Fracture of Lies

Evilous

Disclaimer: Usual disclaimer, I don't own Moonlight. I do however own my original characters, hehe so I guess I do own something.

Chapter 36: First Day

Beth walked into the DA's office at 7:45am, ready to start a new chapter in her life. She made her way to Ben's office and just as she had suspected he was already there.

"Good morning," she stuck her head in the open door.

Ben looked up and smiled at her, "Beth, you're early. Come on in."

"Couldn't be late the first day."

"I'm glad you decided to take the job. Why don't you fill out all the paper work first and then you can jump right in."

"Sounds good."

Ben called down to human resources and asked them to send up the information. Before too long Beth was sitting at her new desk filling out her W4 form as well as reading all the guidelines and policies and signing the confidentiality agreement.

After she had finished and delivered the packets back to HR she went back to Ben's office knocking on his door.

"I'm finished signing my life away," she joked.

"It does seem like a lot. Why don't we go grab a coffee and I can catch you up on some of our current cases?"

"Sounds good."

Ben ordered them two coffees checking how she liked hers, black. Taking the coffees from the outdoor vendor he took a seat at a picnic table just under the shade of the trees.

"So right now we have a wide variety of crimes to choose from. Murder, attempted murder, fraud, drug dealers, prostitution, everything."

"Sounds like I will be busy."

"Yep hope St. John doesn't mind."

Beth's smile dropped and she looked down to her coffee drink.

"I didn't mean to upset you."

"Its fine just going to take some getting used too."

"Mind if I ask what happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Why don't you fill me in on my first assignment?"

Ben took the hint that the issue of St. John was still touchy. He backed off and went into telling her about the cases she would be working on.

*****

When Beth finished reviewing the cases currently under investigation she called Candice's office extension. She wanted to tell her about her new job and her decision.

"Hello," Candice answered in her ever professional tone.

"Hey, can you take lunch?"

"Beth?" Surprise filled her voice. "Yeah of course are you back already? You just left."

"Yeah I will explain everything. Can you meet me at Beijing Cafe in say 20 minutes?"

"Sounds good, I'll see you then."

20 minutes later Candice arrived to find Beth was seated in a booth in the corner. Candice noticed she was in more professional clothes, slacks and a blouse her hair pulled out of her face but still around her shoulders.

Candice took her seat, "Okay I'm here. Tell me everything."

Beth smiled at her friend then turned her attention to the waitress who just arrived. Both women placed their orders and waited for their drinks to arrive.

"So..." Candice insisted.

"I couldn't run away. Yes I needed time but no amount of time will make what I saw go away."

"Beth, Mick--"

"I saw him before I left. I know I said I didn't want to but I thought maybe seeing him would make it easier, I was wrong. I was too upset to even hear and what I did hear hurt even more."

Beth looked down playing with her silverware, unwrapping them and rewrapping them.

"I made a decision. I can't run from my life. I could go travel the world live a life of luxury with the money Josh left me but I can't. I'm not that type of sit around all day never work I'm so rich kind of person. So I took a job doing what I do best."

"Oh," Candice listened intently trying to find the best time to give Beth Mick's letter.

"We are colleagues now," Beth smiled. "I took the job Ben had offered me."

Their food arrived and the thanked their waitress and started to eat. Candice ate intently as she tried to evaluate the situation, she didn't want to seem unsupportive.

"So you're working for Ben now...doing what?"

"Investigator, I will investigate cases he needs checked out, verify facts, stuff like that."

"Sounds like a good job for you."

"Yeah, it sounds interesting" Beth laughed, "If I decide I want to retire early I can."

Candice laughed with her, it was true. Both of them could live without working, Beth more lavishly then she, but both wanted, needed to work.

"It's ironic though."

"What? Retire from the demands of civil service."

"No, that Josh tried so hard in his sick way to keep me from Mick and that only made us stronger. Now his ex is back and I'm using the money Josh took to stay away from Mick. I don't have my own place anymore; I don't even have my own bank account accept this which I never dreamed of using."

"Beth, Mick screwed up, but he never cheated on you. David went to Mick's that night and used that special talent of theirs and saw the whole thing. Coraline heard you coming and threw herself on him."

Beth didn't say much just continued eating her lunch. "He's a real wreck Beth. He came over to David's after finding the letter and...He was beyond himself."

Beth looked at her watch, "I should be getting back to the office can't slack off my first day."

"Okay but Beth," Candice reached across the table and touched her arm. "I won't bring it up again if you don't want me too. I just thought you deserved to know the truth. So this is the last I will say on he subject," Candice pulled an envelope out of her purse and handed it to Beth. "He wrote you a letter, explaining everything."

Beth took the envelope staring at it like a mysterious box left on your doorstep. She didn't make another move until Candice cleared her throat.

"Where are you staying? If you want you can crash at my place. I've was planning on going to David's anyways."

"No, I have a room but thanks." Beth smiled and paid for their lunch despite Candice's protests.

Beth stuck the envelope in her purse and pushed it deep inside not wanting to think about it. Back at the office Beth dived into doing research for her first case Talbot started her off in shallow waters with a simple fact checking expedition. Every few minutes Beth would find her attention directed at her purse, more importantly what was inside.

"Beth," Ben's voice broke through her thoughts. "Go on get out of here it's after 6."

"Oh I just wanted to finish this," she hit a few more keys. "There all these have been verified," she handed him two folders, "And the ones in the red folder I found contradictory evidence."

"Wow doing good. I thought this might take all week."

Beth just straightened the notes on her desk before moving to pick up the purse which she had worked so hard to avoid.

"Hey listen I don't know if you have plans for dinner but I'm starved and I don't feel like cooking, was just going to swing by someplace if you want to join me," he asked with a heartfelt smile.

Beth have a half smile, "Thanks Ben but I have things to do. I will probably just order room service later, but thanks again."

Beth made it out the door before Ben could ask anything else. She could tell he was trying to feel her out, in fact she was flattered. He was a good catch, smart, funny, good looking, sweet, but he was no Mick. She sighed and headed to her car she still needed to hit a couple of stores before going back to the hotel. Her clothes she bought on the way to the spa were not appropriate office ware and all her clothes were at Mick's.

Ben watched and she made her way out giving her a head start. "Room service huh," he laughed, "So St. John what did you do too make her move out?"

*****

To Be Continued…

Evilous