Chapter 4: An Uninvited Dinner Companion

In addition, he took a few still pictures off it. One of Jacks, Franks, Billy’s and the CEO’s face. He edited them to just the face so you couldn’t tell where the picture was taken.

MONDAY - LEWIS

He emailed May to ask if she could take him to the Town Hall canteen at lunch time in the next day or two. He sent two pictures and asked if she could confirm that picture two was the CEO. Number one is believed to be a local contractor who often works for the council, he told her. Also, can you tell me if there are any major contracts out for tender at the moment and if so when will a decision be made.

He got a reply fairly quickly. ‘Number two is the councils Chief Executive Officer. Number one is Jack Knott, a contractor who frequently bids for contracts. The only large contract out to tender at the moment is for a major shopping centre. Who gets the contract will be decided a week today at the council meeting.’

‘Come to lunch tomorrow at twelve, I’ll leave word at reception to expect you.’

That evening Lewis put together two videos by taking bits from his recording of the mayor’s office. One showed the mayor on several occasions naked and having sex with Frank and Billy but without their faces being seen.

The other one showed the mayor on his phone telling Jack to bring him his money in, Jack on two occasions handing him an envelope of cash and thanking him for getting him papers that were expected to help him win a contract. Then the mayor counting all his cash.

TUESDAY - LEWIS – TOWN HALL

Lewis arrived at the Town Hall at twelve o’clock. He had got away from school early after telling his form master that he had an invite to lunch at the Town Hall. He said he might be late back.

At reception he was told to go up to Mays office. ‘I understand that you know your way.’ the lady told him. At Mays office she gave him a hug. ‘I’ve had lunch with Janet and the other two a few times recently,’ she said. ‘We’ve become good friends, and we all think you are amazing.’

‘Well, you all did your bit to help.’ Lewis told her smiling. May led the way to the canteen which was self-service. They collected their food and went to a table, Lewis picked one near the entrance door.

Part way through their lunch, Lewis who had scrutinised every arrival, spotted Frank come in, collect his food and sit at a table. Soon after he was joined by Billy.

He gave his full attention then to his dinner and chatting to May. When they had finished eating and were ready to go, Lewis thanked her for dinner and told her, ‘I would like you to leave me here and I’ll find my own way out, there’s someone dining that I want to speak to.’

‘I now have proof that the mayor was giving information to Jack Knott to help him win the contract. So, I will probably need you to get me a meeting with the CEO Thursday or Friday. He used blackmail and sex to get what he wanted, so I’d like to try and protect his victims first.’

‘You’re quite a knight in shining armour, aren’t you?’ May said smiling, ‘Riding to the rescue of the underdog.’ As she got up to leave Lewis stood too. She came round and gave him a hug. ‘Good luck.’ she said.

Lewis sat down and waited until she had left the dining room. Then he went over to where Frank and Billy were dining. ‘Excuse me if I join you uninvited,’ Lewis said, ‘But I have something very important to tell you. Hi Frank, I’m Lewis.’ he said offering his hand. Frank looked puzzled but shook it. ‘Hi Billy.’ Lewis said offering his hand to him.

As he shook his hand, Billy suddenly remembered why Lewis seemed familiar. ‘You were the one in the paper who they said had announced the mayor’s resignation.’ ‘Yes,’ Lewis said, ‘He was too upset to do it himself. He only learned he was resigning half an hour earlier.’

‘Do you both know what a counsellor is?’ he asked them. ‘I mean the one not connected to politics,’ he added. ‘Yes.’ Frank said. ‘No.’ Billy said. ‘Well, I’m a very successful one.’ Lewis told them. Then to Billy he said, ‘People with problems come to me and I sort them out.’

‘Thanks to the ex-mayor, you two have a serious problem which could cost you your jobs and even get you arrested.’ ‘I don’t know what you mean.’ Frank blustered. ‘The mayor will soon be investigated by the police,’ Lewis told them. ‘The two payments of two hundred pounds you each received were paid into your banks.’

‘You probably thought that money came from the mayor. It actually came direct from the builder who paid the mayor in untraceable cash for the information you supplied. The only evidence that the police will find at the moment is that he paid you two four hundred pounds each. No one else was involved. So, you will both be charged, go to court and will be sent to prison.’

‘If you are honest with me when we meet later, I am fairly certain I can save you from prosecution. I might even be able to save your job’s, but I can’t be as certain about that.’

‘Just be aware that I know the mayor forced you to do what you did and what he did to you. So, my help will be dependent on how much of what you decide to tell me, matches what I already know. What time do you finish work?’ Lewis asked.

‘Five o’clock,’ they both replied. ‘Do either of you drive?’ Lewis asked. ‘I do.’ Billy said. Lewis handed them both a card with a small map showing the video hire shop and his own phone number.

‘I have the use of the room behind that shop,’ Lewis told them. ‘Billy, how long would it take you to get there from home.’ ‘About fifteen minutes.’ he said. ‘Right,’ Lewis said, ‘I’d like you Frank to come to see me tonight straight from work. Depending how we get on, I might ring you Billy to come and join us, probably around seven. Otherwise, you can come tomorrow night.’

‘It’s not compulsory for you to come,’ Lewis told them, ‘If you prefer to wait for a visit from the police, that’s up to you. When you come the shop will be closed and in darkness. I’ll be inside so either knock on the door or text me and I’ll let you in. I hope to see you later.’ He stood up and walked away.

Frank and Billy watched him go. ‘What are we going to do?’ Billy asked. ‘We go and see him,’ Frank said. ‘He seems to know it all anyway, so it can’t do any harm and if it saves us from prison, we can cope with losing our jobs.’ They both returned to their departments wondering and worrying what the evening had in store.

Lewis got back to school only twenty minutes late. ‘Was it a satisfactory lunch?’ his form master asked choosing his words carefully as he came in. ‘Yes, thank you sir.’ Lewis said with a smile.

After school he wandered over to the shop. He went in and said hi to Mike, checked it was ok to use the back room, then went to the chippy.

Returning he went through and started eating his meal. Mike came in soon after to say he was going so they had a hug and a kiss then Lewis saw him out.

Lewis prepared two mugs ready, boiled the kettle then did a bit of homework. He had left the door through to the shop open, so he heard the knock on the shop door.

Putting the shop lights on he went through and let Frank in. He looked very nervous. Lewis locked the door and showed Frank his key in the lock. ‘Because that is there,’ he explained, ‘No one can come in and hear anything you say. But you can open the door and leave anytime you want to.’

Going through to the back room, Lewis made them both a coffee. Sitting at the table Lewis told him, ‘What I want to do tonight is to find a way of keeping you out of prison. To do that I need to know everything about you. But be aware that nothing in here will hurt you or take you by surprise. Everything I want to do I will tell you beforehand. Then I’ll tell you why I want to do it and what I expect to achieve by it. Even then nothing happens until you say it’s ok.’

‘Unlike the mayor, nothing here will be forced on you. Also, you can get up and leave anytime you want to. If you’re not happy being here we won’t succeed anyway. When we’ve finished our coffees, if you decide you want to stay, we’ll make a start. Do you have any questions?’