Chapter 7

Night clung to Melbourne.

And though it had threatened rain earlier in the day, the cloud had cleared just before dusk.

Rostered to work the Watchouse at the Avondale Heights Police Station, ‘Trainee’ Constable Sonya L’Estrange had arrived early for her shift. She was supposed to work with Constable ‘Mick’ O’Donnell and Constable Rhonda Hamilton.

But, the young policeman had called in ‘sick’ and Rhonda had not yet shown up.

The ‘trainee’ policewoman was grateful nevertheless.

She would no longer be subjected to Senior Constable ‘Johnno’ Johnstone’s kinky whims, if only for a few hours – quickly relieving Senior Constable John Henderson as Watchousekeeper, the ‘trainee’ had settled down in the small Watchousekeeper’s Office, intent on completing her outstanding paperwork.

Senior Sergeant ‘Killer’ Caldwell had left word that ‘Trainee’ Constable Diana Lawson was to work the ‘divvy van’ with Senior Constable ‘Johnno’ Johnstone – he still didn’t want Rhonda doing anything but the Watchouse.

And, after learning that ‘Johnno’ had spent the last week’ fucking’ Sonya in the back of the ‘divisional van’ every night, he had been reticent to risk his other ‘trainee’ policewoman but had no choice.

‘Johnno’ was openly boasting of having sex with Sonya, but that hadn’t worried their ‘Officer in Charge’ for he was more concerned with her outstanding paperwork than anything else.

Constable Rhonda Hamilton had attended the Moonee Ponds Magistrates Court that morning.

But, she had slept through her alarm o’clock after being allowed to go home for a sleep afterwards.

And so, Sonya was to work the Watchouse on her own, for there was nobody else available...?

Much to his chagrin, the ‘Officer in Charge’ had heard all about Sonya and ‘Johnno’ - he had planned on speaking to the twenty-two-year-old ‘trainee’ policewoman. But he’d had too much to do to concern himself with the ‘station ‘bike’ - Senior Sergeant ‘Killer’ Caldwell detested female police officers. And he regarded the recent Equal Opportunities Act as nothing more than a legal aberration. And he particularly loathed having policewomen working ‘General Duties’ at Avondale Heights.

He felt certain that the new conservative government in Victoria would correct things.

However, he’d been called to a meeting at Russell Street Police Headquarters. He had left work just before the ‘trainee’ had walked through the front door, and so Sonya had gained an unexpected reprieve from what would’ve been yet another embarrassing reprimand from Senior Sergeant ‘Killer’ Caldwell.

Fortunately for her, he would not have her dismissed from the Victoria Police, for if anything, ‘Killer’ feared admitting what had happened to anybody outside Avondale Heights, as it would no doubt, have been a stain on his own personal record if Sonya were to face Disciplinary Charges.

And, he’d have to deal with Senior Constable ‘Johnno’ Johnstone too.

Sergeant Barry McKnight had arrived for the Nightshift next.

Called in unexpectedly, the former ‘Homicide Squad Detective’ was less than impressed with being rostered as ‘Shift Sergeant’ for the Night.

He also had a tendency to treat young policewomen with disdain and had ignored ‘Trainee’ Constable Sonya L’Estrange when he passed the Watchousekeeper’s Office.

Sonya could not have cared less. She disliked Barry as much as he did her.

Sergeant Chris Matthews was working back too. Another occupation hazard for Sonya.

With the ‘Officer in Charge’ gone for the night, both Barry and Chris were looking for a quiet shift though.

Constable Rhonda Hamilton appeared in the doorway not long afterward – Constable Lucinda ‘Juicy Lucy’ McIntyre and ‘Trainee’ Constable Diana Lawson not far behind.

‘Juicy Lucy’ blew Sonya a kiss. Sonya poked her tongue out at ‘Juicy Lucy’...

“I am sorry about that, Sonya...” Rhonda said – she stood at the far end of the front counter just inside the rear door to the building. Diana stood with her.

‘Juicy Lucy’ had disappeared upstairs to the ‘Women Police’ Office.

“Coffee...?” offered Rhonda.

“That would be nice, thanks...” replied Sonya with a smile.

Though she would’ve never admitted it to anybody, Sonya was bisexual and was secretly envious of ‘Butch’ Hamilton’s relationship with ‘Juicy Lucy’ McIntyre.

She had watched them kiss at the back door a few moments before.

