Page 46 of The Freshman

“I’m surprised he hasn’tkicked off more,” Henry mumbled.

“Who?” Alfieasked.

“Nate. You punched him inthe face. I thought he’d at least yell some, kick his cell, and getthe others to start mouthing off, but nothing.”

Alfie shrugged. “I barely made amark.”

“You split his lip,” Henrysaid, and Alfie winced.

“I’m sure he’s had worsein here. That’s what the other guys said.”

Henry shook his head.

“No, he hasn’t. They werejust trying to make you feel better, but I’m not gonna lie to you.Nate’s top dog on that wing. Surely, you’ve realized that? No onedares to cross him. It’s suicide. No officer, no prisoner. Then youcome along and wallop him one. A fish, fresh out of the water. He’splanning something, mark my words. Never find yourself alone withhim, and if you do, there’s no point praying for mercy.”

Henry marked the end of theirconversation by shoving his glasses on and flopping into hischair.

Alfie stared out of the office at thedark corner of the prison.

He wondered whether Henry was rightand Nate was reeling him in for revenge. He had said himself helured young men in and broke their necks. Alfie had assumed Natewas toying with him, coaxing him into reading the file, but itcould’ve been the truth. Nate could be dragging it out forentertainment, for fun, and he was allowing it, because he couldn’thandle the thought of hating him.

Chapter Twelve

Alfie awoke to a persistent buzzing.He slapped the mattress beside him, and on the fourth swipe heconnected with his phone. An unknown number flashed on the screen,and he thought about ignoring it, then sighed and pressed his thumbdown and sunk back into the pillow with the phone held to his ear.There was every chance Tia had got a new one.

“Yep?” hemumbled.

“Freshman…”

Alfie sat bolt upright with a gasp.“What the hell. Nate?”

“I hope no one else callsyou Freshman. That’smyname for you.”

Alfie shook his head. “You can’t callme!”

“I can, and Iam.”

“How did you even get mynumber?”

Nate sighed like the question boredhim. “Queenie remember? He got your address and yournumber.”

Alfie ran his free hand through hishair and clutched the strands at the back. “You can’t call me. Areyou on the prison phones?”

“Course not, I won’t riskanyone else overhearing us.”

“You’ve got aphone?”

Nate hummed. “Looks thatway.”

“I’m gonna have to reportyou, have your cell searched. I can’t pretend like I don’tknow—”

“You could report me, theywould search my cell, find nothing, and think you wereoverreacting, or you could keep your mouth shut and enjoy the soundof my voice, ‘cause I know you do.”

Alfie drew his eyebrows together andshook his head. “Nate, you can’t call me. I have to reportyou.”

“We both know you won’t.Just imagine I’m your hot boyfriend, overseas and we can only talkon the phone. You miss me, want me to come home to you, but youaccept you have to wait for now.”

Alfie released his hair and pinchedthe bridge of his nose. “But you’re not. You’re in prison formurder, and I’m your prison officer.”

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