Chapter 1: Let Him Play

Lewis put his phone on flash and took a picture of the switch, then stood up and took one of the open cupboard doors, including the screens. Then he went out and got into the front of Johns car.

As they drove to the police station, John followed his instructions and asked, ‘How did you come to be involved in this Lewis?’ ‘My uncle is on the board of directors of the company.’ Lewis explained. ‘They had noticed stock was going missing, so I kept watch when I was off duty.’

‘Once I saw the van being loaded, I investigated further and discovered the CCTV was misbehaving, usually on a Tuesday night. So, I set up a hidden camera of my own. I got a film of Harold pinching stock last week then had him arrested this afternoon knowing that if he had an accomplice, he’d have to bring the stuff out to the van himself tonight.’

‘I have to admit it was a shock to discover it was the manager. But now there’s a film of him doing the same as Harold, so we have them bang to rights.’ At the station Mr Worth was taken into an interview room and shown Lewis’s video and Harolds statement.

He didn’t wait for a solicitor, he admitted it and blamed Harold. In the meantime, Lewis was going through his phone in the next room. He soon found the video of Christopher, sent it to his own phone in case it was needed, then deleted it from Mr Worths phone and then deleted it from the recycle bin. Next, he deleted the email he had just sent.

He looked through the rest of the gallery and found another almost identical video with another boy even younger than Christopher. He sent that to his phone and then deleted that too. After checking the rest of the gallery, he deleted the recycle bin contents completely.

Again, he waited in the corridor until John came out and handed him the phone. John would have it added to the prisoner’s property. Mr Worth probably wouldn’t see it again until he finished his prison sentence. Then Lewis went up to the canteen for a coffee to await the arrival of an appropriate adult. Terrence duly arrived, Lewis did his own statement, and John ran him back to the store.

Going into the store, he found Phil sitting at the security desk with an older man. ‘This is Mr Mort, the managing director.’ Phil said introducing them. ‘I rang and told head office what had happened and asked for a number for you. They passed me on to Mr Mort here, who said he would come down in person.’

‘Are you a policeman?’ Mr Mort asked, seeing Lewis’s age? ‘No sir,’ Lewis told him, ‘But I do work undercover with them occasionally. If I may I’ll tell you both what’s happened so far, then perhaps we could go to Mr Worths office.’

Getting a nod of agreement, Lewis told them, ‘I’ve just come from the police station, Richard Worth and Harold Jones have both made statements admitting the thefts but blaming each other. Mr Worth was caught red handed and there is enough video proof to convict both of them and the receiver of the goods. The shop the van driver is connected to has been raided and is being searched as we speak. I haven’t heard of any results from that as yet.’

‘They will be kept in a cell overnight and appear in front of the magistrates in the morning. Before we go to Mr Worths office,’ he said to Mr Mort, ‘I want you to know that Phil helped in bringing this matter to a conclusion.’

‘Thank you, Phil,’ Mr Mort said shaking his hand. ‘I won’t forget it.’ Phil gave Lewis a smile as they moved away.

In Mr Worths office Lewis explained about his counselling and told him, ‘This came to light because a member of your staff came to me for help. He suffered severe sexual abuse at the hands of Worth and Jones and is very embarrassed about what happened.’

‘It’s because of that embarrassment that they have not been charged with that offence. I would ask you to respect his wishes that that is not made public. I asked his permission to tell you a little of it because I thought you should know.’

‘It is with his help and co-operation that I have been able to get proof of what they were doing and have them arrested. Given the evidence and now their statements blaming each other, there is no doubt they will plead guilty and get a custodial sentence.’

‘I see no reason to do so,’ Mr Mort said, ‘Is he ok?’ ‘Yes, I’m helping him to cope with it,’ Lewis said, ‘And he will soon get over it. For your ears only, his name is Christopher, and he stacks shelves.’

‘He explained about the switch on the camera, and how Harold and Richard had worked it. He showed him the picture of the switch and said Phil had supplied the information that it always seemed to go off on a Tuesday after he had been relieved for a tea break by Harold or Richard.’

‘But if they switched the CCTV off, how did you get video evidence?’ Mr Mort asked. ‘I’ll show you that in a moment,’ Lewis told him. ‘Can you tell me which store they worked at before they were moved here?’ ‘The one in the next town.’ Mr Mort told him. ‘It’s very likely that they were doing the same thing there.’ Lewis told him, ‘So I’ve no doubt you’ll look into that. They can always be charged with an extra offence.’

‘However, I also suspect they have abused a member of staff there as well. I would like to go around the store and check that out. They might need my help.’ ‘Of course,’ Mr Mort said, ‘I’ll contact the manager in the morning, tell him you’ll be in touch and he’s to give you any help you need.’ He gave him the name of the manager and his number which Lewis put in his phone.

They went out into the rear parking area and Lewis showed him the camera cone. Mr Mort was most impressed. Lewis explained how he and Christopher had followed the van to locate who was receiving the stolen goods.

Then how the arrests had been timed so Mr Worth would have to do todays handing over of the stolen goods to the driver. Mr Mort didn’t comment but he realised how much influence Lewis must have with the police to have been able to arrange all that. He felt quite sure by now that Lewis had orchestrated the whole thing.’

He watched fascinated as Lewis dismantled the cone camera and loaded everything up into Christophers car. ‘He walked home tonight so I’d have his car here to put everything in,’ Lewis explained. ‘He’ll bring it back to me tomorrow evening.’

‘Well, when you see him, give him my thanks,’ Mr Mort said. ‘Tell him I hope to meet him soon, but I won’t mention what he’s suffered to him or anyone else and I hope he can soon put it all behind him.’

They returned into the store and Mr Mort walked to the front door with him. He shook Lewis’s hand and thanked him for what he had done. Lewis went out and unlocked his bike but before he cycled home, he rang Christopher.

‘Hi.’ Lewis said when he answered, ‘Can anyone hear you?’ ‘No, I’m home alone.’ Christopher told him. ‘I just thought you’d like to know they are both locked up, they both admitted it and are blaming each other. Also, I have personally deleted your confession and your video from their phones. The cones are all back in your car, bring them back to the shop next time you’re on earlies and we can complete your training.’

Christopher was over the moon. ‘I can never thank you enough,’ he said, ‘Can I come tomorrow night?’ ‘Yes, that’s fine. You should know that Phil has no idea that you are involved in any way.’ Lewis told him. ‘Also, I doubt anything will happen before I see you, but Mr Mort from head office will come and thank you soon, but he only knows a few details of what happened to you and has promised that he won’t mention it, either to you or anyone else.’

With Christophers delighted thank you still ringing in his ears, he cycled happily home.

WEDNESDAY - SHOP

The following evening Lewis went to the shop after school. It wasn’t long after that Christopher arrived. They carried the cones and the cone camera into the back room and just managed to fit them all into the cupboard. Danny had suggested it now be kept at the shop.

They had only just finished when Mike came through having closed the shop. He shook hands with Christopher then asked laughing, ‘Are you two going in for road mending with all these cones?’

Lewis laughed and explained about the cone camera Danny had built. ‘It caught loads of drug dealers at the time,’ he told them. ‘It caught two thieves at work who were making my life hell too.’ Christopher told him.