Her words seemed to echo off the walls of the small meeting room, all eyes on her as her soft voice spoke the carefully rehearsed lines.

"I swear that I will support the Regeringen , and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the country of Sweden and support the Constitution and laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prejudice, execute the office of Polisen according to the Constitution and laws of Sweden."

She could see her father trying not to tear up from his spot near beside her as she spoke. He had waited longer for this moment than she had, the day his daughter would follow in his steps and become a detective. His steps were large ones to follow behind. They always had been to Linda. She remembered hopping to and from each of them as they combed the beach together when she was a child, two of hers to fill one of his. So many expectations and assumptions already placed on her young shoulders.

She was the Chief Inspector's daughter. The prodigy of a hero many times over. She looked to him; her blue eyes meeting his own teary gaze, so full of pride for the woman his daughter had become. It had been a long journey to this place for the 22 year old, pitted with many personal battles, each one leading her closer to this moment.

"I present to you Detective Linda Wallander"

She gingerly ran her hands over the engraved ridges of the badge she held. All the worry and anxiety slowly dissipating as she signed the documents that would grant her the privilege to carry a weapon. She smiled at her father; the man beaming with pride, and turned to face the exited cheers and applause of the Ystad police station as the welcomed their newest detective to the homicide division.