Chapter 4: Caught Out by the Dean

‘Get dressed now,’ Lewis told him, ‘You’ve done everything that’s required of you.’ Once he was dressed, Lewis gave him the envelope of cash and showed him out. It was just coming up to twelve o’clock, so he decided to go and have some lunch.

Pausing at the table he told them second of the four done, next one due at one. Just as he turned away, the Dean came past. ‘Hello Lewis,’ he said, ‘What are you doing here? I didn’t know you’d joined us.’ ‘Hello Dean,’ Lewis said shaking hands, ‘Nice to see you again. Actually, I’m just visiting.’

‘Should I be worried?’ the dean asked. ‘No sir,’ Lewis said, ‘I can assure you that if there was a problem it would have nothing to do with the university.’ ‘That’s a relief,’ he said turning to the table. ‘How are you getting on gentlemen?’ he asked Sergeant Cline and Aiden. ‘Then he put the two together. ‘Don’t tell me, you’re here with Lewis!’ he exclaimed.

‘Don’t answer that,’ he said before they could reply, ‘I’d rather not know. Is that assurance definite, Lewis?’ ‘Yes sir, absolutely,’ Lewis said smiling. ‘Well good luck whatever it is,’ he said, ‘And don’t forget my offer.’ he reminded Lewis. He moved off without looking back. ‘I’ll explain later.’ Lewis said to two puzzled faces. He went for his lunch.

After he had gone Sergeant Cline looked at Aiden and said, ‘I wonder if there is any where we could go that doesn’t know Lewis?’ Aiden grinned. ‘Probably not sarge,’ he said, ‘Probably not.’

Lewis in the meantime was sitting in the canteen having a quick snack. He had had a refresher look at the photo of number four and as he ate kept an eye open. He was nearly finished when he spotted him come in and go to the counter.

He kept watch, then as he was finishing his meal, he saw his quarry and his companion go to a nearby table. Lewis finished off and went over to them. Sitting down at the table with them he said, ‘Good afternoon gentlemen. Please don’t let me stop you eating but I’d like to offer you a hundred pounds each.’

They looked at him as if he was mad. ‘Is this a prank?’ the fourth man’s pal asked. ‘No, I assure you its genuine.’ he said. ‘Let me explain. I’m not at this university I’m a medical student elsewhere. The university has called me in to do a random survey of potential problems, mainly medical that might affect the university in future.’

‘I have got to pick some students at random and ask them to be interviewed anonymously and in private. In return I give them a hundred pounds in cash. I only have to find two more and I’m done, hence me dropping on you. If you’re not interested, I’m sure someone else will oblige.’

‘What would we have to do?’ they asked. ‘Pick a time and come to room one hundred by the main entrance,’ Lewis told them. ‘I will give you a very simple medical. Take some swabs. No needles,’ he added with a grin, ‘And ask you some questions. Nothing you tell me will have your name recorded against it. When you leave, I hand you an envelope with a hundred pounds cash in it.’

‘Sounds too good to be true,’ the fourth man said. ‘How do we know its legitimate?’ ‘Well, you could go and ask the Dean,’ Lewis said, ‘Or I’ll tell you what, have you noticed the two policemen at the recruiting table in the hall?’ ‘I have,’ his mate said. ‘Well, half an hour ago as I was passing them, the Dean came along. We were all chatting and the reason I was here was mentioned by the Dean. I’m sure they would confirm I’m here officially.’

‘Ok, what do we need to do?’ they asked. ‘Give me your Christian names, your age, and your phone number. Then pick a time to come. It takes two hours maximum,’ he said. ‘I can do half three today, or ten am or one pm tomorrow.’

‘I could do ten in the morning,’ the fourth lad said. ‘I’ll do today then,’ his pal said, ‘Half three?’ ‘Yes, that’s confirmed.’ Lewis said, ‘And Ten for you tomorrow.’ he said to the other lad. He took their details and left after giving them one of his maps.

On his way past the table, he paused and warned them what to say if anyone asked. He got back to the room with minutes to spare. He had just got his white coat on when Richard knocked on the door.

Lewis welcomed him in and asked him to sit down. ‘Before we start,’ he said, ‘I’m just being nosey, but I’m interested to know why you need the cash so desperately.’ Richard looked slightly embarrassed. ‘It wasn’t one of my finest moments,’ he said. ‘About two weeks ago a group of us from my course were in one of the local pubs having a drink.’

‘I’ve never been much of a drinker, and I overdid it a bit. When we got up to go, I was a bit unsteady on my feet. So, one of my mates went to get hold of me to stop me falling over. I just saw someone trying to grab me and pushed him away.’

‘I don’t know if he was wobbly too, or I just pushed too hard. He fell back against the table and upset it, breaking a load of glasses. The bartender saw what had happened and came and took my name. I went in the following day to apologise. He said the damage came to seventy-five pounds and unless it was paid for by this Saturday, I’d be reported to the Dean. Until you appeared on the scene there was no way I could raise it in time.’

Lewis laughed. ‘Well, I’m glad I could rescue you,’ he said. ‘Let’s get started. ‘Strip to your shorts, and I’ll listen to your chest first.’ Richard was a bit on the shy side, so he moved over to the chair and turned his back to Lewis. He stripped down to his underpants, then looking a trifle embarrassed he returned to stand in front of him.

Lewis told him what to do, so he took and held his four breaths whilst Lewis listened to his chest. ‘Lie down now, please.’ Lewis said. He looked down at him. Richard was about his own height and build. There was a visible bulge in his underpants, but it didn’t look over large.

‘Just relax for a minute whilst your heart settles down,’ he told him. ‘Tell me what illnesses and accidents you’ve had.’ ‘I broke my wrist at primary school,’ Richard said, ‘Falling when climbing over a fence. I broke my thigh when I was eleven when I came off my push bike at speed on a woodland path. Both healed up fine. When I was seven, I had German measles and when I was twelve, I had my tonsils out. Other than those, nothing.’

‘You certainly look bursting with health now.’ Lewis said smiling. He listened to his heartbeat and said, ‘Sixty-eight. Do five press ups please, then lie back down again.’ Richard got up and did three, then after a real struggle managed the last two.

Lying down again he was out of breath. Lewis counted eighty-nine. Then he examined his ribs and intercostal muscles. After one minute he recounted at seventy-five. ‘Your heart is reasonable,’ he said, ‘But it’s struggling. You need to get more exercise. If you weaken it when you’re young, you’ll suffer with it all your life.’

He took a swab of his nose, his mouth and under his arm. His belly button was showing above his underpants, so he did that as well. ‘Stand up now, please.’ Lewis said. ‘Touch your toes.’ he told him. Lewis ran his hands down both thighs and checked his knees.

‘I see it was your left leg you broke,’ Lewis told him. Then he said, ‘Stand up.’ ‘How did you know?’ Richard asked. ‘I could feel the mend on your bone.’ Lewis told him, ‘Bones always heal up thicker around the break.’

‘Ok, take your underpants off now and lie face down on the settee.’ Lewis told him. ‘I want to check each of the thirty-three bones of your spine. Then I’ll take a swab from the outside of your bum.’

Richard turned his back to Lewis, slipped his underpants off and slid down onto the settee. His cheeks looked firm. Lewis sat at the side and started checking the bones of his neck. As he worked his way down his back, Richard thought to himself how gentle he was and how nice it felt.

Once finished, Lewis pulled one cheek to the side and drew a swab across the opening to Richard’s bum. He laughed as it tickled. He was also thinking to himself ‘I hope I wiped myself properly last time I went to the toilet.’