Seduction of the Innocent by Max Allan Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

partly. You know tomorrow’s the first day of the Senate hearing over at the Foley Square Courthouse.”
    Maggie and I nodded. The papers had been giving this investigation into juvenile delinquency and comic books a lot of play.
    “Well,” Price went on, “Frederick is the first witness scheduled, and guess who the second witness is?”
    Maggie winced. “You were subpoenaed?”
    “No! I volunteered.”
    I winced. “Why the hell?”
    He threw his hands up. “To state my side of it. I’ve been up for two days and nights working on my opening statement.”
    He did seem wired. Dexies?
    In any case, his eyes were as wide and wild as Caligula asking his sister out for a date. “I’m going to put that hypocritical head-shrinker in his goddamn place! And I’m going to educate those so-called lawmakers on the ins and outs of the great American right of free speech.”
    “Yeah,” I said. “That worked out swell for the Hollywood Ten.”
    “I’m no communist!”
    “No, Bob,” I said, “you’re worse. You’re despoiling America’s beloved boys and girls. You’re the comic-book equivalent of the pervert offering candy to kids at the schoolyard fence, next to the guy selling them dope.”
    He was shaking his head. “I know all about the garbage that prudes like Frederick and Lehman have been stirring up about me. That’s why I’m taking the stand. When I’m finished, everyone will know what I am.”
    A fool?
    “I am a publisher.” His chin jutted.
    Probably the guy who said he regretted having only one life to give for his country had a chin that jutted just like that—made it easier to slip the rope around.
    “My opening statement will be a masterpiece. I need to work on it some more, but...it’s going to turn this whole thing around.”
    Maggie said, “You volunteered to be a witness. Can you get out of it?”
    “I don’t want to get out of it!”
    “You should,” she said sternly. “I can arrange for some major newspaper to interview you, maybe get you on a television show more friendly to the Bill of Rights than The Barray Soiree. Steve Allen, possibly. You can get your side of it out much better that way.”
    “No! The battle lines are drawn. It’s me against them, and they don’t stand a chance.”
    “Ever hear of the Alamo, Bob?” I asked.
    “In the end, the Forces of Right won, didn’t they?”
    “If you mean the Mexicans, yeah.”
    But he wasn’t having any of it. He shook his big head rather woefully, sweat flecking off his Brylcreemed locks. “Look, I know this is dangerous.”
    Dangerous—the word Dr. Frederick so often used about comic books like the ones Bob published ....
    “Jesus,” he said resignedly, “lately I get more death threats than Joe DiMaggio!”
    Maggie asked, “Why does Joe DiMaggio get death threats?”
    “He married Marilyn Monroe!” He sat forward again and gestured with open hands, something pleading in his tone, and I hoped this wasn’t how he planned to testify. “Look, Maggie, Jack...I didn’t come up here to get your permission or even explain why I feel I have to do this thing. But I do need your help.”
    Maggie and I exchanged glances. Price was bringing the Craze comic strip to us, and despite all the criticism Entertaining Funnies had received, we knew this particular property was a potential goldmine.
    So she said, “How can we help?”
    His grin was more school kid than chemistry teacher. “I’d like Jack here to accompany me to the courtroom, and play bodyguard.”
    I frowned at him. “I’m pretty sure there’ll be cops around at that courthouse.”
    He shook his head, the grin gone. “No, I need somebody to babysit me but good. From my office to the street, from the street to that courthouse, and back out again. There’s violence in the air. There are reporters that need keeping back. Jack, will you do that?”
    I glanced at Maggie, who gave me a barely perceptible nod.
    “Sure,” I said. “You just let me know what time and