Chapter 9 second quarter

Anna tried to keep her composure.For the moment, she wanted Harris to take notes.She looked around the room. "Where is that computer?" "In the study. On the desk opposite the window, so his back is to the door. Sometimes I open the doors quietly to see if he's busy so as not to disturb him. Like bringing him some tea. I can look over his shoulder See the screen." Mrs. Carter shuddered. "Some are morbid. Probably still illegal, which is no surprise. But maybe I shouldn't say that." Anna stared at Mrs. Carter in disbelief. "Helen, those are of course illegal. Haven't you thought about exposing him? I know he is your husband, but even so..."

Mrs. Carter looked back at Anna, showing a confused look. "Expose him? Expose him for what? Expose him for normal male behavior? Aren't all men addicted to porn?" Anna blinked. "But not pedophiles. Of course not." "Pedophile?" Mrs. Carter covered her mouth.She stood up suddenly. "Oh my god, is Davy involved in child pornography?" Anna's jaw almost dropped. "That's what you just told me!" Mrs. Carter was dark. "I didn't say anything like that." "Helen, you told me just this minute ago that in the study you were looking over your husband's shoulder at the screen and he was watching child pornography. Young kids, hard at it. That's your reason talk."

Mrs. Carter stared at Anna nervously, her face suddenly softened, and she laughed. "Young kids mean junior staff in their early twenties, not kids! Besides, David can't stand kids approaching him. He hates kids." Anna breathed a sigh of relief. "Helen, I'm so sorry. I completely misunderstood you." Anna was thinking about what to say next.Finally, "So, is that why you didn't have children, Helen?" "Yeah, and actually we barely sleep together. It certainly doesn't help. Maybe his fear of children means he's afraid of getting me pregnant. Maybe that's why he's attracted to men. What do you think?"

Anna doesn't like speculation, and she suspects that Mrs. Carter is defending her late husband.Just when she didn't know how to proceed with the conversation, the kitchen door was pushed open. Harris appeared with three cups of tea on a tray, bent down to place the tray on the coffee table, and spilled the tea on the tray. "Sorry, Mrs. Carter. I'm going to get a rag." "Never mind, Jeremy," said Mrs. Carter. Harris glared at Anna complainingly. "I think Jeremy is a very cute name," Mrs. Carter looked at Harris with a smile on her face. Harris forced a smile, shifted his weight awkwardly on his other foot, and tried to sip hot tea from the cup he was holding.Looking around for a place to sit down.

"Why don't you go outside with your tea, Jez? Get some fresh air?" Harris glanced out the window. "It's raining outside, sir." Mrs. Carter chuckled at Harris. "Anna wants to talk to me about my sex life with David, Jeremy." Harris squirted the tea back into his cup, flushing. "She's afraid of embarrassing you," went on Mrs. Carter. "I think her concerns are justified. There's the conservatory through there." She pointed to a door in the distance. "You can turn on the heat if you feel too cold." Harris needed no more encouragement.He trailed a trail of water across the carpet, keeping his face away from Mrs. Carter.

Mrs. Carter watched him from behind, with a mocking look in her eyes.After Harris closed the door, she turned to Anna. "Where were we talking?" "Your husband has an interest in porn? Adult porn?" "Oh, yes. You know, he's always watching a guy with a girl. It's never just a girl. That's what got me suspicious in the first place. I mean, why would he watch a guy fuck a girl? Especially, honestly, they may be young, but there are men and women like that everywhere." Anna choked on the tea. "what do you mean……" "That's what I'm trying to say. Of course, I'm no expert on this stuff. I've only been with one man before I met David, but I know what's normal and what's not. Those boys—sorry , lad—not quite normal."

