Page 5 of Beyond the Darkness (Basic Instincts #3)

A Truce

The next morning, Hudson was in a much better frame of mind. After his failed attempt to explore the gay scene of Blyham for a one-night stand, he’d gone straight back to his apartment.

In bed, he’d spent some time searching through the archives of The Blyham Chronicle to see the kind of articles Luke Kamal had written.

What Rav had told him about Luke appeared to check out.

His reviews of local theatre shows and art exhibitions were intelligent and well-informed.

From what he could see, the Chronicle was one of the few newspapers outside of London that ran a comprehensive weekly art supplement, and Luke was given plenty of space to embrace his interests and passions.

Hudson had widened his search to look over Luke’s social media and was pleased to find it equally professional, with no questionable behaviour or political rantings.

He discovered that Luke had also written a non-fiction book about the history of Blyham’s Empire Theatre, where Darkest Blue would soon be opening.

The last thing he did before falling asleep was to order a copy of the book.

When Luke arrived at the rehearsal studio, Hudson decided it was time for them to start again.

“Hi,” he greeted him. “Got a minute?”

Luke’s dark eyes narrowed warily before he smiled. Even though it was forced, the smile sent a pure rush all through Hudson. “Of course.”

“Well, there’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just come out with it.

I’ve been behaving like a complete asshole these last few days and I’m sorry.

It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I’ve had…

issues with certain journalists in the past which have tainted my opinion.

I shouldn’t have assumed you’d be the same. ”

The smile took on a warmer aspect. “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that, but I can assure you I’m not a gossip journalist. I don’t look for dirt. Never have, never will.”

“I realise that now.” Then he admitted, “I’ve done some homework on you. And it all seems to check out.”

Luke laughed openly. “I’m glad to hear it. I meant everything I said yesterday. It’s an honour for me to have such privileged access to this production and I want nothing but the best for this play and the theatre. This is a big deal for me.”

They were among the first to arrive that morning. Manuella and Steve Dillard, who played the other male lead, were also late, but even Julian had yet to make an appearance. Andie and Rav had their heads together with a set designer.

“Do you feel like getting a proper coffee before we start?” Hudson suggested.

“Absolutely.”

There was a large coffee shop in the foyer of the Concert Hall. Hudson breathed in the gorgeous scent of Luke’s cologne as they walked down to the front. Now that he had given himself permission to like Luke, he was suddenly all in.

Luke was a good few inches taller than him. Hudson kept stealing glances as they progressed. His profile was just as strong as his front view, the chin, the nose, the thick dark hair. All very masculine. Very handsome.

“I see you wrote a book about the theatre we’re moving into.”

Luke gave him a side glance. He was smiling. “You really have done your research.”

“I’m sure you have, too,” he replied with good nature.

“Guilty. But not just on you. I’ve done a deep dive into all aspects of the show, cast and creatives.”

“Will all of that go into your articles?”

“Oh God, no. It’s just how my brain works.” He tapped his forehead. “I need to get it all locked in up here before I can make progress. I’m sure you’re the same when you play a character. I can’t get started until I know it all inside out.”

When they arrived at the coffee shop, the sun reflected off the still waters of the river. It was almost a mirror for the change in Hudson’s mood, and how much his attitude had altered since yesterday. They placed their orders and waited at the end of the counter for them to be fixed.

Luke wore dark trousers and a white open-necked shirt. The colour contrasted perfectly with his light brown skin tone. With the top two buttons undone, Hudson stole a peek at the hair on his impressive chest. He imagined following the trail of hair lower, seeing where it would lead.

“How are you finding our city?” Luke asked.

“I haven’t had a lot of free time to explore it yet. But I like what I’ve seen so far.”

“You’ve come at the best time, in summer. The winters are cold and bleak, but thankfully we have plenty to keep us busy. For a small city, there’s a lot to do.”

“Have you lived here for long?”

His brow furrowed in thought. “Just over eight years. I grew up not far from here in Newcastle, and went to uni in Nottingham. I got my first job in Manchester, then moved to a newspaper in Leeds, before finally making it to Blyham. When I was young, I found it quite dull compared to those bigger cities, but I love it now. Wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. ”

Hudson dragged his gaze away from Luke to look out of the window. “I can see why.”

“If you’d like a guide to show you around…”

Now their eyes were locked on each other again. Hudson was certain he was not misreading the signals. There was something between them. “I’d like that,” he said. “A lot.”

“How about we start on familiar ground? There’s a great duo performing at The Blue Pearl tonight. I’m planning to check them out, if you’d like to join me? They play kind of electropop, if you’re into that kind of thing. I saw them earlier in the year and they were brilliant.”

His accent was so cute. Hudson adored the way he said brilliant, his voice rising on the second half of the word. “I’d love to. How about we go early and get a bite to eat first?”

“Even better.”

Hudson had loose plans to go out with Julian at the end of the day, but doubted his co-star would object, given how close he seemed to be getting to leading lady Manuella.

The drinks arrived. Hudson waited while Luke emptied a sachet of brown sugar into his takeaway cup and gave it a good stir. He had strong hands with long fingers. His forearms and the backs of his hands were coated in fine black hairs.

Once again, Hudson found himself fantasising about the rest of Luke’s body. I bet he’s got a really pretty, hairy ass.

If the budding chemistry between them continued to develop, maybe he would find out. There was no hurry. Hudson knew better than to rush it. After all, he’d only called a truce with Luke about twenty minutes ago.

The good-natured chat continued on the walk back up to the rehearsal room. Luke asked gentle questions about Hudson’s feelings for the play so far and what had drawn him to the character.

“If I’m honest, I just love working on stage these days.

