Page 19 of The Freshman

Alfie swallowed, then drew air slowlythrough his lips, expanding his lungs to the maximum.

“Hold it,” Natewhispered.

Alfie did as Nate said, and his heartslowed its rampant thump.

“Now breathe outslow.”

The air whistled through Alfie’s lips,and he completely emptied his chest. His heart beat calmed back tonormal, and he took another deep breath of air.

“Perfect,” Natepurred.

The seductive tone ignited goose bumpsup Alfie’s neck, roaming over his scalp. He didn’t lurch away fromthe cell or slap his traitorous skin. He let the sensitive buzztake over him. He allowed himself to sink into unawareness and fora few seconds it offered him respite and relieved the ache in hisbody.

Even though Nate didn’t speak again,Alfie could tell he was still there, crouched or kneeled the otherside. Listening as the paramedics helped Queenie in the nextcell.

When he had reclaimed enough of hissenses, Alfie opened his eyes. Glen stood a few meters away. Hewiped his brow with relief before Marie took over and did it forhim. Henry had moved to the top of the stairs. He rubbed at hischin with an unbothered expression, then trundled back down thesteps.

A paramedic held his hand out forAlfie to take. He hauled Alfie to his feet, then patted hisshoulder. He followed sluggishly behind as they stretchered Queenieout. Only in the lobby did Alfie get a proper look at Queenie’sface.

His face was slim, his eyebrows werewell sculptured, and his ears were pierced with two gold hoops.Alfie couldn’t see his eyes, and most of his features were obscuredby the oxygen mask. Even that close to death, he looked morepreened and healthy than when he arrived at Larkwood.

Queenie raised his hand and clutchedthe mask on his face. The nails on his fingers were manicured withshiny red nail polish. Even though he had big hands, the well-keptnails made them look feminine. He slipped the mask down and openedone blood-shot eye.

Alfie moved closer and offered a tightsmile.

“Did you give me the kissof life?” he croaked.

Alfie scratched the back of his head,but even that jarred the muscles in his arm. “Yeah.”

Queenie dropped his head back on thestretcher and closed his eye. “Nate’s gonna be pissedoff.”

“I think he’ll be relievedyou’re alive.”

Queenie didn’t reply, and theparamedics wheeled him away flanked by the twins.

****

Alfie didn’t know quite what to expectwhen day shift arrived. They all had paperwork to fill out, andthey reported the events of the night. Alfie didn’t mention hestruggled to get in contact with his team. He said he radioed toHenry, and he responded immediately. He wasn’t a grass, and if itcame down to a ‘his word against mine’ situation, Alfie knew itwouldn’t end well for him.

By half past seven, Alfie wasstruggling to stay on his feet. Day shift had unlocked the rowdyprisoners for breakfast, and if Alfie hadn’t been so tired he mighthave paid attention to the men prowling the fence. All he wanted todo was crawl into his flat and curl up on the sofa, but Ryan madethem stand to attention as he read through their incidentreport.

When Ryan finally clapped his handstogether and dismissed them, Alfie rushed from the room, tugginghis tie loose as he went.

“Rookie!”

He froze at Ryan’s shout and turnedslowly to face him.

Ryan beckoned him back with the curlof his finger. He flapped the reports in his other hand. “It saysyou alerted Henry to an unresponsive inmate.”

Alfie nodded. “That’sright—”

“You didn’t wait foranother officer to assist you. You opened a cell on yourown.”

Alfie swallowed awkwardly. “It was anemergency.”

“What if Tyrone had beenfaking? What if he knocked you down and stole your keys? The wholewing could’ve got into the lobby and taken your fellow prisonofficers hostage.”

“I could see that heneeded—"

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