Read Lost Innocence: The Accused. Part One for Free Online Page A

me.”
    “ It’s
…Michael.”
    “ What’s
happened?”
    “ He’s been
arrested.”
    “ For what?” Stan rose from his stool.
    “ Beating and raping
an underage girl.”
    “ What! Who told you
this?”
    “ He did.”
    “ When?”
    “ Does that really
matter?”
    “ There must be some
mistake.”
    “ He called me from
the prison.”
    “ A Thai
prison?”
    “ Of course a Thai
prison. He’s in Thailand.”
    “ Are you sure he
wasn’t just protesting or something? People are always protesting
over there.”
    “ He told me it was a
scam.”
    “ What was a
scam?”
    “ He was sketching
prostitutes.”
    “ What!
Why?”
    “ For his
art.”
    “ And he raped one of
them?”
    “ Of course
not.”
    “ Then what’s he doing
getting arrested?”
    “ I just told you. It
was a scam.”
    “ What was he doing
with an underage girl?”
    “ He was sketching
her.”
    “ His bloody art
again. I told him he should have got a proper job.”
    “ Let’s not get into
that.”
    “ Why not?”
    “ It’s not the
time….What are we going to do?”
    “ I’m going to have to
go out there and that’s that.” “Will you go alone?”
    “ No. I’ll take
dad.”
    “ Do you think he’ll
go?”
    “ Not for me, but
he’ll go for Mike.”
    “ Bring my baby back,
Stan, please.”
    Stan nodded then
turned to leave.
    “ Where you
going?”
    “ I’m going to see my
dad. Can you call him? Tell him about Mike and that I’m coming
over.”
    “ Can’t you tell him
from the car?”
    “ I could, but he
likes you.”
    Stan turned away from
his wife, left the house, climbed into his Bentley, raced down the
drive and opened the gate.
    Stan hadn’t seen his father in a
while, it had been even longer since they’d worked together on a
case; but this time was different, this was Michael.
    He entered his
father’s spacious living room and faced him; back straight, legs in
and facing front. The smell of lemon tea lingered in the air and
one lonely chocolate biscuit lay on a plate next to a faded
Wedgewood teapot.
    Nigel was sat back on
the sofa, engrossed in his iPad. He had aged well, was still
physically and mentally fit with a full head of bushy grey hair and
hazel eyes. He was dressed in a pair of casual trousers and a pale
blue shirt.
    “ I just heard,” Nigel
said as he placed his iPad down and swiped the last biscuit. “I
watched a documentary on the ‘Bangkok Hilton.’ It looks
horrendous.”
    Doris, Nigel’s wife
was perched on the other sofa opposite. She was a small lady with
short brown, greying hair wearing a beige skirt over black tights.
Her eyes showed concern as they crossed between Stan and
Nigel.
    “ I need your help,
Dad.”
    “ We’ve discussed it,”
Doris interrupted.
    “ And?” Stan asked
with eyebrows raised.
    “ Your father isn’t
well enough for a long trip.”
    “ What’s wrong Dad?
Don’t tell me the cancer’s back. I couldn’t handle that
today.”
    Nigel swallowed the
last piece of the biscuit and licked his lower lip.
    “ Dad?”
    “ It’s not cancer.
It’s a heart condition.”
    “ What’s wrong with
your heart?”
    “ As long as I take
things easy, nothing.”
    “ A trip to Bangkok
wouldn’t be taking it easy,” Doris grumbled.
    “ What if you came and
just sat in the car?”
    Nigel looked over at
Doris for her approval. She shook her head. “Not this time, Stan. I
love Michael but I love your dad too. You’re on your
own.”
    Stan took out a
handbook of Thai phrases and dropped it on the table beside his
father.
    “ What’s that?” Nigel
asked.
    “ It’s a book about
the language. I’ve had a look at it but I can’t get my head round
it.”
    “ Won’t you need it?”
Doris asked.
    “ I bought an extra
copy for Dad.”
    Nigel picked it up
and started to skim through the pages. A flight ticket dropped
out.
    “ I took the liberty
of booking us a suite at The Landmark Hotel.”
    Nigel looked at Doris
with puppy eyes. She shook her head and frowned.