Far more than all those low-budget movies I get offered.

The week before last, I flew to Romania to shoot for three days on a movie that most likely won’t ever get released, at least not widely.

It might get dumped on a streaming service someday.

The seven weeks I’ve committed to Darkest Blue are so much more satisfying than that. ”

“Surely it’s going to be a lot longer than seven weeks. If the play goes to London, it could be a good six months or more.”

“If it happens. I don’t take anything for granted. Right now, I’ve got a guaranteed contract for the Blyham run. Nothing more certain than that.”

“I think it will do well,” Luke said. “The script is incredible. The cast is perfect, and the tickets are already selling well.”

“None of that counts for anything without great word of mouth. If the public don’t love the show, we’ll be going nowhere.”

When they arrived back upstairs, Manuella and Steve had at last turned up, though the beautiful Spanish actress was engrossed in her phone. Steve Dillard was showing off to the production assistants.

Hudson had yet to make up his mind about his young co-star.

Steve had dark, sexy good looks, but he was also ambitious and very vain.

He’d had a breakthrough role the year before in a Netflix drama show and seemed to think he was real hot shit because of it.

He’d already been brutal in his opinion that he didn’t think he should have a less prominent position on the Darkest Blue poster to an “American has-been”.

He was an immature asshole. Hudson didn’t think he should hold that against him, though. He’d been the same after his first taste of success, too.

“Time for me to become invisible,” Luke said. “Catch you later.”

He gave Hudson a light pat on the shoulder. That mere touch sent a thrill right through his body, which ended in a tingling sensation in his nuts. God damn. That was electric.

Luke retreated to a chair against the far wall from where he would observe. If he thought he was going to go unnoticed, he was very wrong. Hudson couldn’t take his eyes off him.

Snap out of it. He had to get his shit together. Put the play first. For the next six or seven hours, that’s the only thing that should matter. He could pick things up with this major hottie when they had dinner together later.

Hudson went over to the group of actors. He could see straight away that they were still short. Julian was missing. It was unlike him to be late.

“Has anyone heard from Julian today?” he asked.

“I’ve tried calling,” Manuella said, looking up from her phone screen. “No reply.”

Hudson checked his own phone to see if there were any messages. Nothing.

“He could be just stuck on transport,” Andie said, glancing at her watch. “Though he should have set off in good time. A ten o’clock call is hardly the crack of dawn.”

“That can’t be it. He walks in every day. He’s staying just five minutes away.”

Andie sucked her teeth before summoning a production assistant.

The young girl, Ruth, seemed terrified of her.

“Go round to his place and knock his lazy arse out of bed. You’ll find the address in the database.

” She turned her attention back to the cast. “No point in waiting. He doesn’t appear until twenty-five minutes in.

Let’s go with a run-through of Act One, from the top. ”

Apart from Steve fluffing several of his lines and Manuella freezing at one point, the rehearsal went well. Ruth had not returned with Julian by the time his character made his entrance, so Andie stepped in to read his dialogue. They made it all the way to the end of the act without stopping.

“Pretty good,” Andie declared when they were done. “Not great, but better than decent.” She called a ten-minute break before they would start work on Act Two.

Ruth returned during the break, without Julian. She spoke meekly to Andie, whose face darkened in fury.

“What’s up?” Hudson asked.

“I can’t find him,” Ruth said, shrinking under Andie’s glare. “There was no answer at the door.”

“Couldn’t reception put a call through?” Andie asked.

“He’s in an Airbnb,” Hudson said. “There isn’t a reception.

” This was totally out of character for the seasoned actor.

They had only known each other a short time, but Julian came across as a total professional, and his lengthy list of credits spoke for themselves.

“I think we should start checking local hospitals. And someone needs to reach the Airbnb owners and get in there to make sure he’s okay. ”

“He’s probably shacked up with some slapper and sleeping off a hangover,” Steve said with a dirty chuckle.

Hudson shot him a look. Little prick. “No fucking way. He’s not like that and you know it. Something must be wrong for him to go AWOL.”

Reluctantly, Andie set Ruth to work trying to contact someone with a key to Julian’s apartment and calling the local hospitals to check admissions. “If he turns up hungover, he can forget all about playing your understudy,” Andie snapped at Hudson. “He’ll have his bit part and nothing more.”

Her lack of compassion was a total pisser, but Hudson was in no mood for an argument with her. He was more concerned about his friend.

Hudson checked his own phone again and, finding no texts from Julian, called his number.

There was still no answer. He left a voice mail letting him know he was concerned and to get in touch immediately.

Hudson already had an uneasy feeling. He’d always had a good sense of when something was off, and Julian’s absence triggered that familiar sensation.

He glanced towards Luke, who raised a reassuring smile. He seemed intent to sit the moment out. Whatever was happening was between the cast and had nothing to do with his article. Hudson was grateful that he didn’t try to interfere for a piece of juicy gossip.

Andie insisted that everyone get back to work on the beginning of Act Two. “We don’t have the luxury of time. Let’s get this nailed down.”

They had been at it for less than five minutes when Hudson became aware of a commotion at the back of the room.

Two uniformed police officers had appeared and were talking to Rav.

Andie tried to keep the read-through going but lost the will of the cast. Hudson’s insides were already turning in knots.

He shot her a stern look before abandoning the read-through and heading straight towards Rav and the cops.

“What’s going on?” he asked. A small part of him clung to the prospect that Julian had got shitfaced last night and was currently sleeping it off in a police cell. It was a slim hope, and it evaporated in an instant when he saw the look on Rav’s face.

“It’s Julian,” the producer faltered. “They…they found a body in a back alley this morning and think it might be him. They think Julian is dead.”