Melbourne, March 2100. Against her better judgment, Trainee Doorkeeper Emma Cartwright returns to the Productive Citizen’s Bureau.

Emma's son Jack is on bail, pending his trial on charges of organising an illegal demonstration. Her new man, Cal, is under surveillance, and Emma struggles to maintain her role as a diligent employee. Concerned for her son, Emma learns that the trial judge has a reputation for harsh sentencing.

Summoned to the Chief Allocations Officer’s office, Emma fears her mission to discover the real purpose of the PCB has been compromised before it even began. Instead, she learns confidential information about her colleague Harie and is recruited for intelligence duties, enabling her to expand her double agent role.

But does Emma have enough strength to deal with both her personal problems and the challenges at the Productive Citizen's Bureau? Find out in Next Step, the second novel in Sue Parritt's series of dystopian novels set in early 22nd century Australia.