Ritual
an excerpt

The police station looked more like a threat than somewhere safe as I stepped towards the door. My hand shook as I reached for the handle, and I readjusted my light blue name tag, proclaiming my name and rank: Alexia Bates, Constable, beside the New South Wales coat of arms that was also on the sleeve of my shirt. The dark brick building sat squatly beside a concrete car park of personal, uniform and detective’s cars. It was my first day at Pyrmont-Ultimo Police Station in Sydney, but it felt like my last. I flicked open my file to check the date was right: third of September, 2004, start at Pyrmont-Ultimo Police Station, meeting with Sergeant Helen Tucker. Righto.