we’d walk out with a letter of recommendation and a list of local
high-net-worth individuals for my dad to solicit. He just had that way
about him. Everyone liked him. Until they lost their money. And we
always lost what little we had too. Dad was a stickler about that. His
money went in too. He was actually very honest.”
“You sound like you still miss him.”
“I do,” she said proudly. “He named me Faith because he said with
Faith beside him, how could he ever fail?” On this Faith closed her
eyes, tears trickling down her cheeks.
Lee pulled a napkin out of the holder and slipped it into her hand. She
wiped her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ve never really talked about this with
anyone before.”
“It’s okay, Faith. I’m a good listener.”
“I found my dad again in Danny,” she said, clearing her throat, her
eyes wide. “He has the same way about him. The pluck of the
Irishman.
He can talk his way into seeing anybody. Knows every angle, every
issue. Refuses to back down from anyone. He’s taught me a lot. And
not just about lobbying. About life. He didn’t have it easy growing
up either. We had a lot in common.”
Lee smiled. “So from scams with your dad to lobbying in D.C.?”
“And some would say my job description hasn’t changed.” Faith smiled
at her own remark.
“And some would say that the nut didn’t fall far from the tree.”
She bit into her bagel. “Since were into true confessions, how about
your family?”
Lee settled back. “Four of each. I’m number six.”
“God! Eight kids. Your mother must be a saint.”
“We gave them both enough heartache to last ten lifetimes.”
“So they’re both still around.”
“Going strong. We’re all pretty close now, although we had some rough
times growing up. Good support groups when things go haywire. Help’s
only a phone call away. Usually, that is. Not this time, though.”
“That sounds nice. Real nice.” Faith looked away.
Lee eyed her keenly, easily reading her thoughts. “Families have their
problems too, Faith. Divorces, serious illnesses, depression, hard
times, we’ve seen it all. I have to say sometimes I’d rather be an
only child.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” she said with authority. “You might think you
would, but trust me, you wouldn’t.”
“I do.”
She looked confused. “You do what?”
“Trust you.”
She said slowly, “You know, for a paranoid PI, you sure make friends
fast. I could be a mass murderer, for all you know.”
“If you were really bad, the Feds would’ve had you in custody.”
She put down her coffee and leaned toward him, her expression very
serious. “I appreciate the observation. But just so were very clear
on this, I’ve never physically harmed even an ant in my entire life,
and I still don’t consider myself a criminal, but I guess if the FBI
wanted to put me in jail, they could. Just so were clear,” she said
again. “Now, you still want to get on that plane with me?”
“Absolutely. You’ve really got my curiosity up now.”
She sighed and sat back, glancing down the terminal’s corridor. “Don’t
look now, but here come a pair who look an awful lot like the FBI.”
“Seriously?”
“Unlike. you, I wouldn’t even attempt to joke about something like
that.” She bent over and fiddled with something in her bag. After a
few anxious moments, she sat back up as the pair passed by without
looking at them.
“Lee, depending on what they’ve found out, they may be looking for a
man and a woman. Why don’t you stay here while I go buy the tickets?
I’ll meet you at the security gate.”
Lee looked uncertain. “Let me think about that.”
“I thought you said you trusted me.”
“I do.” For a moment he envisioned Faith’s dad standing in front of
him, asking for money. And damn if Lee wasn’t reaching in his pocket
for his wallet.
“But even trust has its limits, right? I tell you what, you keep the
bags. I need to take my purse. If you’re really worried, you have a
clear view of the security entrance from here. If I try to give you