5. Alfie
Chapter Five
ALFIE
I awake from a dream where Faith and I are in the shower and the warm water is cascading around us as I massage her breasts with soapy suds. Except someone is banging on the shower door.
I wake with a start, sitting up in bed.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Someone is using their fists to pound the front door downstairs. I dress quickly, intending to head down there and teach whoever it is some manners.
Faith sits up in bed, her lovely dark hair cascading around her shoulders. “Alfie, no. Please. Can you go out the back door?”
I stare back at her. “Why?”
“It’ll be Bobby.” Her eyes are wide and scared.
“Great. I need to speak to him anyway. And there’s no reason to be injuring your poor front door like that.”
There are tears in her eyes. “No. I’m sorry. I don’t want a fight in front of Troy. My son. I was going to tell you this morning, I thought we’d have time. Bobby isn’t due to bring him back until late morning. But if I don’t answer the door instantly he starts thumping on it.”
I look back at her. “I understand you don’t want a scene.
For the sake of your son, I’ll wait until Troy’s safely inside.
And I’ll go around the back of the house.
I didn’t park directly outside since I thought people might gossip if you had the deputy sheriff’s car there for a while.
I’ll go wait in my car. I do need to speak to Bobby, though. Bye, Faith.”
I head downstairs, walking through the kitchen out the back door. I use the back gate and walk a few hundred yards along the path at the back of the houses before looping back to Faith’s street and my car. I warm up the engine, keeping an eye on the house.
Bobby’s still pounding on the door and I grip the steering wheel in my hands, angry at his lack of respect for this incredible woman. The little boy beside him has his hands over his ears and is cringing away from the noise.
The door opens and the boy runs into Faith’s arms. It’s a surprise she has a kid, but it doesn’t change my feelings about her.
I can’t hear what Bobby’s shouting, but his red face and balled up fists make me even angrier. He turns on his heel and stamps back to the silver van. He drives it too fast out of her street and onto the main road, taking the road out in the direction of the highway.
I follow behind. Suddenly he swings onto a dirt road that leads to some warehouses just out of town.
I park up and wait a few minutes, then drive up. Just before the warehouses I park behind a cluster of trees and make the rest of the journey on foot.
Bobby’s unloading crates of champagne, wine and beer into a dingy-looking warehouse. He freezes when he spots me walking up. I don’t have my uniform on, but he’s obviously heard who’s been looking for him.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he says.
“What does it look like Bobby?” I ask, peering into the warehouse. There are multiple crates in there, stacked in haphazard piles from the floor almost to the ceiling.
“I’m just helping out a friend, right. He’s got some stock and I’m just…” He’s sweating and his voice has a high, slightly whiny pitch. He has a small scar on his left cheek which must be from the time he set himself on fire at that party all those years ago.
I hold up my hand. “I know exactly what you’re doing.
I had a word with Magnus Huckle. He’s identified which one of the workers at Peppermint Lodge has been over-ordering stock, deleting the order and then giving it to you to sell.
Except the two of you didn’t count on Faith’s exceptional accounting skills. ”
His face crumples. “That bitch. She’s done it on purpose.”
I take a step closer. “That’s the mother of your child. You speak about her with respect. She doesn’t deserve you banging on her door in front of your son like that.”
His eyes lower. “I can’t get in trouble again. I needed to make some money, fast. I have gambling debts. And a really bad drug problem.”
“You have two choices, Bobby. I’ll drive you to the train station and you can get a train up to Estonware to visit their rehab facility as quickly as possible.
Here’s a card. I’ll call ahead so they know you’re coming.
Do it for your son. Take their anger management classes.
Get your life together. I’ll explain to Magnus that you’ll repay him for the fraud when you’re out.
Your other choice is to come straight to the station with me, now.
I’ll book you for DUI and fraud, and you’ll definitely get a jail term. ”
He winces and looks up. “No other choices?”
“Nope.” I stare him down.
“Okay. I’ll go to rehab. Gotta be a first time for everything, huh?” He runs his hand over his dishevelled hair.
“Good choice. Follow me.” I lead him back to my car and drive him down to the train station, waiting with him until he gets on the train. I’ll check in with the facility to make sure he’s arrived in an hour or so.
I drive back to Faith’s house and knock on the door. It’s a moment or two before she answers. I can hear the sound of her son whooping as he plays a game on the PS4.
“Hey Alfie. Bobby’s gone. Can we talk?” She closes the door and walks out to sit on the porch swing. It’s cold out here and she wraps her arms around herself. I want to wrap her inside my coat, but I follow and sit down beside her.
She sighs. “I wanted to tell you about Troy. And how difficult Bobby is. He never really recovered from the shock of his accident. And I wanted to stick by him, especially after I fell pregnant. We were both young and I wanted to give Troy a proper family. But Bobby just got worse and worse. So I kicked him out when he started taking drugs. I couldn’t have that around my son.
And he resents me for it. It’s really messed up. ”
I look over at her. “I’ve spoken with Bobby.
Your excellent work with the spreadsheet helped Magnus and I figure out what was going on.
He’s been taking alcohol from Peppermint Lodge to sell on the side, with the help of one of the employees.
So I’ve given him the choice between jail and getting sober. He’s going into rehab.”
Faith’s eyebrows shoot up. “He is?”
I nod. “Hopefully he takes this chance. It would be great if Troy could have a father he could rely on. Family is so important.”
Faith reaches over and takes my hand in hers. “Thank you Alfie. And I’m sorry it hasn’t worked out.”
I squeeze her hand gently in mine. It’s soft and warm. “What do you mean it hasn’t worked out? I’ve had the best sex of my entire life with the most beautiful woman in the world. Plus, it’s Christmas! How can it get any better?”
She laughs and I put my arm around her as she leans closer.
“There’s no mistletoe but would you kiss me again?” Her voice is breathy.
“I’d be glad to, ma’am.” I lower my lips to hers.
I’m back in Snowflake Falls and it’s a wonderful place to be.
I’ve found the girl of my dreams and she was right here all along.