The doorbell rang with a two-toned pitch, echoing across the living area beyond to alert the occupants inside. Within the minute, the door swung open. Still attached to the handle, Casey Reynolds grinned broadly at her visitor. Her bubbly features were alive, highlighting the dimples in the corners of her mouth. Thick blonde hair hung in a natural wave, not quite long enough to reach her shoulders. The glint in her eyes sparkled. 

      “Billie, hi. You’re late.” The words rolled out in a rush, the last two injected with a hardened tone. 

     Detective McCoy took no offence to the manner in which she was greeted. It was a common occurrence, one she was well used to. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. I was caught up. I bring gifts,” she said on a hopeful smile, holding up a six pack of beer and a bottle of wine. 

      Casey glanced at them. “Sure, any likely story. Trying to buy your way in, huh?”

      “Definitely.”

      “And as usual, it’s working.” Casey flashed a warm smile and stepped back in an invitation to enter. 

      “I wasn’t sure whether I’d still be welcome being so late.”         

      “Late? More like very late. You’re just lucky your hands are full.” She closed the door after Billie stepped inside. Her smile widened, expressing her eagerness. “Jill’s out the back with Sarah and Jane. They are getting on like a house on fire.”

      Billie nodded. “Good. So they haven’t noticed I’m running late then.” 

      Sarah Jones and Jane Walker made up the other half of the close-knit group. Like them, Billie was here to meet Casey’s cousin, Jill Kuzac. Casey hadn’t heard from her in years, and out of the blue, she’d turned up on her doorstep a few days ago.

      “Ha, maybe not, but only because Jill has kept them entertained, which is fortunate for you.” 

      Billie smiled. “Exactly my point.”

      “That does not get you off the hook. You are still overly late.” 

      “Hey, I said I was sorry.”

      “Keep crawling.” 

      She grinned. “That’s as far as it goes. I did have legit reasons, you know.”

      “Sure you did.” Casey’s smile faded. She drifted into a pensive stare while locked in the cop’s gaze. “Billie, before we go out the back, could I ask a big favour of you?”

      “Sure, shoot.”

      “Well, like me, Jill’s done a bit of time inside, but she’s clean now,” she hurriedly added. “It was a long time ago. The thing is, I thought it might make it easier for her, and you, as long as you don’t mind, that, well…”

      “We don’t tell her I’m a cop,” Billie finished for her. Even though her tone had hardened somewhat, a faint smile played on her lips, wiping away any offence. Casey stared soberly while considering her reaction. 

      “Well yeah. You know how it is? You tend to have a thing about cops after being in prison.”

      “Ah huh. You’re not worried I’ll ruin your reputation, are you?”

      “Ha, it’s a bit late for that. That blew off in the wind months ago. You know damn well I’ve lost a lot of friends because of you.”

      “You call them friends?” Billie knew these ‘friends’ were nothing to lose sleep over. Most of them were pimps or prostitutes Casey never wanted to see again from a life she’d buried for good. It was the same for Sarah who’d also been into prostitution. Although Jane hadn’t gone down that road, her background wasn’t much better. She’d fallen in with the wrong people who’d coaxed her into delivering drugs for a healthy pay packet. She’d been living day by day without any future in sight. 

      The four girls had only been friends for a few months. It was a friendship none of them had foreseen, not when their lifestyles were so different. It only came about after they’d had to rely on each other to survive a life-threatening ordeal when they’d been kidnapped by a bent cop and transported to far north Queensland to be sold as slaves. As terrifying as that was in itself, Billie also had to deal with being locked in the back of a truck with these ex-criminals. At the time, Casey, Sarah and Jane were fresh out of prison, along with three other women. They hated cops, which led to many physical and verbal clashes. In the end, the foreboding situation forced them to work together. A formidable bond formed, one that united the four as the closest of friends. With Billie’s help, Casey, Jane and Sarah had taken up their dream jobs on the right side of the law. They’d learnt to appreciate life. It hadn’t been long before word had spread through the streets how a cop had lured Casey and Sarah away from their ‘night worker’ careers and turned them soft. Although they’d never had any regrets, it was a line of ammunition they often threw at the detective as a dig to subtly express their gratitude. 

      “Come on, give me a break,” Casey said. “It’s only until she gets to know you better. I mean, look how we reacted when we first met you.”

      “Yeah, how could I forget.” Billie was enjoying herself. She could tell Casey was sweating on her answer, imploring her to commit to her conditions. Their first meeting was still quite vivid in the detective’s mind. Casey, Sarah and the other three women had taken her on in a fight. Five against one, it had been one hell of a battle. Billie’s only advantage was her competent ability in self-defence.

