SANTA MARIA, Calif. — A former sex crimes investigator told jurors Friday about the lurid reading material she discovered in a locked filing cabinet in Michael Jackson's master bedroom.

Two hardcover books "depicting images of adolescent boys in various stages of dress" were seized during a search of Jackson's Neverland Ranch in August 1993, according to detective Rosibel Smith.

The bright, cheery cover of "Boys Will Be Boys," published in 1966, featured young blond boys in retro-style swim trunks doing cannonballs into a body of water.

The second book, a hardcover titled "The Boy: A Photographic Essay," depicted preteen boys "in various poses, playing, swimming, jumping," Smith said.

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Jackson was under investigation in 1993 for the alleged sexual abuse of Jordie Chandler, a young boy whose family later agreed to payments of more than $20 million from the singer in exchange for their silence.

Jackson never admitted to any wrongdoing in that case and he was never charged.

However, the judge of his current child molestation case has allowed prosecutors to introduce evidence, like the sexually explicit books, which may demonstrate Jackson's alleged pattern of grooming his potential victims, including showing them pornography to arouse them and engage them in felonious acts.

Jackson's current accuser, a 13-year-old cancer survivor, testified that the King of Pop showed him pornographic materials before he masturbated the boy.

Jackson, 46, is charged with 10 counts, including plying his accuser with alcohol, sexually molesting him, and conspiring to falsely imprison his family.

This boy's life

Jackson's defense chose an open-book approach with the prurient materials during cross-examination of Smith. As he projected the cover and inside leaf page for jurors, defense attorney Robert Sanger asked Smith to read the inscriptions on both books.

One appeared to have been written by Jackson.

"Look at the true spirit of joy and happiness in these boy's faces," was penned on the inside page of "Boys Will Be Boys."

"This is the spirit of boyhood, a life I never had and will always dream of. This is the life I want for my children. M.J."

Jotted above the inscription in pencil were the words "OP," or out of print, "1988, very scarce MJ."

The second book, presumably a gift from a fan, had a smattering of hearts scribbled around the inscription, which read: "To Michael, from your fan XXXOOO 'Rhonda.'" A note of "1983 Chicago" was inked at the bottom of the page

Smith conceded that it was not illegal to own either book.

Although the books were admitted into evidence and jurors will be allowed to examine them when they begin deliberations, the photos were not shown in court on Friday.

'Escaping' the stand

Prosecutors announced they expect to complete their case by Tuesday. And they appeared to be fighting for every word, as they spent hours Friday arguing before the judge over one word in particular: "escape."

It was a fight prosecutors lost.

At the heart of the battle was a writer, Ian Drew. Now an editor at Us Weekly, Drew was questioned outside the presence of jurors about something Jackson's alleged co-conspirator uttered to him during the time the accuser's family was allegedly being held against their will at Neverland.

Drew stated that he was set to interview the family for a story meant to show "how Mr. Jackson did not do anything inappropriate with them."

But the interview never took place. Drew said Jackson aide and alleged co-conspirator Ronald Konitzer explained suddenly that "the family was unavailable."

"I was told that they disappeared, that they couldn't keep them there anymore. I believe the word 'escape' was used," Drew told attorneys.

Prosecutor Ronald Zonen argued that Konitzer's use of the word "escape" indicated that Jackson's aides were knowingly holding the family captive.

But when questioned in greater detail by the judge, Drew clarified that it was the tone of Konitzer's voice he recalled more than the exact word "escape."

Drew's attorney, Kelly Sager, also vociferously objected to his client having to testify, citing California's Shield Law protecting journalists from divulging confidential information.

Judge Rodney Melville agreed that the Shield law applied, and that its use by Drew prevented the defense from effectively cross-examining him.

Drew appeared pleased as he left the courtroom, having successfully escaped the prospect of testifying at the Jackson trial.