Page 4 of Freshman

“See, you need to be more like them. Young, playful. Not working in a prison at eighteen. Mark my words, you’ll either get depressed and turn to suicide or end up on the other side of the bars hooked on drugs.”

Alfie sighed heavily. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

Henry waved his hand. “Not about confidence. You’re good, you’re efficient, but it won’t last. Sometimes the straightest men bend when they start working here.”

“Well, I’m not the straightest guy to begin with.”

Henry stared at him like he had grown another head.

“I meant, I’m gay.”

Henry continued to stare at him and developed a twitch in his eye. Then he shook his head. “I would keep that to yourself in here.”

Alfie nodded, then gestured across his heart. “Noted.”

“Wait, that’s not how you get your kicks, is it? Teasing the prisoners, seducing them. That’s a dangerous game you’re playing if it is.”

“Of course not! I’m here to do my job.”

Henry picked up his glasses with a tut. “Nothing but a fish, an innocent fish waiting to be caught.” He breathed on his glasses before wiping them on his shirt.

Alfie twitched his nose at the slight odour in the air before backing away.

Nate might be a triple murderer who deserved to be ‘put down’, but there was no disputing the accuracy of his nose.

2

Ryan leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankles on the desk. His brown eyes were fixed on Alfie’s, and he rubbed vigorously at his chin.

The small patch of hair irritated Alfie. For some reason, Ryan kept his chin dimple unshaved. It reminded Alfie of a hairy arse crack. It was the only patch of hair on his head other than his bushy eyebrows.

Alfie’s shift had ended, but Ryan had asked him to stay behind. The rest of the night shift lingered in the lobby, pretending they were busy when actually they were nosey as hell.

“I’ve got some good news for you,” Ryan said.

Alfie’s throat tightened, and he forcibly swallowed. “What?”

Ryan hummed, then a broad smile stretched his thin lips. “I’m changing your shift. I’m moving you to H-wing.”

Alfie widened his eyes. H-wing, that wasn’t just a step up but a giant leap. He would be surrounded by hard-case criminals. Not just repeat shoplifters and drug addicts. H-wing was full of violent men, who were in there for GBH, serious assault, rape, manslaughter and, in the case of Nate Mathews, triple murder.

“H-wing, if you think I’m ready, I’m all for it.”

Ryan nodded. “I think you are. You, Marie, and Glen. You’re all going to swap with the night staff on H-wing. They deserve a break.”

“Wait…you mean another night shift?”

Ryan snorted and closed his eyes in an extended blink. Another thing Alfie found irritating. A lot could happen in a blink like that, and the pens littering the desk were tempting to throw.

“You didn’t think I’d move you on to H-wing and put you on days? You’d be dragged into a cell and violated, and although that might knock some sense into you, it would drag my name through the mud.” Ryan popped his lips, then removed his legs from the desk. “You just don’t have the experience.”

“Will you at least consider me for holiday cover?”

Ryan shook his head. “Let’s just see how this goes first.”

Alfie opened his mouth to protest, but Ryan wagged his finger sternly. “Enough, Rookie. I’ve put you on nights, accept it. Dan and Ben are swapping to G-wing; you, Marie and Glen are on H, and Henry, as the most senior member of the team, will watch over you all. My decision is final.”

Alfie pressed his lips together, then stood from his chair. After a curt nod, he left the office and moved into the lobby. Marie, Henry, Glen and the twins gathered around him, wide-eyed and pale. Even Henry looked more blanched than normal.

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