Chapter Two Ghosts in Uniform #2
Bowen opened the file in front of her. “We’ve reviewed your record.”
That got a reaction. Alfie squirmed.
“Previous contact with police in Romford.” Bowen peered up. “Three separate cautions for assault. One incident of petty theft. All within the last eighteen months.”
She didn’t sound judgmental. More clinical. Factual. That made it worse somehow .
“There seems to be a pattern. Can you tell me why you’re now in Worthbridge, over fifty miles from your last recorded address?”
Nathan’s pulse ticked up. He couldn’t remain silent about that. “We’ve just moved here. Staying at my old man’s until I find us somewhere. It’s why he wouldn’t have known the address to give. He’s not running county lines, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“Thank you, Mr Carter,” Bowen said. “I appreciate the clarification. I’m trying to understand the context. It’s important we know who he’s around and what he’s walking into.” She turned back to Alfie. “Anything you want to add?”
Alfie gave the barest shake of his head. “Didn’t start it.”
“That may be true,” Bowen said gently, “but the fact is, it ended with you throwing the first punch. And from the observations and evidence gathered, you didn’t stop at one punch either. So I need to understand why.”
Silence.
Alfie stared down at the table.
Nathan could feel the tension radiating off him. Not anger exactly. More fragile than that. As though Alfie was one question away from either cracking open or shutting down completely. And Nathan didn’t know which outcome would be worse.
Bowen gave it a beat, then leant in. “Alfie, I’m not here to stitch you up.
Those lads you tangled with? They’ve been on our radar for a while.
But we need people to speak up before we can do anything about it.
Now, maybe you walked into something bigger than you realised.
Or maybe you knew exactly who they were and what they were up to.
Either way, helping me understand that starts with the truth. ”
Alfie didn’t move .
“You’re not helping yourself by staying quiet.
And you’re not helping anyone else, either.
If there’s something you know, something that gives us reason to bring them in, even for questioning, I can follow that up.
But if you leave it here, it looks like an unprovoked assault. And that will go on your record.”
Still nothing.
Nathan shifted in his seat, tempted to speak, but held back. Alfie needed to make the choice himself. Not that he’d even know what to say if he was given the chance. He had as much knowledge about what had made his son lash out today as everyone else in this room.
But Alfie didn’t speak. Didn’t even look up.
He folded further into himself. Tightening his armour.
Bowen leant back, expression unreadable, but Nathan could sense her disappointment. Not in Alfie. In the silence. In the wasted opportunity.
“Alright.” She closed the file in front of her.
“This concludes the voluntary interview of Alfie Carter at Worthbridge Police Station. Time is fourteen oh-two. Present in the room: DS Angela Bowen, PC Freddie Webb, PC Harris from Youth Offending, the interviewee, and Mr Nathan Carter acting as appropriate adult.” The digital recorder gave a soft beep as the red light clicked off.
With the formalities done, she folded her arms.
“Alfie, you’re not being charged at this time. The matter will be reviewed for a community resolution, given your age and the context. That might involve a meeting with the Youth Offending Team, possibly some restorative work if the other party agrees, and further support services.”
Alfie gave another shrug.
Nathan knew that look. Not apathy. Protection .
Bowen continued, “We’ll also be flagging your vulnerability status with the local safeguarding team, given the recent relocation and prior history. Someone will follow up with you both within the week.”
Nathan nodded. Great. More people prying into his business. Into Alfie’s business. He’d thought he’d taken him away from all that.
PC Harris stood, tucking the laptop under one arm. “I’ll take you through the release paperwork. He’s free to go, Mr Carter. But I’d advise you both to engage with the support when it comes.”
Nathan pushed to his feet, leg stiff from too long sat still. The old injury bit sharp, but he didn’t wince, instead he laid a hand on Alfie’s shoulder. Meant it to ground the lad. Steady him. But the grip landed heavier than it should. Too much pressure and not enough care.
Alfie flinched. But he didn’t pull away.
Nathan wasn’t sure if that made it better or worse.
He still didn’t know how to do this. How to be a dad to a kid shaped by years of absence and neglect. A lad who looked more like a closed door than a son.
He wasn’t the father Alfie needed.
Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Old habits kicked in, though, and Nathan scanned Freddie.
Top to toe. Quick, clean, automatic. Soldier’s eyes missed little.
Not the tight set of Freddie’s jaw, or the way his mouth pulled slightly on one side, as if he was holding something in.
The uniform suited him. Too well. Shoulders broader now, face more carved out, stubble sharp across his jaw.
Still had those eyes though. Deep brown, intense, but never as unreadable as he liked to think.
Nathan had spent too long gazing into them to be fooled.
He looked away before the ache could take shape. Before it made the moment mean more than it should, and he followed Harris out with Alfie.
Neither said goodbye .
They’d already done that.
A lifetime ago.