      The detective finally put her friend out of her misery. “Okay, we’ll play it your way.”

      Casey blew out a relieved breath. “You mean that?”

      “Sure, for now.”

      The blasé answer fired Casey’s guard. “For now? Are you kidding? Come on, that’s not good enough. I need more than—”

      “Hey, calm down, it was a joke.” Billie couldn’t contain her grin. “Relax, I won’t say a word.”

      Casey eyed her dubiously and then nodded. “Oh, you’re so funny. Okay, and thanks. Besides, I’d hate to see you get hurt.” She smiled and took the bottle of wine from her hand. “I wouldn’t put it past Jill to react the same way we did.”

      The detective nodded. “So, she’s a lot like you then.” 

      Casey chuckled. “She is my cousin, remember. We do have some similarities. I’m sure you’ll like her. Come on.” She led the detective across the lounge and out the sliding door beside the kitchen. Jane, Sarah and Jill sat relaxed on an outdoor setting in the courtyard, talking merrily with beers in hand. Jane and Sarah turned as Casey and the detective approached. Billie returned their welcoming smiles. 

       “It’s about time you got here,” Sarah teased. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

      Of the four friends, Sarah was the eldest by about a year, and also the most quick-tempered. She’d taken the longest to warm to Billie, to accept her as a friend, as well as a cop. She’d had no time for the law or its enforcers, having had too many bad experiences with bent cops during her years of working on the streets . . . but that was before Billie had stepped into her life. Her grievances had since mellowed. Taller than Billie, her height emphasised her long slender legs. She would have made the perfect model. Beneath her short black hair, clear dark eyes set off the fine yet proud facial features, displaying an air of strong will and character.

      Jane laughed and eyed Billie with a playful gaze. “So you do remember how to get here?” With a ‘girl next door’ look, her slim shapely figure enhanced her appearance with a charisma to match her friends. Her brown shoulder length hair hung loose, matching her eyes highlighted by long eyelashes. 

      Billie looked from her to Sarah. “Hey, I’ve only finished apologising to Case. I’m not going to do it to you two.”

      “And why not? Aren’t you here to grovel after us?” Sarah asked.

      Billie smiled. “You wish.”

      Casey shot forward and pulled Jill up out of the chair. “Jill, I’d like you to meet another good friend of mine, Billie McCoy.”

      Jill offered her hand. “Hi, Billie, it’s nice to finally meet you.”

      “Same here.” 

      The girls exchanged a quick handshake. Billie couldn’t see any family resemblance at all between Jill and Casey. Straight auburn hair fell below her shoulders haloing a rounded face with close-set green eyes. Carrying a heavier build than Casey, Billie guessed her to be a few years older. 

      Jill smiled. “Casey’s told me all about you.”

      “All?” The detective shot Casey a mischievous look. Casey met her eye, narrowing hers in warning. Billie smiled, subtly taking the hint. She turned back to Jill. “All good I hope.”

      “Well most of it,” Casey said.

      “More like part of it,” Sarah cut in. She turned to Jill. “There’s not a lot to know about her good side because there’s not a lot there.” 

      Ignoring the girls’ chuckles, Billie focused on Sarah. “That’s because you’re too blind to see it.” Ripping a beer from its plastic collar, she tossed it at her. Sarah had to react quickly to catch it. “Get another of these into you and it’ll help open your eyes.”

      “Ha, if you’re prepared to keep throwing them at me, I’m prepared to give it a go. I’m sure I’ll see a whole new world.”

      “I’m sure you will.” 

      The girls settled around the table. While Billie passed the beers around, Casey flicked a switch on a post housing an external light above. A soft warm glow engulfed them. Under the dying rays of sunlight, the group slipped into easy conversations. Like her friends, Billie was keen to get to know this girl who’d unexpectedly walked into Casey’s life. 

      “Are you in town long, Jill?” she asked after one of Jill’s stories came to an end.

      “Maybe a week or so. I’m not sure. I’m sussing out jobs and stuff so I guess it depends on if I find anything I like. I had to call in and see Casey while I was here though. It’s been far too long.” She smiled at her cousin. “I can’t believe her. She’s hardly changed over the years.”

      “Man, you must have looked old when you were a kid,” Jane teased, grinning at Casey. The girls laughed.

      “Haa—haa.” Casey pulled a face. “Jill, keep the compliments coming and you can stay as long as you like. This lot wouldn’t know the first thing about good wishes.”

      Jill glanced around the smiling faces before focusing on her cousin. “Hmm, sounds like you need some backup.” 

      “At times, I tell you.”

      “I’m sure together we’ll keep them at bay.”

      “Good luck with that,” Sarah joked. 

      Giggles rippled around the table. Billie lifted her beer. 

