Page 59 of Beyond the Darkness
“C’mon,” Hudson said.“I’m trying to take a break here.You’ve seen what it’s been like today.I need some time alone.Please, get out.”
Amber clasped her hands in front of her, head bowed.He’d never seen this humble side of her.Something was off.Something he didn’t trust.“It’s really important that we speak to you.Now.”
“While Luke isn’t here,” Corman added.
Hudson’s senses sharpened.He studied the podcasters.What the hell were they up to now?What was so urgent that they had to speak to him in this private time between acts.And without Luke?He sat straight, muscles tensed and ready.“Come on then, what is it?And you’d better not be recording any of this.”
They both shook their heads.
“We’re not,” Corman said.“Honest.”He held the tablet up, screen forward, to show him there were no audio recording apps open.
Amber shuffled closer.Her eyes met his at last, filled with a strange intensity.“This is kind of awkward.We know you and Luke have got close.”
“That’s another fact that had better not make its way onto your podcast,” he said.
“You’ve got the wrong idea, mate,” Corman said.“We’re here to help.Doing you a favour.”
Hudson doubted they ever granted favours without requiring something in return.
“You only met him a couple of weeks ago, right?”Amber asked.“When you first got here.”
He nodded, warily.
“And has he told you much about himself?About his past?”
For fuck’s sake.What are these idiots playing at?“Look, it’s obvious you’ve got something you want to tell me.Some dirt you’ve managed to dig up, hoping to provoke a reaction for your show.I’m not interested.If it’s anything important, Luke will tell me himself, when he’s ready.In the meantime, it’s none of my business, and it’s certainly not yours.”
“The safety of this show and everyone in it is our business,” Corman said.“Especially after what happened to Julian.”
Hudson’s suspicion of their motives deepened.“What happened to Julian?”His voice was laced with scepticism.
Amber and Corman exchanged a glance.
“He doesn’t know,” she said.
“We need to tell him.”
Hudson’s jaw tightened.He was losing his patience.“Oh, knock it off.Enough of the game playing.C’mon then.Tell me, whatever bullshit it is that you think you know.”
Amber straightened up.“It’s just that Luke…might not be the nice guy that you think he is.”
“What’s that supposed to even mean?”
“We think he’s dangerous,” Corman said.
“No,” Amber said firmly.“Weknowit.He’s very dangerous.”
Hudson suddenly wasn’t so sure.His anger dissolved, replaced by uncertainty.He felt bare beneath their intense scrutiny.“What is it you know?”he said at last.
“Has Luke ever mentioned a man called Reece Dempsie to you?”Amber asked.
“No.”The name meant nothing.
“I’m not surprised.”Corman tapped and swiped at the screen of his tablet, before handing it to Hudson.
It showed an old newspaper article.Beloved father dead in ten-storey fallread the headline.And below, the subheading,One man arrested in connection with the death.He scanned the date of the piece.Nine years ago.
“What is this?”he asked, unable to focus on the main text.
