Page 3 of The Freshman

Alfie chomped the inside of his cheek,then released the flesh and forced a smile. “Isn’t he supposed tobe somewhere?”

The prisoner narrowed his eyes andstared to the ceiling as if considering some complex problem. Thenhe levelled his head and stared Alfie in the eye.

“Fish? If anyone in hereshares traits with a fish, it’s Henry and his stench.”

The snort that escaped Alfie wasinvoluntary, and he hid it with a shuffle. The prisoner beamed athim through the bars, eyes tracking the lift of Alfie’s lips hebattled hard to control.

Henry didn’t hear what the prisonersaid, but the other guards did.

“Nate, enough now. Comeon, let’s get you in,” Ian mumbled.

Alfie took an involuntary step back atthe name. There was only one Nate in the prison, Nate Mathews. OnH-wing for triple murder. The staff shuddered at the mention of hisname. Alfie assumed he’d look like a monster, scarred, with bustedteeth and narrow eyes, but the man before him was attractive withan intimidating vibe that both scared and drew Alfie in.

Nate closed his eyes and opened themslowly. His lips twitched at the edges, and a smile bloomed overhis face. “I’m gonna remember that pretty smile of yours,Freshman.”

Alfie pressed his lips in a hard linethen raised his eyebrow.

Nate laughed, backing away from thegate. “Night, Freshman.”

Alfie didn’t reply, he turned back towatch his vacant wing of the prison. Gates opened and clicked shutbehind him. Alfie listened to the clomp of feet, one set heavier,slower, an unrushed stride into the prison. A short time later thesame gate opened and closed without the distinctive set offootfalls. Nate had been locked back in his cell.

Ian and Keith waved a goodbye toHenry, then opened and closed the several gates that led back tocivilization. Alfie waited a few minutes before unlocking the gateat his back to join Henry in the office. He wanted to catch Henrybefore he fell back to sleep.

“So that’s Nate Mathews…”Alfie mumbled.

Henry stilled his hands, glassesinches from his face, then he lowered them into his lap.

“Evil that one. What hedid to those men…” He trailed off, then shuddered before pointingat the filing cabinet in the corner. “It’s in there, the details ifyou wanna read them.”

Alfie glanced at the browning unit,with its dented door, and deep scratches. The files of eachprisoner were on computer, but the prison still liked to keep apaper file on each too.

Alfie shook his head. “I know hekilled three people, if that doesn’t make you evil, whatdoes?”

Henry nodded. “Makes me despair thedeath penalty was banned. I say send him to America and let themput him down.”

Marie’s cackle broke their tenseconversation. She appeared in the office doorway, shirt buttonedwonkily and thick fringe in disarray.

Glen appeared behind her, a dopy grinon his face and ruffled red hair. His rose-tinged cheeks made itlook like he had run a marathon.

Alfie inwardly shuddered at thedisturbing visual. “So, you sorted the noise?” he asked.

Marie cocked her head and wrinkled hernose. “What noise?” She stumbled forward at the slight shove fromGlen.

“You know … the noise,”Glen said with zero subtly.

She turned to him, then whipped backto Alfie. “Oh, yes … the noise. Nothing, it wasnothing.”

They moved from the door, giggling asthey went.

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

Alfie sighed heavily. “Thanks for thevote of confidence.”

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

“Well, I’m alreadythere.”

Henry stared at him like he had grownanother head.

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