Page 60 of Beyond the Darkness
“Luke was the man they arrested,” Amber said.“Reece was his boyfriend at the time.”
“Reece fell from the balcony of his apartment.They’d been drinking and arguing.There were a lot of witnesses.They’d been to a party beforehand where things got out of hand between the two of them.Eventually they left, but the fighting continued when they arrived home.Neighbours above and below gave convincing evidence afterwards.”
Hudson scrolled through the article.There was a photograph of a good-looking guy in his mid-twenties with a kid around five years old.He had short blond hair, blue eyes and an endearing smile.The child had the same features.
“That’s Reece’s daughter, Rose.She’s sixteen now,” Corman said.“We’ve spoken to her already.Poor kid wants answers that weren’t provided at the time.”
“He…what?Fell from the balcony?”
“That’s not as easy as it ever looks in the movies,” Corman said.“The rail was pretty high.You can’t just fall over.”
“And you think Luke pushed him?”he asked.
“The police did,” Amber said.“So did the neighbours.And Reece’s friend.And so does Rose.”
“Luke was arrested.There was a lack of substantial evidence to prove it.Eventually, Reece’s death was ruled by the coroner as misadventure.But that’s not what anyone really thinks.Not then.Not now.”
Hudson’s hands trembled as he scrolled through the page.There was another photo of Reece.On his own.It looked like a holiday snap.He was smiling in the sunshine, in shorts and a T-shirt.Happy, carefree, thinking he had his whole life ahead of him.
“I don’t see what significance this has on now.”Hudson’s voice sounded shaky.
“Don’t you?”Amber asked.
“We do,” Corman said.“Another man is dead in strange circumstances.And Luke Kamal just happens to be involved in a production of the play he was working on.It could be a coincidence.A mighty big one.But we don’t think so.”
“Luke didn’t know Julian.”The words were barely out of Hudson’s mouth when he remembered the visit he’d had from DS Coppola and Luke’s ex Kris.They’d asked if he knew Julian was bisexual.It had seemed odd at the time, like they were desperately trying to make a case.
But what if there was more to it than that?
What if Luke and Julian had known each other?Or even deeper than that.What if they’d been lovers?
The small dressing room seemed to close in around him, while the floor felt like it had disappeared.
Had he been sleeping with Julian’s killer all along?
Chapter Twenty-Two
More Secrets
Somehow Hudson got through the second act ofDarkest Blue.The lines were ingrained in his mind, and he completed the rehearsal on autopilot.Though Andie halted the show several times to criticise one thing or another, she appeared to be oblivious to his lacklustre delivery.When she eventually called it a day, he hastened from the stage without waiting for her notes.His head and heart were already somewhere else.
Hudson hurriedly changed out of his costume into a light shirt and trousers and rushed from the theatre.He’d texted Luke earlier to say he’d be done sooner than planned and needed to see him before nine o’clock.
He was still in a state of shock over the facts Corman and Amber had presented him with.Rationally, he managed to reason that Luke had no reason to tell him about the death of an ex-boyfriend.It was the best part of ten years ago.Who would want to dredge that up with a guy he’d only known for a few weeks?On the other hand, Luke had been arrested for murder, and given the current situation, the podcasters had planted sufficient suspicion that Hudson couldn’t shake it off.
The waterfront was busy when he reached it.The exterior tables of the bars and restaurants were all packed.The early evening sunlight cast a shimmering hue over the river and the buildings all along the bank were bathed in a golden glow.Hudson’s troubled mood couldn’t have been more at odds with the joyous beauty of the setting.
Luke leaned against the rail on the riverside with his face turned towards the sun.The sight of him in profile took Hudson’s breath away.He’d never looked more handsome, like a hero from a romance movie.He turned as Hudson approached, his beautiful face breaking into a radiant smile.
“Hey,” he said, stepping forward with open arms, coming in naturally for a kiss.
Hudson sidestepped the attempt and put a hand on his biceps.The smile he gave in return was stiff and awkward.
Luke sensed the change immediately.“What’s wrong?Don’t tell me something else has gone wrong.How did the run-through go?”
Hudson glanced around.Thankfully, no one was paying them any attention.Now that he was here, he didn’t know how to handle this.He turned away from Luke, put his hands on the railing and glared into the water.It was easier if he didn’t look at him.He inhaled.
“Tell me about Reece Dempsie,” he said at last.
