Faces of Fear Read Free Page B

when she finally did, she still hung back so her face was deep in shadow.
    Clearly, Margot Dunn wished she were elsewhere, and was eager for the evening to be over. Risa couldn't blame her. As far as she knew, this was the first time Margot had been out in public since the accident a year ago, which had received far more publicity than Risa thought it deserved. Still, she, along with everyone else, was finding it hard not to stare at Margot's scars, and as she and Lexie moved away from her toward the dessert table, Risa heard one woman whisper to another, loud enough to be heard by everyone within twenty feet, "Did you see those horrible gouges in Margot's face?"
    "There's Mitchell Hawthorne," Lexie said, dropping half the chocolate truffle she'd been nibbling onto the table. "You should meet him. He's in the industry." She took Risa's elbow and began steering her through the crowd. "Absolutely tons of money," she whispered, bringing her lips close to Risa's ear, "and living in a terrible piece of crap out in the Valley."
    Risa winced at Lexie's habitual crude directness. "Always happy to meet a potential new client," she said, following her friend to a tall, silver-haired man holding a glass of champagne and speaking with two other men, one of whom had a familiar face.
    Like the two women who had brushed by Risa a few moments ago, the men were talking about Margot's scars. "Frankly, I don't see how she can show herself in public," the silver-haired man said as Lexie reached out and took his arm to draw him around.
    "Mitchell," she said, greeting him with a warm hug. "I want you to meet Risa Shaw. When you decide it's time to buy something decent to live in, she's the one to call."
    Risa took Mitchell Hawthorne's extended hand, but before she could say a word, one of his friends cut in.
    "Christ, Lexie," the familiar face—who turned out to be a minor TV actor—said. "What was Conrad Dunn thinking, letting Margot show that gargoyle of a face tonight? Who'd want to contribute after seeing her? If I were him, I'd lock her up where no one could ever see her again."
    Risa glanced nervously around, hoping Margot Dunn was nowhere in the area, but as she scanned the crowd she realized that it wouldn't matter where Margot was; everywhere she looked, she could see people whispering to each other, then looking guiltily toward the Dunns, obviously hoping they weren't overheard. After forcing herself to chat a moment longer with the three men—and pocketing three business cards—Risa aimed Lexie toward the ladies' room. There, at least, she might not have to overhear any more talk about their hostess.
    As they passed the bar, they saw Corinne Dunn standing alone, sipping a martini. "You make a terrific emcee," Risa said, pausing to introduce herself and Lexie.
    Corinne smiled warmly. "I can't tell you how gratifying it is to see all these children go on to lead normal lives," she said. "You'd be amazed at how many of them stay in touch with us for years afterward."
    "It's a wonderful thing the foundation does," Risa said, then followed Lexie into the ladies' room, where her friend bared her teeth in front of the mirror to make sure not a fleck of anything was marring their whiteness.
    "Boy," Lexie said as she fished in her bag for her lipstick. "This is the place to schmooze the rich and famous, isn't it?"
    "It's an admirable charity," Risa observed archly, even though she knew at least half the people in attendance were there for exactly the reason Lexie had just stated. "But I'm worried about Margot. She doesn't look well."
    "I wonder why her husband hasn't fixed those appalling scars yet?" Lexie said. "Everybody—and I mean everybody —is talking about it."
    "I'm sure he will," Risa replied in a tone that clearly told Lexie she didn't want to talk about it anymore.
    As usual, Lexie ignored her tone. "I mean, how long has it been? A year? Don't you think he would have done something by now if he could have?"
    "I don't know," Risa