Foul Play 🩷

Twenty-Seven

March 2023

Millicent entered the living room carrying a bowl of chips, and her steps brought Henry and Darren's hushed conversation to an abrupt halt. They both turned to look at her, and her suspicions were immediately piqued. She paused by the coffee table, setting the bowl down, and fixed a scrutinizing gaze on them. "What's going on here? You two look like you're plotting something..."

Henry shrugged, a mischievous smile forming as he exchanged a glance with Darren. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Milly. Don't you want us to get along?"

"Of course, I do," she relented, settling into a seat on the other side of Henry and snuggling against his side, his arm draping over the back of the couch.

Darren turned his attention to Millicent. "What would you like to do for your birthday, Milly?"

She sighed in response to her father's question, resting her head on Henry's shoulder. "I'm not sure..." She leaned forward to address her dad directly. "We always have breakfast together, and I love that tradition we've started."

"I do too," Darren replied with a warm smile as Millicent nestled back against Henry.

"But you have a boyfriend this year," Henry chimed in. "Would you like to have a party or something just between us?"

Millicent playfully teased, "Who says I want to do anything with you?" She shot Henry a mischievous smirk, but then squeezed his thigh affectionately. "Just kidding. I don't need anything big."

Henry assured her, "I'll come up with something. We have some time."

"When's your birthday?" Millicent inquired, nudging Henry's shoulder.

"May 5th."

Her eyes widened in slight surprise, and she grinned. "Wait, so I'm older than you?!"

Henry chuckled and gave her side a gentle squeeze. "Only by a bit. What can I say? I like older women..." She giggled, making herself comfortable once more at his side as they watched the rugby game on the TV.

***

Henry sat on the bench in the locker room, busily lacing up his tennis shoes when Darren walked in, accompanied by the team's coach. He paused, his hands resting on his thighs as he anticipated what was to come.

Just as Darren began to speak, the door swung open behind him, and in stumbled Kyle and Ben, engaged in hearty laughter. Henry raised an eyebrow at Darren, sensing that something was amiss. Darren cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the situation, while motioning for Kyle and Ben to take a seat.

"I've decided to conduct a random drug search for all the players," Darren announced. A chorus of grunts, groans, and protests filled the locker room as everyone started talking at once. Darren let out a sigh and raised his hands for silence, while the coach stepped forward, blowing his whistle.

"Shut it!"

Darren took a deep breath and continued, addressing the disgruntled players. "When you sign up to play sports at Oxford, you commit to maintaining a drug-free status. Many of you are here on scholarships, and substance abuse can jeopardize that. As the Dean, I have the authority to carry out random drug tests at my discretion. And before you complain that the rugby team is being singled out, be aware that I will be implementing these tests across all sports clubs."

The coach swung open the locker room door, ushering in two nurses amid some catcalls from a few of the players. "That's enough!" he shouted, shaking his head in disapproval as the nurses wheeled in a cart filled with small cups. "Two of you will step up at a time and provide your samples in these cups, while these kind ladies will conduct the tests. Once you finish, go run laps on the field."

Henry was among the first players to step up and provide a urine sample for one of the nurses. He entered a stall for privacy, relieved himself into the cup, and then handed it over to the nurse before thoroughly washing his hands. As he left the locker room, he exchanged a meaningful glance with Darren, who remained inside.

Meanwhile, Millicent and Abby were seated in the stands, puzzled as they observed the players gradually making their way onto the field, a departure from their usual collective entrance. Millicent voiced her confusion, asking, "What's happening?"

Abby, equally in the dark, shrugged before checking her phone, which had just received a notification.

Millicent's attention remained fixed on the field, where all the guys were dispersing and running around. Then, she noticed the coach approaching with her father. She nudged Abby and pointed to the field, their curiosity piqued as they observed Kyle and Ben being summoned.

"Walker! Bradshaw!"

Kyle and Ben exchanged baffled glances before jogging over to where their coach and the Dean awaited them. They were then escorted off the field and out of sight. Millicent was left utterly bewildered, and she turned to Henry for answers, finding him watching the situation unfold with his hands on his hips and an enormous grin on his face. She couldn't help but ask out loud, "What did he do?"

***

"This is fucking stupid. We don't do drugs..." Ben protested, his frustration evident as he nudged Kyle beside him. Darren, seated across from them, observed the exchange along with their coach, his expression inscrutable.

"Dean... these boys are some of my best players. You can't kick them off the team," the coach appealed.

"My hands are tied," Darren began with a weary sigh. He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled as he gazed thoughtfully at the two athletes before him. "Sometimes urine tests yield false positives. So, I'll send both of you for a blood test. If it comes back negative, I'll personally offer you an apology."

Kyle shook his head in disbelief, while their coach tried to offer some reassurance. "That's the best-case scenario. Let's just get this over with and move on, boys."

"Fine," Ben grumbled, rising abruptly from his chair. "My father will hear about this."

Darren, maintaining unwavering eye contact, responded coolly, "I hope he does. I'd welcome a conversation with your father about your... activities around campus."

Ben shot one last nervous glance at Darren before he and Kyle exited the office with their coach, leaving Darren alone with his thoughts.