When she recalled those images, a smile spread across her face.She shook her head, trying to get out of her daydream.Ana tried not to laugh. "I'm sorry, honey. It's just... well, why is David looking at that stuff? Maybe it gave him an inferiority complex. He hardly—" "Too much information, Helen," Anna pushed her hands forward in protest.She wondered how she would explain this back at the police station.She asked, "But I don't understand. Why does this lead you to believe that your husband is bisexual?" "It's just a sign," Mrs. Carter explained. "I've never, never seen David watch women masturbating, or just pictures of women having sex. You know, lesbian porn. But I know what it's like for men to see two women together. Well, normal men. Those It's his magazine."

Anna leaned forward.Maybe this holds some clues. "A magazine?" "Men's magazines. Or rather, magazines for men. Not the bawdy stuff you see on the top shelf. I mean men's fashion magazines. Homo, huh? Guys or something? " "Men's clothing." Anna corrected. "But they're not gay magazines. I still don't get it." "I think, in hindsight, David also struggled with his sexuality. These magazines are filled with images of men. He's in a company of young men, if you ask me, compared to a company that's 50/50. It's always easier. David talks about his constant work, living in a hotel, and I always knew he might be tempted by others. I can live with that." Mrs. Carter's face darkened again.She shook her head in disbelief. "But instead of being hanged in a dirty toilet..."

"So for you, this was completely unexpected?" "Exactly. Well, if I'm being honest, I know he's relying on both—is that the right way to put it? But, even if he's a straight-up gay, there's bound to be a gay response. Organization? Surely he doesn't have to go to a dirty public restroom to meet his needs?" Ana tried to look sympathetic. "I think when guys do that kind of thing, they value the excitement, the pleasure, more than the sex itself. Just look at George Michael. Like him, there's hardly anyone who wouldn't want to have sex with him. But..." Anna looked up at Mrs. Carter. "You said, there must be a call agency for gay men, Helen? What else?"

"Of course, an on-call agency that serves women." Anna lowered her voice. "Is there anything I need to know?" Helen nodded, her cheeks flushed.Biting his lip, trying to choose the right words. "Take it easy." "I've discovered something." Anna nodded. "What did you find?" "I know I shouldn't be doing this. But I can't help myself. I go through his study. Go through his desk drawers, and his briefcase." "What did you find?" Anna asked softly. Helen Carter gave a faint but grateful smile, her hands clasped across her chest, pain and anger in her eyes; eyes that scanned the room as if searching for the reason for her husband's infidelity.

She reached into the pocket of her coat with trembling hands, took out something and threw it on the black marble coffee table.A stack of business cards fanned out like a clumsy dealer. Anna picked one up. "Is that all?" "There are also various mails from institutions and websites. Although I don't know much about computers, I can browse his mail folders." "I'm sorry, Helen. This must have hurt you." "I was stunned last night, I can tell you. It hurt." Mrs. Carter's expression changed as she relived the moment.Then the expression became calm again. She said, "But come to think of it, I think it's at least better than him messing around with some street whores and who knows what kind of nasty mess it will lead to. And the weird thing is, I'm happy for him." Anna stared at Helen Carter in bewilderment. "Well, anyway, I didn't meet his needs in bed." Mrs. Carter circled the room with her finger. "But, in every other way, he's a great husband. I've never worried about material things. I mean, he pays all the bills, and we have a second home in the Cotswolds , and has villas on the Italian Riviera. He never abused me or used violence. He..." Mrs. Carter's voice fell, drowned in tears. Anna reached out to comfort her again. "Do you mind if I take these magazines?" Mrs. Carter nodded in agreement, whimpering and clutching a tissue. "David doesn't need any of that now, that's for sure. But why do you need any of that?" "We need to know as much as possible about your husband's movements before he... means, before the crime. We want to examine any diaries or personal journals he may have had. Also his computer, cell phone, etc. Of course, if With your permission. If we can track down everyone who has had recent contact with him, it will be possible to catch the suspect." Mrs. Carter stared into the distance. "David isn't coming back either, anyway, is it, dear." Anna said quietly, "Not anymore. I'm sorry."

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Notes: ) is a British men's fashion and lifestyle magazine and one of the most popular men's magazines in the UK.