“Yeah, but if you’ve never had dim sum, it’s not the same.”
“You have to admit this place doesn’t look like much from the outside.” Nicole looked around pointedly at the bucket swivel chairs, the Formica tables, and the two surly waiters yelling at each other across the room in what might have been Cantonese.
“I think it’s the perfect place for the Triple Threat Club to meet,” Allison said. “It symbolizes that we need to be open to trying new things. And,” she added, “that life is full of delicious, mysterious morsels.”
As she spoke, women piloting silver carts piled high with tiny plates circled the tables, calling out the names of their wares.
“Hum bao!”
“Pork shu mai!”
“Ha gow!”
Allison and Cassidy immediately pointed at four or five plates. At first, Nicole tried to ask questions about each dish, but since none of the servers seemed to speak English as a first language—or even a second or third—she soon followed their lead.
Since she couldn’t use her right hand, the waiter brought her a fork. It only took about three or four bites before she said, “Okay, okay, I take it back. You come here for the food.” Speaking around a mouthful of shrimp dumpling, she asked Allison, “So how are you doing?”
Allison could feel both her friends regarding her closely. “It’s a bit of a roller coaster. Killing someone sure isn’t like shooting holes in a target. But I’ve been going to my pastor, and he’s been talking through it with me. It turns out he’s a Vietnam vet. He’s helping me understand there’s no burden too heavy for me to carry. Not with God’s help.”
She felt a little self-conscious being so open about her beliefs, but instead of being sarcastic or snarky, the other two women regarded her thoughtfully.
Allison pointed her chopsticks at Cassidy. “How about you? Have you decided which offer to take? Boston? LA?”
Cassidy sat back, a private smile playing about her face. “Actually, I’ve decided to stay in Portland. The ratings have been so high that Channel Four made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. The only other news I have is that I went back to the shelter, and they helped me decide to press charges against Rick. It might not work, given that he is employed by the very organization that’s in charge of investigating him. But I hear he’s running scared. And if nothing else, it will give them a heads-up in case he ever tries it with another woman. As a result, I’ve officially sworn off men.” She leaned toward Nicole and mimed a leer. “But women, however . . .”
With a laugh, Nicole pushed her back. “You’re too late.”
It was hard to startle Cassidy, but this news did it. “What do you mean?”
“I actually went out with someone last weekend.” Nicole smiled a Cheshire grin. “I’m not sure I would even call it a date. Let’s just say he’s a friend. But I’m not answering any questions about who, why, what, or how.”
Allison lifted her cup of tea. “This calls for a toast. To Nicole, for taking the plunge.”
Nicole clinked her cup against Allison’s and then Cassidy’s. “And to Cassidy for being smart enough to get out of the pool.” She looked at Allison. “And to Allison for saving my life—and creating a new life. And to the Triple Threat Club, for living up to its name.”
“And to the memory of Katie Converse,” Allison said.
“To Katie,” they all echoed solemnly and raised their cups to their lips.
READING GROUP GUIDE
1. At its heart, Face of Betrayal is about three friends who love each other—and their work. Do you have any friendships like that?
2. When the book opens, the man Allison prosecuted for hiring someone to kill his wife is sentenced. He had hired a hit man to kill his wife. Should hiring a hit man carry the same penalty as committing murder yourself?
3. When Katie disappears, her parents work to get attention from the media and law enforcement. Do you think that if a girl disappeared who wasn’t white or upper class, or whose parents weren’t as savvy, the case would get as much media attention? If not, is there anything that can be done about it?
4. Allison has been trying for two years to get pregnant. Do you know people who have struggled with infertility?
5. Nicole works with the FBI’s Innocent Images to catch online pedophiles. Do you think the Internet has led to an increase in the number of pedophiles, or that it has simply given them new tools?
6. Cassidy is a spiritual seeker. Do you know women like her?
7. Katie’s parents were unaware of her MySpace page. If you have kids, do you let them have a MySpace or Facebook page? Do you monitor it? Why or why not? Is it snooping for parents to look through their kids’ e-mails? Is it any different than reading letters that they get in the mail?