Poor Rav.His family must know the devastating news by now.Their whole world would have collapsed.
His mind flashed back on those moments.Corman in the Baby Face mask, appearing as if from nowhere, bringing the axe down without a second’s remorse or hesitation.The startled look on Rav’s face, a few seconds of incomprehension and then nothing.That image, that memory would haunt Hudson forever.
And now what?Had Corman survived?Where was Luke?The police would want him for sure.Luke had killed Amber.Without Hudson’s account, they had no evidence that it had been in self-defence.
He had to speak to them now.
He pushed onto his elbows, reaching for the buzzer at the side of the bed.“Nurse,” he yelled.“Nurse.”
When she came in a few moments later, she was not alone.
Luke came in behind.He looked exhausted, with sunken eyes and sallow skin, and was still the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
“Thank God,” Hudson cried.
Luke ran to him.They wrapped their arms around each other.He could tell that Luke was holding back, fearful of hurting him, so Hudson hugged him even tighter.
“Are you all right?”Hudson said, choking back tears.
“I am now.”Luke pressed his face into the crook of Hudson’s neck.Hudson felt his tears on his skin.
“Are you hurt?The car…”
“Barely glanced me,” Luke said, drawing back to look at him.He brushed his fingertips gently across Hudson’s lips.“Oh, my God.Your face.”
Hudson let out a relieved laugh.“I dread to think.But it doesn’t hurt as bad as my ass.”
Now they both laughed.Luke put his hand on his shoulder.“Thank God you’re alive.When I saw you go over the roof of the car, I thought that was it.”
“Corman—how did you…?”
“Smashed the bastard over the head with one of my plant pots.I hit him so hard, it shattered the damn thing.I only wish I’d hit him harder.”
“Where is he?”
“Not here.They’ve taken him to a hospital in Newcastle.”
“Alive, then?”
“Very much.Bleed on the brain, they say, but he’s expected to pull through.He’s under police guard.He won’t be going anywhere other than prison when they discharge him.”
Hudson gripped his hand and pressed it to his face.“What about you?”
He shrugged.“On police bail while they make enquiries.Fair enough, I suppose.I know how the system works.I’ve been at the police station all night, answering their questions.”
“No way.That’s not fair.They would have killed us.”
“Hey,” he said softly.“Don’t get so worked up.The cops know what happened.They’re just doing their job.Making sure they have all the facts.I’ve never been the biggest fan of Blyham police before, but they’ve been fair with me.I’m not worried.”
“I want to speak to them.”
“Don’t worry, you will.”
He reached for him again, seeking his reassurance.“What happened to you?Before I got there last night?Did they hurt you?”
“I’m fine.One of them rushed me when I came home.Corman, I guess.He was strong.He knocked me out with something.He had it in a rag and put it over my nose.When I woke up, I was already tied to the chair.I knew as soon as I saw the underpants I was wearing what was happening.Red Hills Massacre.Your famous death scene.And just like Julian.”
“They must have known, after planting the seeds of doubt in my mind at the theatre…that you would be alone.”
