Page 49 of Freshman

He needed to see Nate, check he was all right, apologise for losing it like he did.

Ryan narrowed his eyes, and the sneer returned. “I’m offering you an out.”

“I’m happy where I am.”

“Fine. It’s your choice.”

Ryan flicked his chin out, dismissing all of them. Alfie followed Dave and Mike into the corridor. Dave turned to him and brought his arms up as if boxing. He threw a soft, slow punch at Mike, dodged and weaved, and threw another.

Dave chuckled. “Mike’s into boxing. He wasn’t expecting that hit from you.”

Mike beamed. “You don’t look tough, but that was a hell of a swing.”

Alfie scratched the back of his head and forced a smile. “I’d better go home.”

Mike reached up and rubbed Alfie’s shoulders. “That’s it, champ. Go rest for round two.”

Dave laughed and moved to his designated gate. Mike kept rubbing at Alfie’s shoulders until they got to his gate. Alfie passed through, and Mike locked it behind him.

Alfie turned with a tight smile. “Thanks for getting there so fast. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn't.”

Mike snorted, then rubbed the tip of his nose. “Sure, you do. Nate would’ve killed you. He’s evil, that one. Doesn’t even need a reason to kill someone, and now he’s got a very big one to kill you. Sleep well.”

Alfie couldn’t sleep at all. He stared at his huge television, not noticing when one programme changed to the next. He obsessively checked the time on his phone, heartbeat increasing both in fear and anticipation as work got closer. He forced down a sandwich that he didn’t taste and a coffee that did nothing to build his energy levels.

The shower beat down on his back, but he couldn’t feel it, and when he rubbed citrus bodywash over himself, the scent didn’t make it to his nose.

Everyone knew he had punched Nate Mathews. It was all the staff talked about when he arrived, and several of the day shift officers patted him on the back. The twins offered him high fives, and Glen and Marie didn’t immediately rush off to the toilets.

They wanted him to retell the incident, and he did in a monotonal voice.

Marie’s gaze drifted to the window and the gate to H-wing. “You think they’re going to be bad tonight?”

Henry hummed. “Not sure. Nate doesn’t take too kindly to being punched in the face, that’s for sure.”

Marie shuddered. “Yeah, I remember.”

Alfie scanned Marie’s paling appearance and swallowed hard. “What? Remember what?”

Henry sighed and rubbed at his eyes. “There was another officer before you started, when Nate was new. He was a big guy. He took an instant disliking to Nate. He shoved Nate about a few too many times, and Nate headbutted him.”

Marie’s eyes widened, and her lip wobbled. “I’ve never seen that much blood.”

Henry nodded. “Yeah, poor guy. We were searching the floor for his teeth all afternoon.”

Alfie breathed deep and exhaled through his barely parted lips.

Henry’s eyebrows snapped up. “But you don’t have to worry about that. He was on day shift. Nate can’t touch you, locked behind his cell door.”

“Unless he gets out,” Glen muttered.

The twin Alfie thought was Dan huffed. “Not likely, the doors haven’t failed since I’ve been here. He’ll only get out if one of us lets him out.”

“What if he fakes it, doesn’t answer the roll call?” Ben said.

Henry wagged his finger. “Even if he presses the emergency alarm on that cell and doesn’t answer verbally, we ain’t opening it. Leave it to day shift to sort him out.”

Alfie frowned. “But what if he needs help?”

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