      “Okay, let me be the first to have a go at good wishes.” She cast an affectionate look at Casey. “Here’s to a well overdue reunion. May you have many more in the not so distant future.”

      “Now that’s the best thing you’ve said all day.” Casey grinned and raised her beer. “I’ll drink to that.” 

      “Huh, you’d drink to anything.”

      “Hear, hear,” Jane and Sarah chorused before Casey could comment. They clinked their cans in the toast. Sarah smiled.

      “To Casey and Jill.” 

      And so the stories rolled on. With encouragement from Billie, Jane and Sarah, and regardless of Casey’s warnings of throwing her out and never seeing her again, Jill eagerly spilled out numerous tales about her and Casey’s childhood times together; the pranks they used to play on unsuspecting people, how they were always in trouble with their families, teachers and at times, the police. The courtyard radiated with laughter, drenched with enjoyment and good vibes from the stories Jill and Casey shared. Although Jane, Sarah and Billie contributed a few, they let Jill and Casey have the floor, and not once did any of the girls let on Billie was a cop. Somewhere between the cheerful conversations, takeaways were ordered. The easy dinner complemented the carefree gathering under the clear skies. The hours crept by. Finally the detective called it a night around eleven, inspiring Sarah and Jane to do the same. 

      “Some of us need our beauty sleep,” Billie joked as she stood, glancing at Sarah and Jane.

      “Speak for yourself,” Sarah said. 

      Billie chuckled. “I was.” 

      Jane giggled. “I’m with you, Billie. It’ll be hard getting up for work in the morning after tonight.”

      “Maybe that’s because you’re just getting old.”

      “Ha. Remember, you are older than I am. If you can handle it, I can handle it.”

      Casey chuckled and gave Billie a grin. “Looks like the challenge has been set.”

      Billie smiled. “That it does, except it won’t be tonight.” 

      Jane smiled with her. “Good. I was hoping you’d say that. It’s been a long day.” 

      “Come on, we’ll walk you out,” Casey offered. 

      “You are so kind.”

      “I know.” She slipped her arm through Jill’s. “They get a little touchy when they’re tired,” she teased. It encouraged light insults and laughter all the way to the front door. Casey pulled it open and led her guests out onto the porch. Jill looked from one to the other with a wide smile.

       “Gee, guys, it’s been a great night. It’s a pity it has to finish so early.”

      Sarah’s eyebrows shot up. “Early? Maybe for those who don’t have to work tomorrow.”

      “I know, I’m sorry. I tend to get carried away after a few drinks.” 

      “We should do it again,” Jane said.

      Jill’s face lit up in delight. “Good idea. How about Friday night? Maybe we could go out somewhere. I’d love to shout you all a drink.”

      Sarah shook her head. “You don’t have to do that.”

      “Yes she does,” Casey said in jest, grinning at Jill. Jill looked at the girls, hyped about the idea.

      “Really, I’d love to. So, how about it? Does Friday suit?” 

      Casey, Sarah and Jane exchanged glances. Nodding, they turned to Billie. She met their querying eyes while silently running through her timetable. Shrugging, she smiled at Jill.

      “Sounds good.”

      “Sure does,” Jane agreed. “Where did you have in mind?”

      Jill frowned. “I was hoping you could tell me. I don’t know my way around all that well. Any good pubs close by?”

      “How about the Grand down in the Cross,” Casey suggested. 

      Sarah nodded. “Good idea. That’ll do nicely.” She looked at Jill. “It’s not too far from here. We’ve been there a couple of times and had a nice meal.”

      Jill smiled. “I like it already.”

      “Let’s say we meet here around six-thirty for a couple of warmup drinks,” Casey said. 

      “Perfect.”

      “Looking forward to it.” Jane’s enthusiasm washed through her tone, inviting a glance from Jill. 

      “Me too.” 

      “Okay, see you then.” She turned and stepped off the porch.

      “See you, guys. Thanks for coming. It was great meeting you.”

      Billie smiled. “Bye, Jill, and don’t let Casey boss you around.”

      Casey’s eyebrows shot up. “What? Since when am I bossy?” She looked at Jill. “Don’t listen to her.”

      Jill giggled. “Even as a kid you were bossy.” 

      Casey’s eyes widened. “I was not.” 

      The girls chuckled.

      “Time to go,” Sarah cut in. “See you Friday.” 

      “Will do. Bye,” Jill replied. The girls walked to their cars. Billie, parked at the back, reversed out first. With a sharp beep on the horn, she sped off. Jill and Casey waved. Billie smiled. A warm feeling washed through her. Casey glowed in Jill’s company. They’d obviously been close as kids and it still seemed to be so now. Maybe Jill would stay in Sydney and they’d see a lot more of each other. It’d been a good night and hopefully there would be many more to follow.

