Page 4 of The Freshman

“I mean, I’m gay. It was ajoke, about sexuality.”

Henry continued to stare at him anddeveloped a twitch in his eye. Then he shook his head. “I wouldkeep that to yourself in here.”

Alfie nodded, then gestured across hisheart. “Noted.”

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

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

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

Alfie twitched his nose at the slightodor in the air, before backing away.

Nate may’ve been a triple murder thatdeserved to be ‘put down’, but there was no disputing the accuracyof his nose.

Chapter Two

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

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

His shift had ended, but Ryan hadasked for him to stay behind. The rest of night shift lingered inthe lobby, pretending they were busy when actually they were noseyas hell.

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

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

Ryan hummed. Then a broad smilestretched his thin lips. “I’m changing your shift. I’m moving youto H-wing.”

Alfie widened his eyes. H-wing, thatwasn’t just a step up, but a giant leap. He would be surrounded byhard-case criminals. Not just repeat shoplifters and drug addicts.H-wing was full of violent men. Those in there for GBH, seriousassault, rape, manslaughter, and in the case of Nate Mathews,triple murder.

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

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

“Wait … nightshift?”

Ryan snorted and closed his eyes in anextended blink. Another thing Alfie found irritating. A lot couldhappen in a blink like that, and the pens littering the desk weretempting to throw.

“You didn’t think I’d moveyou on to H-wingandput you on days? You’d be dragged into a cell and violated,and although that might knock some sense into you, it would drag myname through the mud.”

“Another night shiftthen?”

Ryan popped his lips, then removed hislegs from the desk. “Yep, you just don’t have theexperience.”

“Will you at leastconsider me for holiday cover?”

Ryan shook his head. “Let’s just seehow this goes.”

Alfie opened his mouth to protest, butRyan wagged his finger sternly. “Enough, Rookie. I’ve put you onnights, accept it. Henry, Dan, and Ben are swapping to G-wing, andyou Marie, and Glen are on H. My decision is final.”

Alfie pressed his lips together, thenstood from his chair. After a curt nod, he left the office andmoved into the lobby. Marie, Henry, Glen, and the twins gatheredaround him, wide eyed and pale. Even Henry looked more blanchedthan normal.

“So, what he say,fish?”

“It’s Alfie, and we’removing to nights on H-wing, you, Ben, and Dan are on G.”

The twins smiled and clapped theirhands. Marie and Glen shared a worried look, but Henry justshrugged.

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