Chapter 34

Rowan's hands shook a bit as she buttoned up the new uniform shirt. The starched fabric scraped against her skin, reminding her that this was a beginning. One where she'd be starting over in nearly every sense of the word. The newest officer on a tiny force. The only woman. It was imperative she make a good impression.

So she'd shined her shoes to a mirror gleam and put creases in her navy pants sharp enough to cut. Her hair was pulled back in a severe bun that added a few years to the face she knew still looked young, despite the college degree and six years of experience on the job. Her new badge rode proud above her left breast. As a last step, she slipped on her duty belt. The familiar weight of it settled around her hips, a welcome anchor as she stepped into uncharted waters.