Diana smiled at Sonya too. Senior Constable ‘Johnno’ Johnston was waiting for her.

She’d been late for work too. But so had ‘Johnno’...

“Seems quiet enough...?” Rhonda observed.

Sonya nodded – she may have been a pariah with many of her male colleagues at ‘The Heights’ but ‘Trainee’ Constable Sonya L’Estrange was still popular with all the policewomen, even if her blatant promiscuity was embarrassing at times.

“There’s really not much happening, Rhonda...?”

It was the first time that Sonya had seen Rhonda in the new pale-blue uniform shirt.

“Looks rather nice...?” she observed, complimenting Constable Rhonda Hamilton,

“Though I think you’re right though,” Sonya conceded, “The old white shirt is sexier on you, Rhonda?”

“Take your time too...?” she advised her older colleague,

“There’s really nothing happening, you see?”

Rhonda nodded,

“I can handle the Watchhouse for a while?” Sonya assured her...

“I have no doubt you can...” Rhonda answered, turning to go upstairs.

Alone again, Sonya turned back to her paperwork and muttered an obscenity. She was jealous and she knew it.

But that was not why she cursed. And she also knew why too.

‘Trainee’ Constable Sonya L’Estrange knew that she was being foolish – she’d been caught giving Sergeant Chris Matthews a ‘blow job’ by ‘Trainee’ Constable Diana Lawson, and Senior Constable ‘Johnno’ Johnstone had been telling everybody that he’d been ‘fucking’ her most nights.

And, she’d also been ‘fucked’ by several times by both Sergeant Chris Matthews and Senior Constable ‘Lucky Phil’ O’Donoghue too. SDo if anything, she felt ashamed and humiliated by what she had done.

What made it even harder, was that she knew it was wrong – Sonya knew that she was trying to please everybody and gain acceptance, but if anything, it had resulted in her utter humiliation and had the complete opposite effect on her standing at ‘The Heights’ and within the Victoria Police.

Less than five minutes later, the ‘Officer in Charge’ of the ‘Women Police’ Division had come through the back door.

Sonya had seen their Holden ‘Gemini’ coupe pass by the window of the Watchousekeeper’s Office – with the aroma of freshly percolating coffee teasing at her, the ‘trainee’ had watched ‘Johnno’ and Diana leave just before the ‘Women Police’ had arrived. That had been a relief.

Sergeant Bernadette Woodville had been followed by Constable Anna D’Constanzo and Senior Constable Desiree Blake.

However, the three policewomen had all but ignored Sonya as they headed upstairs to the ‘Women Police’ Office.

Sonya knew that they’d heard of what had happened with both Sergeant Chris Matthews and Senior Constable ‘Johnno’ Johnston, so she assumed they weren’t too happy with her...?

She uttered a muffled sigh. But she couldn’t hep but think on how she enjoyed ‘sex’ as well.

Upstairs, she could hear Rhonda sharing a joke with ‘Juicy Lucy’ in the kitchen.

She had considered applying for a transfer to the ‘Women Police’ upstairs at the end of her ‘secondment’ to the ‘Uniform Branch’ in a month’s time. There were two vacancies available. And, she’d even typed up an application form with the help of Sergeant Geoff Robertson. Not all the policemen treated her with contempt.

Sonya had no idea that Diana had done the same though...?

Not that she would’ve minded if she had known - though there was still the matter of what Diana had caught her doing with Chris a week earlier...?

All of the policewomen were now in the newer uniform.

But it had taken Sonya almost a minute to realize it. It had been the first time they had.

Alone with her thoughts, she stared out the window at the cells by the back fence in silence.

“S-Sonya...?” a familiar voice called.

Constable Rhonda Hamilton appeared in the doorway between the foyer and Watchousekeeper’s Office...

“Is everything okay...?” she asked.

Sonya smiled sheepishly.

“Here’s your coffee...” continued Rhonda as joined the ‘trainee’ policewoman,

“I must’ve been miles away, Butch...” Sonya confessed – she bit her lip.

Rhonda hesitated.

Several days earlier on the night shift, she’d inadvertently walked in on Sonya and Sergeant Chris Matthews - the ‘trainee’ policewoman giving the policeman an impromptu ‘blow job’ in the Muster Room, but she’d not said anything.

And as far as Sonya knew, it had only been Diana who’d caught her performing fellatio on the middle-aged policeman that night,

“I shouldn’t have said that, Rhonda?”