Saving Faith By: David Baldacci

numbers and where I want the money to go. And it happens.”

“You know you can’t deposit it in Faith Lockhart’s checking account.”

“No, but I have a bank account down here under the name of SLC

Corporation.”

“And you’re a signatory as an officer?”

“Yes, as Suzanne Blake.”

“The problem is, the Feds know that name. Remember, from the

airport.”

“Do you know how many Suzanne Blakes there are in this country?” Lee

shrugged. “That’s true”

“So at least we’ll have money to live off. It won’t last us forever,

but it’s something.”

“Something is good.”

They fell silent for a bit. Faith alternated between nervously looking

at him and then out toward the ocean.

He glanced at her, having noticed her scrutiny. “What is it? Do I

have coconut pie on my chin?”

“Lee, when the money comes, you can take half and leave. You don’t

have to come with me.”

“Faith, we’ve already been through this.”

“No, we haven’t. I practically ordered you to come with me. I know it

would be difficult to go back without me, but at least you’ll have the

money to go somewhere. Look, I can even call the FBI. I’ll tell them

you had no involvement. You were just blindly helping me. And that I

gave you the slip. Then you can go back home.”

“Thanks, Faith, but let’s take it one step at a time. And I can’t

leave until I know you’re safe.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m really sure. I won’t go unless you tell me to. And then

even if you do, I’ll still stalk you, to make sure you’re okay.”

She reached out and took his arm. “Lee, I can never thank you enough

for all you’ve done for me.”

“Just consider me the big brother you never had.”

The look they shared, though, held more than sibling affection. He

looked down at the sand, trying to get his head straight. Faith looked

back out at the water. When Lee looked over at her a minute later,

Faith was moving her head from side to side and smiling.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

She stood and looked down at him. “I’m thinking that I’d like to

dance.”

He stared up at her in amazement. “Dancing? How much did you have to

drink?”

“How many nights do we have left here? Two? Three? Then it’s off to

play fugitive for the rest of our lives? Come on, Lee, last chance to

party.” She slipped off her sweater and let it fall to the sand. The

white dress had spaghetti straps. She slipped them off her shoulders,

gave him a heart-stopping wink and held out her hands for Lee to take.

“Let’s go, big boy.”

“You’re crazy, you truly are.” However, Lee gripped her hands and

stood. “Fair warning, I haven’t danced in a long time.”

“You’re a boxer, right? Your footwork is probably better than mine.

I’ll lead first, and then you take over.”

Lee took a few halting steps and dropped his hands. “This is silly,

Faith. What if somebody’s watching? They’ll think were nuts.”

She looked at him stubbornly. “I’ve spent the last fifteen years of my

life worrying about what everybody thought about everything. So right

now, I don’t give a damn about what anybody thinks about anything.”

“But we don’t even have any music.

“Hum a tune. Listen to the wind, it’ll come.”

And surprisingly it did. They started slowly at first, Lee feeling

clumsy and Faith unused to leading. Then, as they started to get more

familiar with each other’s movements, they began making wider circles

in the sand. After about ten minutes, Lee’s right hand was perched

comfortably on Faith’s hip, hers was around his waist, and their other

pair of hands were interlocked and held chest high.

Then they grew noticeably braver and started doing some spins and

twirls and other moves reminiscent of Big Band swing and Lindy hop. It

was difficult, even in the hard-packed sand, but they gave it an

inspired effort. Anyone watching would have thought them either

intoxicated or reliving their youth and having the time of their lives.

And, in a way, both observations would have been true.

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