Page 40 of Freshman

Alfie shot a look at Henry and noticed he looked more alert than usual. His glasses weren’t held tightly in his hand but still in his top pocket.

Ryan clapped his hands together, a signal that his briefing had finally finished.

When Ryan finally faded from view, Alfie rushed toward the toilets with the trousers cradled to his chest. He finished climbing into them just as the door next to his stall swung open and clattered against the wall. He heard the squelch of a sloppy kiss, followed by a wailed name—Glen.

Alfie fled from the toilets, rubbing at his ears to rid himself of the disturbing tone of Marie’s voice. She sounded beyond needy, and the noises their mouths made reminded him of gorging zombies.

“What’s up with you, fish? Look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He shook his head. “Not seen one, but it sounded like one. In the toilets.”

Henry raised his patchy eyebrows. “Oh, they’ve sorted things out.”

“Apparently.”

He hung his soaked trousers on the radiator and scratched his neck where the damp collar rubbed. Alfie frowned when Henry didn’t immediately put on his glasses. He stood in the centre of the room, repeatedly rocking from his heels to his toes with his hand linked behind his back.

“Something up?” Alfie asked.

Henry raised an eyebrow. “Were you not listening to Ryan? Nate will be along shortly.”

Alfie swallowed awkwardly, and Henry wagged his finger. “Exactly. I can’t relax either when I know that evil man’s not in his cell.”

“Where is he?”

“Skype call with his dear old Doris. He should be back at any moment.”

“Where…where does Doris live again?”

Henry sighed like Alfie had disappointed him. “Australia. She moved there decades ago after her first husband died.”

“Right.”

“You’d know that if—”

“I read his file.”

Henry hummed.

Alfie nodded at his lap, then began his own repetitive motion. He filled the silence by picking nervously at his nails. Henry looked at him but didn’t comment. The lights of the prison flickered, and their gazes snapped to each other.

“We don’t want the power cutting out before he’s in his cell,” Henry muttered. “Where the hell are they...”

A gate clunked, followed by another, and they both turned their attention to the biggest, most secure gate that led into the lobby. Nate came into view. He stared through the window of the office and pinned Alfie in his chair. He couldn’t even continue his obsessive nail-nipping. The corner of Nate’s mouth lifted in a smile, and he narrowed his eyes slightly. It was the fourth time he had seen Nate in the flesh, and the sight of him robbed the air from Alfie’s chest and the moisture from his mouth.

“You’re right to be nervous,” Henry muttered.

Two prison officers walked in Nate’s wake, and when they caught sight of Henry, their faces sagged with relief.

“You two can handle him.”

Henry bobbed his head. “Had a feeling you’d say that.” He hobbled out of the office first and exchanged small talk with the two officers.

Nate stayed by the door, eyes unblinking and smile growing. He wore another tight T-shirt, and his arms were secured at his back.

Alfie swallowed awkwardly and got to his feet. He moved with forced confidence toward Nate, but the bigger man smirked at Alfie’s attempt.

Alfie squeezed past him, took two steps to the gate to H-wing, then the building shook with the rumble of thunder. The vibrations were felt deep in his chest, and all of the officers looked up to the blinking lights. Alfie felt Nate’s eyes still on him.

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