 

      Casey watched her friends disappear up the street. The energised party mood still held her in its grip. She felt good. Her friends’ support in welcoming Jill soared far and beyond, as it always did. She was so glad the guys had hit it off with her cousin. She wondered if it would have been different had Jill known Billie was a cop. In time she’d tell her, providing she hung around, but tonight she relished in the fun time they’d enjoyed. A smile touched her lips. 

      “Come on, the sooner we clean up, the sooner we can get to bed.” Resting a hand on Jill’s shoulder, she steered her inside and closed the door.

      “You are so lucky,” Jill said. 

      Casey dropped her hand off her shoulder. “Lucky?”

      “Yeah, to have such great friends.”

      The words sent a warm rush through Casey’s veins. She nodded. “Let me tell you, they are the best. I think I’d be insane without them.”

      “I envy you. You’ve done so well with your life.”

      “Maybe now, but it hasn’t been easy, believe me, and it certainly didn’t go as planned. Luck played a big part in it, but hey, I’m only too happy to help you out with whatever.” 

      Jill was in between jobs and seemed lost with no direction. Casey wanted so much to help her get settled, to help find her a job, and if she could do so in Sydney, it’d be a nice bonus.

      Jill flashed a smile. “I know, and I appreciate it. Who knows, maybe some of your luck will rub off on me.” 

      Casey smiled. She slipped an arm around Jill’s waist and turned her towards the kitchen. “We can only wish. Come on, let’s clean up and hit the sack. I’m bushed.” 

      “Tell you what. How about I clean up and you get to bed.”

      “No way.”

      “Yes way. It’s the least I can do now scoot. You have work tomorrow, I don’t so I can afford to stay up. You, my girl, need your beauty sleep, now go.”

      Casey was touched. She dropped her arm. “Are you sure? I mean both of us could do it much faster and—”

      “Yes, I’m sure and no, there’s not all that much to clean up, so go, vamoose, hit the sack.”

      Casey shook her head with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Jill. You keep spoiling me like this and I could get used to it.”

      “Good. Enjoy it. Put it towards my keep.” Jill smiled affectionately and then hugged her. “It’s so good to be with you again, Case. Up until now I didn’t realise how much I’d missed you.”

      “Same here. Man, I haven’t thought about you in such a long time, and then you turn up out of the blue. It’s wonderful. Why didn’t you do it sooner?”

      “Ha, I don’t know.” Jill stepped back. “We were mad not to keep in touch.”

      “Guess our odd careers kept us apart.”

      “That they did. Down similar paths yet in opposite directions, both on the wrong side of the law, both doing well out of it.”

      “That we were.”

      “If only we’d done it together.”

      “Now that could have been dangerous.”

      “You’re not wrong. Anyway, now’s not the time to drag up the past. You look bushed. Get to bed.”

      “I’m going. Thanks for tidying up. I’ll see you in the morning.” With a flash of a grin, Casey crossed to the bedroom adjoining the lounge room. Her house wasn’t all that big, more like a two bedroom unit but it suited her needs. 

      “Sleep tight,” Jill said. 

      “You too.” She closed the door behind her.

 

      Jill blew out a breath. A stab of anxiety thumped her in the pit of the stomach. Her torn emotions haunted her yet again. As long as Casey didn’t find out about her, or why she was in Sydney, all was sweet. The last thing she wanted was to spoil what they had. Her cousin was on too much of a high being reunited with her, just as she was. She couldn’t believe how much she’d missed her.

      As kids, Casey had always looked up to her. Jill, using her older and wiser ranking to claim leadership, had led her astray many times, but they’d had a lot of fun. With their mothers locked in relationships with partners who didn’t want anything to do with them, the girls had been shunned, forced out of the house merely because they were in the way. Jill and Casey had united, supporting the other during those turbulent times. They’d sworn on a blood oath they would look after each other for evermore.

      Those days were long gone. Casey was comfortably settled, enjoying a rewarding life with good friends to share it with. Jill couldn’t hold that against her. Casey had done her time behind bars for the rogue career of auto theft and safe cracker she’d later drifted into after Jill had moved to Adelaide, and more stints during her years of prostitution. Jill knew her story. They’d had long talks over the last few days bringing each other up to date; that was, everything they wanted the other to know. Jill was quite sure Casey hadn’t held anything back, not like her, but it was better Casey didn’t know her dark secrets. It would only spoil things, and their relationship was far too good to spoil. 

      Exhaling a heavy sigh as she emerged from her reminiscent daze, she turned towards the courtyard. The sooner she cleaned up, the sooner she could get to bed.