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nutritious, but the chicken place was convenient and cheap, which pretty much checked every box on my must-have for life at the moment.
    Danny flipped channels to find his favorite cartoons. I tuned it out and thought about Sergeant Reams’s advice in the locker room. Truth was, as much as I wanted to deny that women were still required to fall into such narrow categories in order to succeed, I’d seen the dynamics at play over and over again at the academy and in the real world. So the question was, did I want to fight against the system or try to figure out how to work inside it?
    It didn’t take me much thinking to realize that the latter choice was better. In addition to being a woman, I also had the whole Adept thing working against me. A lot of cops were suspicious of people born with the ability to work magic. It went beyond the typical prejudices against Adepts because in police work, evidence gathered through Arcane means wasn’t admissible in court. Still, a lot of Mundane cops saw their Adept counterparts as people who cheated the system to close cases. That’s why most Adepts in law enforcement went the CSI route instead.
    So really, I had no choice but to try to play within the boundaries of the system. When Reams referred to the dyke stereotype, she wasn’t really talking about sexual preference so much as an attitude. But I wasn’t sure I could butch it up convincingly enough to fit in. That left two choices: slut or bitch. While the slut thing sounded fun, I wasn’t exactly a vixen. Nor was I willing to use sex to gain favor in the department. That meant that, by default, I was going to have to be the bitch.
    If you asked any of my classmates from the academy, they’d probably tell you I already had it down pat. After growing up in one of the covens, I certainly understood how to employ swagger and a few choice words to shut down anyone who stepped up to me. Still, I wished it were okay not to have to play any role. I just wanted to be me.
    I sighed and poked at my food.
    â€œHey, Katie?”
    I looked over at my little brother. He had a smear of grease on his cheek, and his shaggy hair was in desperate need of a cut. “What’s up?”
    â€œCan I have your biscuit?”
    â€œSure.”
    He snatched it off my plate like an experienced pickpocket. I shook my head at him with a smile.
    My phone rang over on the counter. I hopped up to grab it. “Turn down the volume, buddy.” He grabbed the remote and pressed the button, but left a grease slick in his wake.
    I grabbed the phone on the third ring.
    â€œI’m trying to reach Kate Prospero,” said a male voice.
    â€œThis is she.”
    â€œIt’s Bill Tanner,” he said, “you applied to rent my house on Maple Avenue?”
    â€œOh, this is her.” My stomach sank. In my head I was already hearing him tell me we didn’t get the place.
    â€œI was just calling to let you know the place is yours.”
    â€œThat’s too bad—” I froze as his words sunk in. “Wait, we got it?”
    â€œBaba recommended you highly.”
    â€œShe did? I mean, that’s great!” My right hand shot into the air and I did a little victory dance.
    â€œWhen will you be able to move in?”
    I paused and thought about it. My lease had been up a couple of months earlier so I was paying month-to-month until I could find a place. “Actually, I could move in as early as next weekend.” Even as I said the words, I couldn’t believe this was really happening.
    â€œThat’ll be fine. I’ll be out of town on a business trip, but I can leave the lease for you to sign and the keys with Baba.”
    â€œPerfect,” I said. “I’m really excited. Thank you, Mr. Tanner.”
    â€œDon’t thank me—thank Baba. She convinced me to give you a chance.”
    I paused. “That was generous of her.”
    He grunted. “Just pay your