POWER

Chapter Twelve

Her fingers trembled as Faith put her heels on and contoured her cheeks. The nerves were beginning to set in. It was her first day in Cook County Office. Taylor would also be starting at her new school and Joseph at his new job. He was starting with a local law firm to work in contract law. Kendall had an extra week until her classes begun so she decided to stay at her parent's home until nearer to the time.

Hoping to make a good first impression in her new job (and knowing the press would be waiting for her), Faith finished off her make-up and rushed down to her kitchen to meet her husband and daughters for breakfast. ''Morning hun, coffee?'' greeted Joseph, who was already in a suit and tie. He poured his wife her usual vanilla latte and they made simple small talk. It wasn't much but Faith was starting to feel as if her family and private life was returning back to normal.

''Mom can we leave? It's already twenty past eight.'' Taylor was and had been acting calm all morning but her mother could tell she was anxious.                                                                                                                           ''Sure, let's go.'' She quickly finished her coffee and Faith and Taylor got into the car.                                       ''Mom why can't I have a private tutor?'' Taylor was not a shy person. She was confident, often arrogant. Yet Taylor was nervous, terrified and feeling extremely out of her comfort zone.                             '' You'll be fine. It's a private school so there's not exactly hundreds of students for you to be around. Private tutoring tuition would be twice as much money than what we're paying now.''                                   '' Mom you're the States Attorney! You make more money than...''                                                                            '' Than who? Honey, you father makes more than I do, it's not the best paying job in the world. And we're paying for Kendall's college tuition and financing the campaign. Taylor, you will be fine in the school.'' Faith kissed her daughter's forehead and watched her walk into her new school. The building was large and the teachers taught to the highest of standards, Taylor would be receiving the best education available. She continued to join the rest of the early traffic with all the other commuters commuting to begin their day.

'Faith, good, you're right on time. This is Khloe. She worked as an ASA for your predecessor Lisa Madigan. Khloe will bring you up to speed with any of your on-going cases. I suggest you give it some time here before making any firing-hiring decisions. There needs to be a separation between the legal and the political but I will be nearby if you have any concerns and Leslie has an office around the corner.'' Faith nodded and Jason took her silence to mean : 'Leave.' So he did. Faith didn't like Jason, but she knew she needed him to win any future elections.

Khloe was young, Faith didn't think she could be much older than thirty, just slightly older than Leslie. Yet she seemed much more sophisticated and experienced. She was tall and beautiful with dark hair pinned up in a bun and her tanned skin perfectly highlighted.

''Your first case is a fraud suit'' Khloe informed her, handing Faith all the necessary folders and documents. ''A Chicago business man who goes by the name of Frank Pine.'' Faith looked at the mugshot, he looked like any other business man : suit, tie etc. ''Pine removed approximately $400,000 from a client's bank account and tried to cover it up by paying it back but her was $127,050 short.'' Mrs Moore took a moment to look over the facts before returning to the conversation.                                           '' What was Madigan's strategy?''                                                                                                                                               '' She wanted to go to trial but it's your first case and he's willing to plea if the deals reasonable, it might not be a bad idea.'' Khloe grinned and rose from her seat to leave. Khloe liked Lisa. She did not like Faith Moore. '' Oh and by the way - the crime labs are back-logged. We need to be able to access DNA test results. Work on that? Thanks.'' Faith rolled her eyes. She was no longer being polite. The morning was spent preparing for negotiations with Pine's lawyers and Faith was being introduced to the other ASAs in Cook County.

''Mrs Moore, can I start by congratulating you.'' The opposition's council was a middle-aged lawyer named Will Cox who was known for getting low plea deals by charming other lawyers.                                  '' Four years, minimum security.''                                                                                                                                             '' Straight into it are we? No small talk?'' He laughed, but Faith wasn't about to be fooled. ''Listen, Faith. Probation, no jail time.''

For such a simple case, the negotiations dragged on for three hours. Three hours of Faith and Will, some very wishful lawyers and some very sassy comments.                                                                     

''Do we need to take a break for lunch?'' Faith asked, finding herself enjoying her new job.                           '' No, I think we can settle this first.'' Cox had lost his flirty attitude and had been treating Faith like the able prosecutor she was. After much deliberations and many cups of coffee they settled and Frank Pine pled guilty and was sanctioned to spend thirty months in minimum security, County jail.

''Not bad for your first day. Only a year off your original offer.'' Khloe entered the office as Faith was getting ready to leave.                                                                                                                                                                    '' Thanks. I was willing to take twelve months.'' Khloe laughed, maybe they had more in common than she thought they did.

Faith walked down to the parking lot to unlock her car and drive home. It was dark outside but the journey home quite enjoyable as Faith felt happy to be back at work. Not campaigning, not public speaking - office work, legal work. She didn't think she'd miss it, Faith was sure she was meant for politics. But she was having second thought on the Presidential Election.

''Hey, your up late.'' Faith arrived home to find her husband still awake and standing in their kitchen.   '' Yeah, I wanted us to talk.''                                                                                                                                                         '' Okay, let's talk.''                                                                                                                                                                             What started as a conversation soon turned into a very loud, heated discussion, most of the shouting coming from Joseph. The conversation started off about their daughter Taylor's education and then turned into an argument about their marriage.

''I need to know something'' he said, and Faith felt as though she needed to be guarded.

''Faith, are you sleeping with Jason?''