In this story, set in suburban Melbourne, I've introduced two fresh characters, and older woman, Lamara and a younger woman, Lisa. Without giving anything away, the career criminal mentioned in the story is fictional but inspired by characters out of the series Underbelly. I felt it lent a grittier feel to the story but I didn't want to take it too far in that direction.
The first time I met Lamara it was in an office environment, she was the case worker for a young woman who'd been picked up by the uniformed branch for street walking. Whilst prostitution is legal in some Australian states, sex workers need to be registered and either work for a massage parlour or be employed by an escort agency. Mylene had gone full freelance to pay for her drug habit and it was her intoxication that led two uniformed officers to pull her up for a random drug test.
She failed the drug test in spectacular fashion when she lost her balance and wound up on the pavement, it was then the officers saw the brutal scars on her wrist where she'd attempted suicide. When they went through the shopping bag they found baby formula and some tinned baby food, which had been stolen from a supermarket. Calls were made and two more officers arranged to meet Lamara at the flat in Beaconsfield Parade.
"She's in a bad way," Lamara eyed me over the rim of her coffee cup, "but we're hoping that with some timely intervention she might just make a clean break of it, but I'm curious as to why you're here?"
Her eyes dropped to the report in front of her.
"She did steal baby formula and tinned food, but it hardly warrants a visit from the Major Crimes division," her eyes shifted to me, "is she a friend? Or are you doing someone a favour?"
"Neither," I shifted in my seat, "but the last time she appeared on the radar was when the police questioned this man," I tapped my tablet and placed it on the desk.
"Barrows is suspected for the murder of two rival drug dealers and he's also involved in a major ice distribution network."
"I've seen the face once or twice," she replied, "but what's Mylene doing with this character? He's a bit above her pay grade if you know what I mean."
"He has a habit of keeping a younger woman around who can carry things for him that he'd like to keep hidden from the police, like drugs and guns."
"I see," Lamara fiddled with the brooch at her throat, "and you'd like to question her? What makes you think she'll talk?"
"That's why I'm here," I replied, "she's obviously in a bad way and while I'm under pressure to find a weak point I don't want to push her over the edge. The department has come under a bit of fire lately for the way we've handled investigations in the recent and not so recent past."
Lamara looked up as someone knocked on the door and a frown creased her brow as the door opened.
"Lamara? The deputy wants to see you."
"Tell her I'm busy," she looked pensive.
"I told her that," the woman advanced into the room, "she said it'd take five minutes."
Lamara sat back in her seat and let out an audible groan.
"I can come back if you like," I offered.
She seemed to consider this for a few moments before shaking her head.
"Stay," her eyes shifted to the assistant, "Heidi, will you bring Detective Constable Anderson a coffee or tea?"
"Coffee," I replied, "black and strong."
"Like your men?" Lamara's eyes twinkled.
"More like my women," I grimaced.
She shot me a cheeky grin as she rose from her seat.
"To each their own," she tucked the cream-coloured blouse further into her skirt, "I'll be back in five minutes," she clicked the mouse to lock the screen, "I'm really sorry about this."
I wasn't sorry. To tell the truth I was quite enjoying sitting in Lamara's office. She'd been one of our main liaisons between Victoria Police and the people we were interested in. My superiors were a good deal older than I and they could recall times when a good kicking would get results, but with human rights high on the agenda and the press ready to record every misstep even they'd started checking with the Department of Social Services. Usually it was one of the boys who dropped in to see Lamara or someone else on her pay grade but I'd drawn the short straw and I was counting my lucky stars.
Lamara was a fully qualified psychologist, she'd initially started with psychiatry when she was younger, only moving into psychology later in life. As well as English she spoke Spanish, German and French, and just recently she'd enrolled in a Russian language course. Lamara was forty two with a generous mane of blonde hair that fell to her shoulderblades. Her eyes were green and she had an aquiline-shaped face and slim figure and the guys at the station frequently commented on her impeccable dress sense. This was the first time I'd met her and I couldn't help but agree with their assessment.
The cream-coloured blouse had an embroidered placket, the embroidery consisted of flowers and leaves, the brooch was also shaped like a flower. The garment was tucked into a pencil skirt that extended past her knees, shiny white stockings matched the colour of the blouse. My attire was definitely more utilitarian, a grey trouser suit and black top. I'm twenty seven years old with a healthy head of dark brown hair. I have a squarish chin and I've always thought my brown eyes too far apart.
"I won't be long," she nodded at me, "the goddess is calling."
I smiled at the title, the goddess was the other name for Dr. Paulson, the deputy head of her department, those of us who'd been on the other side of the line to her had other more colourful names. Thus her use of that title was somewhat telling. I was left to my own devices, more or less and because I hate sitting on my arse I got up to examine the office. Once a cop, always a cop, I've gone back to a woman's house for a one night stand and never fail to examine her book collection, DVD collection, pictures and other things out on display.
Heidi brought me a cup of coffee about then and left me to my inspection, such as it was. Lamara's office was pretty standard, she was fortunate because she at least had her own office with its own lock, others below her pay grade had to share an office with their colleagues but she was a few grades below Dr. Paulson. She had a doctorate in psychiatry and psychology along with several other degrees, one of which was in the field of Personal Relationships. I was still pondering what that was all about as I stood in front of a framed portrait of Lamara from quite a few years ago judging by the longer hair and youthful look. She was wearing a black graduation gown over a white blouse, she had a plasterboard hat on and was holding a rolled up piece of paper.
"I was much younger then," Lamara spoke up suddenly.
I turned around suddenly, she must have crept up on me and then I recalled she'd not worn her shoes when she left the office, it was one of those things you don't see unless you're looking for it, I'm a cop I should know these things.
"I was twenty two when I graduated the first time," she advanced further into the office, "eighteen months later I was married and trying to work my way through a doctorate degree in psychiatry, eventually something had to give. Thank God it was my marriage and not my academic career," she moved past me and sat down in the chair.
"What was Personal Relationships?" I sat down again.
"Sex therapy," she cracked a sly grin, "a very entertaining course, my lecturer was one of those try anything types and there were a few students who tried to swing a leg over."
"And did you?"
"That's classified," she typed in her password to unlock the screen, "right, where were we?"
"Mylene," I replied, "we need to ask her a few questions."
"And what protection will you provide her?"
"That all depends on the information she provides us?"
"I'll make this easy for you," she leaned on her elbows, "my primary concern is the care and protection of anyone who is referred to us. We don't discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex or even legal status. I've had people from Border Control in here on their hands and knees begging me to give them information and I've sent them away on their hands and knees. You want to pull a fast one over me you'd better be early out of bed," she leaned back and folded her arms.
"So, now that we've laid out the rules, what protection will you give Mylene? Assuming she even wants to talk to you about anything."
I hesitated before replying.
