Page 9 of Worth the Wait
Alfie gave the slightest hint of a nod.
“Please respond aloud for the recording.”
“…Yeah. I understand.”
Nathan stayed put, even as every muscle in him itched to grab the kid by the collar and force the words out. But he wouldn’t. He’d spent his whole life making sure he wouldn’t become that man. His old man. Fists first, questions never. No chance. Not now. Not with Alfie. Even if every stupid decision Nathan had made so far had been with Ron Carter in his head.
Bowen continued, “Alfie, you were brought in this morning following an incident at the Worthbridge seafront skatepark. Multiple witnesses report a physical altercation between yourself and another group of boys. One of them sustained a split lip and minor bruising. Can you tell us what happened?”
Alfie shifted in his seat. Silence stretched.
“You’re not under arrest, Alfie.” Bowen attempted to dip into his line of sight. “You haven’t been charged. We want your side of the story.”
More silence.
Then, finally, “They were saying stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“That I don’t belong.”
Nathan felt that land like a stone in the room.
“Why would they say that?”
“I dunno.” Alfie shrugged. “Probably ’cause they run that spot. Don’t want no one else muscling in.”
“Run that spot for what?”
Alfie snorted. “As if you don’t know.”
“I’d quite like to hear it from you. Whatyouknow.”
He rolled his eyes. “The skatepark. Their patch. Their turf. Whatever.”
“Wereyou trying to take their patch?”
Alfie let out a humourless snort. “I’ve been here, what, five minutes? I don’thavea patch. Went there to skate.”
Bowen glanced towards Freddie. “PC Webb, can you confirm? Did you conduct a search at the scene?”
Freddie gave a small nod. “Yes, ma’am. Performed a Section one search under PACE on location.”
“And what did you find?”
“Nothing of concern. No controlled substances, no weapons, no cash. Just a mobile phone, a skate tool, and a bit of loose change.”
Bowen looked up. “His behaviour?”
“Initial refusal to engage.” Freddie was all procedure. “Declined to give his name.” Only then did he flick his gaze to Nathan. Brief. But it hit with the quiet efficiency of an SAS takedown.
So Freddie hadn’t known who he was dealing with at the time of arrest. But he knewnow. Had seen Nathan the second he stepped through the door. Still, he’d said nothing. No declaration of prior connection. No conflict of interest raised. Even Nathan knew he should declare their history. Maybe not all the complications that came with it, but at least say he knew him.Hadknown him. Back when life had been carefree and simple. But no. He walked in. Took his seat. Sat across from them, as if this was any other job. Why?
To observe?Judge?
Call fucking karma?
“He raised his voice.” Freddie was back to the script. “Verbally confrontational. Settled once handcuffed. No physical resistance.”
