Innocence Read Online Free

was going to . . . you know . . .”
    Bentley raised a beetle-­black eyebrow. “Going to what , Terry?”
    Reed ran his hands through his hair and rested his elbows on the desk. “It doesn’t matter. This is absurd. I’ve done nothing. I’m innocent.”
    â€œDon’t you find schoolgirls attractive?” Bentley went on in a soft voice. “After all, it would only be natural, wouldn’t it? They can be real beauties at fifteen or sixteen, can’t they? Proper little temptresses, some of them, I’ll bet. Right prick-­teasers. Just think about it—short skirts, bare legs, firm young tits. Doesn’t it excite you, Terry? Don’t you get hard just thinking about it?”
    â€œNo, it doesn’t,” Reed said tightly. “I’m not a pervert.”
    Bentley laughed. “Nobody’s suggesting you are. It gets me going, I don’t mind admitting. Perfectly normal, I’d say, to find a fifteen-­year-­old schoolgirl sexy. My Methodist inspector might not agree, but you and I know different, Terry, don’t we? All that sweet innocence wrapped up in a soft, desirable young body. Doesn’t it just make your blood sing? And wouldn’t it be easy to get a bit carried away if she resisted, put your hands around her throat . . . ?”
    â€œNo!” Reed said again, aware of his cheeks burning.
    â€œWhat about those women in the magazine, Terry? The one we found at your house?”
    â€œThat’s different.”
    â€œDon’t tell me you buy it just for the stories.”
    â€œI didn’t say that. I’m normal. I like looking at naked women, just like any other man.”
    â€œSome of them seemed very young to me.”
    â€œFor Christ’s sake, they’re models. They get paid for posing like that. I told you before, that magazine’s freely available. There’s nothing illegal about it.” Reed glanced over his shoulder at Rodmoor, who kept his head bent impassively over his notebook.
    â€œAnd you like videos, too, don’t you? We’ve had a little talk with Mr. Hakim in your corner shop. He told us about one video in particular you’ve rented lately. Soft porn, I suppose you’d call it. Nothing illegal, true, at least not yet, but a bit dodgy. I’d wonder about a bloke who watches stuff like that.”
    â€œIt’s a free country. I’m a normal single male. I have a right to watch whatever kind of videos I want.”
    â€œ School’s Out, ” Bentley said quietly. “A bit over the top, wouldn’t you say?”
    â€œBut they weren’t real schoolgirls. The lead was thirty if she was a day. Besides, I only rented it out of curiosity. I thought it might be a bit of a laugh.”
    â€œAnd was it?”
    â€œI can’t remember.”
    â€œBut you see what I mean, don’t you? It looks bad: the subject-­matter, the image. It all looks a bit odd. Fishy.”
    â€œWell it’s not. I’m perfectly innocent, and that’s the truth.”
    Bentley stood up abruptly and Rodmoor slipped out of the room. “You can go now,” the superintendent said. “It’s been nice to have a little chat.”
    â€œThat’s it?”
    â€œFor the moment, yes.”
    â€œBut don’t leave town?”
    Bentley laughed. “You really must give up those American cop shows. Though it’s a wonder you find time to watch them with all those naughty videos you rent. They warp your sense of reality—cop shows and sex films. Life isn’t like that at all.”
    â€œThank you. I’ll bear that in mind,” Reed said. “I take it I am free to go?”
    â€œOf course.” Bentley gestured towards the door.
    Reed left. He was shaking when he got out onto the wet, chilly street. Thank God the pubs were still open. He went into the first one he came to and ordered a double Scotch. Usually he