonda and Michelle had that they’d found Sabrina in bed with another policewoman - Senior Constable Rosie Sullivan in fact, and that had been embarrassing for the ‘Women Police’ in itself, as well as for the former ‘Miss Victoria Police’ too.

They had also found ‘The Countess’ sharing her bed with Senior Constable Desiree Blake and ‘Charlotte the Harlot’ D’Urberville, with yet another policewoman asleep on the sofa in the lounge room.

Detective Constable Paula Robertson had said nothing. If anything, she’d been rude and condescending.

She’d bluffed both young ‘General Duties’ policewomen when they’d awoken her.

And, she’d told the two ‘General Duties’ policewoman just what she thought of them in no uncertain manner - Paula had arrogantly dismissed their enquiries and left before telling them where Sonya was. Unfortunately, Michelle and Rhonda had known little about her possible connection to Sonya’s disappearance,

“Seems, it must’ve been some ‘party’ there...?” observed Juicy – Rosie nodded.

Desiree and Rosie had no idea where Sonya was...?

Constable Anna D’Constanzo had recalled something about ‘The Tarmac’ Hotel but had been reluctant to mention it – it was a taboo subject at the ‘Women Police’ and she did so only because of necessity. And she had told Bernadette.

Along with Constable ‘Juicy Lucy’ McIntyre and Constable Rhonda Hamilton, she’d been enjoying a few drinks with her own girlfriend, Caroline D’Agostino, however, when the now ‘missing’ young policewoman had supplied them with Cocaine earlier that week,

“What about Paula...?” wondered Bernadette.

“Seems, nobody has any idea where she is, Bernadette?” warned Anna in reply,

“If we speak to anybody else about her, it might lead to something more serious, you know?” the young Italian policewoman warned.

Samantha had cautioned them about the ‘Undercover Policewoman’ earlier,

“What about Sonya though...?” asked Bernadette again. Rosie shook her head slowly...

“Well, we have to find her before there’s any more trouble...?” Bernadette reminded them all.

“Sarge...” agreed Rosie.

Inspector Jennifer Cartwright had already telephoned the ‘Women Police’ Division.

She had wanted to speak to Sonya over Paula... “You should’ve known better, Rosie...?” Bernadette hissed to the former ‘Miss Victoria Police’ with disdain.

“Desiree too, you know...?”

Rosie said nothing – she felt bad enough,

“She’s probably drunk somewhere, Sarge?” suggested ‘Juicy Lucy’ finally...