Page 14 of Beyond the Darkness
Hudson picked up his phone and pulled up Julian’s credits.There was a vast gallery of images, going way back to his youth theatre days.He hadn’t changed all that much over the years, except to get more distinguished and handsome.“He’s done a lot of great things.Drama, musicals, comedy.His TV credits are pretty incredible.”
“Yeah,” Luke agreed.“He’s appeared in at least one episode of just about every major British TV show there is.Often just a scene or two, but he always made a huge impression.I’ve never understood why he wasn’t a bigger star.I saw him in a production down in London a year or so ago.He was magnetic on stage.I was surprised when I saw he had such a small role inDarkest Blue.”
“Very few actors get to choose the roles they play.Most of the time we just take what we can get.Julian doesn’t appear to have any big ego…” Hudson corrected himself.“Didn’t.Fuck.I can’t believe this.”He wrung his hands.“I keep expecting to wake up.”
“I’m sorry.I can see you’d become good friends.”
“What was that you were saying earlier?About the crime rate in Blyham.”
“It’s off the fucking chart,” Luke said.“I can’t believe none of you guys knew.These last few years have been appalling.When I first moved here, things were pretty good.There would occasionally be trouble on a weekend when you’d get large groups of out-of-town people coming in to party.Blyham has always had a reputation as a party hotspot.But it quickly got worse.Antisocial behaviour increased, and then hate crime rocketed.Racism, homophobia, transphobia.Things have been very dicey around the gay village area for a couple of years.There’s not a single weekend when at least one person doesn’t get queer-bashed.”
Hudson stared at him in disbelief.“You’re shitting me.I’m renting an apartment right in the middle of the area and I haven’t seen anything.”
“Have you been going out late on Fridays and Saturdays?”
“No, I’ve barely been out at all.”
“Then you’ve managed to escape it.I would suggest you look up the Blyham Strangler when you have a chance, though it might not be the best idea if you want to sleep well.I’m pleased to say he’s now in prison where he belongs.But there’s lots of other dangerous people still around.The violence didn’t stop after he was put away.”
“Surely that’s not what happened to Julian.He’s white, straight.He doesn’t tick any of the boxes for the kind of hate crimes you’re talking about.”
Luke took a mouthful of coffee and put the cup down thoughtfully.“No, but he dresses well, speaks with quite a posh accent.For Blyham, anyway.He’d stand out for being different, and sometimes that’s all it takes.”
Ruth appeared over Luke’s shoulder, scanning the room.She appeared more stressed than he’d ever seen her.Hudson raised his hand and waved at her.
“Hey, looking for us?”
She rushed over, relief written all over her face.“Yes, Hudson.Andie sent me to find you.”She glanced around, checking who was in earshot then lowered her voice.“The CID team have arrived.They want to speak to you.”
“Give me five minutes to finish my coffee and use the bathroom and I’ll be right there.”
She smiled nervously and hurried away.
“CID are here,” Luke said.“I guess that confirms it.They must have ID’d Julian.”
As his stomach churned, Hudson pushed his half-finished drink away, no longer interested.
“What about you?”he asked.“You told me you’ve been here eight years.If Blyham is so bad, why do you stay around?”
Luke smiled softly.“Despite everything, I still love the place.I love my job, the theatre, the culture.I’m not going to be driven away by a bunch of arseholes so unhappy in their own lives they need to make life a misery for everyone else.”
“You live here in the city?”
He laughed.“Fuck no.I don’t love it that much.I have a house along the coast.It’s only a twenty-minute drive in good traffic, but it’s far enough away to feel like another place entirely.”
“That sounds cool.”Hudson stuffed his phone in his pocket and made a move to get up.He paused.“Do you still feel like getting a drink tonight?I totally understand if you don’t, but after this, I really don’t fancy a night on my own in that apartment.I’d appreciate some company.”
Luke’s smile brightened the grim mood.“I’d love to.To be honest, I was hoping you’d say that.I don’t fancy spending an evening on my own either.”
“I take it that means you’re single?”
“Well, obviously.I wouldn’t be going on a date with a hot leading man otherwise.”
Now Hudson smiled.He could feel the heat rising over his face, colouring his cheeks.“It’s a date?”
Luke raised an eyebrow.“If it’s not, I’ll be more than a little disappointed.But given everything that’s going on, let’s keep it low-key.”
“Low-key suits me.”
