Page 65 of Beyond the Darkness
Luke had been repenting that ever since.
After he’d married Kris, and it had become apparent that his husband had alcohol and anger problems of his own, Luke had been determined not to repeat the mistake.It was an opportunity for him to do something right.To help Kris in the way he hadn’t been able to for Reece.
He’d stayed in a difficult, toxic marriage for far longer than was good for either of them, out of fear for what would happen if he left.
Ultimately it had done neither of them any good.
As he turned onto the coastal road, Luke realised he’d driven most of the way on autopilot.He’d been so absorbed in the past, he’d paid little attention to the route.He smacked himself about the face.Get it together.
Another accident would solve nothing.
He would get home, take a shower, then try to put his head in order.
He couldn’t react on stupid instinct like he had before.It would take careful thought and words to get his genuine version of events across to Hudson.
Maybe they both needed a couple of days to cool down before he even tried.
The sun was dipping low on the horizon when he pulled onto his drive, casting beautiful lights across the sky and water.It would have been a perfect setting for romance under different circumstances.
With a weary sigh, he got out of the car and locked it.
The street was deserted.Maybe Molly would visit him later.The cat had an uncanny knack of appearing whenever he was down and needed cheering up.He’d leave the front window open so she could let herself in.
He stood for a moment, looking out to sea, breathing deeply and reminding himself how lucky he was.
This evening had been a blip.A misunderstanding, contrived by Corman and Amber to generate controversy.A new sensation for their show.
He refused to give them that pleasure.
He would make things right with Hudson by the weekend, and they would d be left with nothing to report.
Luke had his keys in his hand when he approached the front door.As he inserted one into the lock, an unexpected noise alerted him.It came from the right side of the house.
Molly?
“Hello?”he called.No reply.An inexplicable unease skittered down his spine.
He turned the key when the sound came again.
Then a figure appeared from around the corner.
A figure wearing a baby-faced mask and carrying a lethal-looking knife.Silently, the figure tilted its head, as if studying him.
For a second, Luke was frozen.It wastheBaby Face, the killer fromRed Hills Massacre.
This can’t be real.But it was.
He fumbled with the key, struggling to open the door.
That’s when the figure with the knife raced towards him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Come Now”
After talking to Luke, Hudson was even more conflicted than ever.His life felt like it was falling apart.First Julian, then the return of Robbie Wiseman, now Luke.The first public performance was less than twenty-four hours away and he didn’t know how he was going to get through the rest of tonight, let alone tomorrow.He called the only person he had left to turn to.Rav.
Rav suggested Hudson meet him the in bar of his hotel, but Hudson insisted they needed privacy for what he had to say and, after some reluctance, Rav gave the number of his suite and told him to come straight up.Hudson wrung his hands and gritted his teeth as he waited for the elevator to rise.People got on at every floor, going up.It seemed strange until he realised the hotel had a terrace bar and a restaurant on the top floor.
