Lost Innocence: The Accused. Part One by John Daysh

money?”
    She turned and smiled. He slipped out his wallet,
opened it and invited her to reach in. She took six thousand and
tucked it into a hidden compartment in her bra. “You want some
company?”
    “ Sorry but we’re
looking for someone right now.”
    “ Who you look
for?”
    Nigel held up his
phone and showed her the photo of Michael’s sketch of Mia.
    “ I not know her but
maybe I can find her. I know many people here. I know police
captain who like lady-boys. Maybe he will help.”
    “ That’s something.
See what you can find out.”
    “ Fine. You have
number I can call you on?”
    Nigel handed her a card. “I’m Nigel
Walker. I’ve written my Thai number on the back.”
    “ Nice meet you Nigel.
I am Sung.”
    “ You want a copy of
the picture?”
    “ Please,” she replied. She took
his phone and sent the picture to her Samsung. “I see what I can
do.”
    “ Thank you
Sung.”
    “ If I help you, you
pay me, okay?”
    He nodded. She turned
then sashayed down the corridor, her high-heels clanking on the
hospital tiles. Nigel turned back to Stan’s room and
frowned.
    Stan was lying in bed
red-faced when Nigel walked in and stood over him. “Cheating on Lou
is one thing, but with another man?”
    “ I only had a drink
with ‘her’, ‘him’.”
    “ Anyway, she’s helping us
now.”
    “ She’s doing
what?”
    “ She’s helping us
find Mia.”
    “ Of all the people
you have to deal with.”
    Nigel changed the
subject. “I’ve seen Mike.”
    “ How is
he?”
    “ He’s okay, but
refused to let us pay.”
    “ Why did you give him
a choice?”
    “ He’s determined to
see this through, says that once he’s done twelve days, they have
to let him go. They don’t have hard evidence to charge him with
anything.”
    “ How many days has he
done?”
    “ I didn’t
ask.”
    “ So, what does this
mean for us?”
    “ It means we’re going
to be here a while longer. If he doesn’t get out, we need to find
the girl, persuade her to come forward and withdraw her accusation.
Who knows what’ll happen if this does go to Court? I’ll be meeting
with a lawyer later.”
    “ Okay, Dad. Good
work. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help,” Stan pointed to his bad
leg.
    “ That’s all right,
I’m better off without you.”
    “ What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “ I’m on the
case.”
    “ Take a seat and fill
me in.”
    SIXTEEN
     
    MY MONEY had finally come through. It had been given to
‘Bald Guard,’ then most of it had found its way to me. I bought
flip-flops and clothes from a guy with dog breath, topped up on
toiletries then took care of John.
    “ That’s more than you
owe me, mate.”
    “ It’s not nearly
enough for all you’ve done.”
    “ You can survive in
here with money, mate.”
    “ Where can I get hold
of a bed roll?”
    “ They’re usually
inherited when someone dies or is released. You want me to get you
one?”
    “ Why don’t you have
one?”
    “ I’m okay on the floor…You want to hear about the first girl I ever took back to my
room?”
    “ Yeah,
okay.”
    “ I’d never paid for
sex before and was nervous the
    first time I did. I’d
met Suk in a pool bar. She was a tall, sexy babe with long, black
hair and high hips. She wore a tight white dress with a slit to
show a little leg and her firm arse was as wide and as round as a
water melon; it showed through the creases of her dress whenever
she took a shot. We played a few games.
She soon warmed to my charm and I eventually asked her
back.
    When I got her to my
room, I was embarrassed at how bare it was. I was travelling on a
budget and I didn’t care but it was basic. All it had was a creaky,
double bed, tired, torn bed sheets and a dusty fan that hardly
worked; even the window was cracked.
    She stepped in and
didn’t comment - didn’t care. I handed her a beach towel, directed
her to the bathroom then sprayed a little Brut around the room. I
threw all my loose clothes into my case under the bed and