Page 47 of Beyond the Darkness
A surge of heat, excitement, rushed through him.A familiar feeling he associated with being with Luke.
The server returned for their orders.Hudson hadn’t even looked at the menu.“I’ll have a ham and mushroom pizza, please.”
Luke ordered mushroom and truffle risotto.Then they were alone again.
A male couple outside studied the menu, debating whether to come in.One of them seemed keen, the other less so.
“What the hell is the Blyham Cat Killer?”Hudson asked.
Luke was about to try the wine, and paused, the glass halfway to his lips.He laughed.“Why do you want to know that?”
“Something Corman and Amber said earlier.That they interrupted their report into the Blyham Cat Killer to announce thatDarkest Bluewas coming to town.It sounded…weird.”
“Hmm.”Luke sipped the wine.“If you’d listened to their podcast you wouldn’t say that.It’s very random.They cover everything you can imagine.Local news, celebrity gossip, environmental issues, neighbourly disputes, school competitions, national headlines, health and beauty, fitness.It’s like one of those nutty morning TV shows in podcast form.For some reason, a lot of people seem to like it.Mainly because of their charisma and personality on air.They are very good at what they do.”
“And the cat killer?”
“Oh, that’s exactly what it sounds like.Last year, there was a series of cat murders all over the city.The poor things were beheaded and left in places people would find them.Like park benches, footpaths, shop doorways, that kind of thing.”
“Sick.”
“Totally.I was really worried about Molly when it was going on.She’s such a friendly little soul she would go up to anyone who approached her.Thankfully, she doesn’t wander further than the few houses on our street.The cat killings were all within the city centre.”
“Did they catch the bastard responsible?”
Luke shook his head.“But I don’t think there’s been any more since maybe last October.I guess whoever was responsible has either moved away or gone to prison for some other offence.”
“Or progressed onto something bigger than little cats.That’s how it works with these fuckers.They start with helpless animals before working their way up to hurting people.”
Luke grimaced.“There are plenty of examples of that in this city.”
“I need to start listening toBeyond Blyham.I feel very ill-informed.”
The couple outside had eventually decided to come in.
“They’ve rubbed you up the wrong way, haven’t they?”
“Huh?”Hudson asked.
“Corman and Amber.”
“Oh.”He pulled a face.“Just a little.They’ve got some kind of agenda going on.I don’t know what it is, but it’s not promoting the play, I know that much.”
“Well, duh.The only thing they’re really interested in promoting is themselves.”
Hudson had already finished his first glass.He poured another.“I think you’re right.I’m certain they’re gearing up for a muck-raking job on my past.”
“How come?”
“Ah, just a couple of things they asked me about earlier.Ancient history really.It’s kind of odd they should mention it now.”When Luke’s brow furrowed in interest, he continued.“What the hell.I might as well get it off my chest.It starts with that fucking movie.Red Hills Massacre.”
“Surely that’s not so strange.They’re bound to be interested with everything that’s going on.”
“That’s just the start.”He took a deep breath.This was not a story he’d ever shared before.Probably crazy to spill it to another journalist, but he trusted Luke implicitly now.“I was young when I made that movie.Just starting out.I hate the damn film now, but it was a really big deal for me at the time.The director was Singer Fry.He made it clear when they were casting that it was close between me and another actor.I’m not claiming to be a victim here.I wanted that role and did what I had to get it.Which included going to bed with Singer Fry.”
Luke’s eyes widened.“Hudson.I’m so sorry.”
“Hey.”He raised both hands.“This was well before Me Too.I knew that’s what it took to get the job, and it was a price I was willing to pay.That was all on me.I’m not blaming anyone else.”
