Author's note:
I'll post a longer update with the next chapter - it's already finished, I just need to publish the edits and a new chapter for the other smash story I haven't quite finished yet, then I'll get back to this tomorrow!
constructive commentary and compliments get hugs, flamers get the fire extinguisher!
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Julia walked into the theater, looking around for Tom. Scott had headed back to his own apartment to run some errands before they'd meet up and head over to Hit List – she didn't want him there while she confronted Tom anyways. She had tried calling Tom just after leaving the cafe but his phone had gone straight to voice mail.
Leaving a message, she decided to simply head to the theater. Even though rehearsal wasn't for another hour she knew he would be there, looking over minor details and setting up for one of the last rehearsals before the next performance night.
Walking through the hall, she wandered into the stage hall. It was empty except for a few stage crew members getting the first rehearsal set up, and Tom's assistant, arms full of files as she prepped everything for that day's rehearsal schedule.
"Cathie, hi...where's Tom? I need to talk with him."
"Ah, he hasn't come in yet, which is weird since he told me yesterday he'd be in as soon as he got done with his morning meeting with Eileen." She said checking her watch. "Were you not at the meeting?"
Julia cringed. Having been too wrapped up in everything with Hit List and the arguments she and Tom had, she'd forgotten about the meeting.
"...I wasn't there...I'll call her, they're probably still working on something." She said, turning to walk back up the isle and pulling out her phone.
Speak of the devil and she shall appear – before she could even finish unlocking her phone, Eileen walked down the aisle, calling out her name.
"Julia!"
Julia cringed inwardly at the tone, trying not to wince. Eileen did not sound pleased. Eileen's next statement replaced that worry with surprise.
"Where have you and Tom been? That meeting has been scheduled for weeks, and neither the writer nor the director thought it was important enough to show up?! I'd expect something like this from you considering recent months, but not from Tom!"
Julia stared at Eileen as she finished making her way down the isle.
"Wait, Tom isn't with you?" she blurted out, too surprised by her statement to even register the insult.
Now it was Eileen's turn to be surprised. "He's not here? Where is he?"
Julia shook her head, confused. "I...I don't know...I came here to talk with him about Gatsby."
Cathie leaned over from her seat behind Julia, phone in hand. "I just called...he's still not picking up." she commented worriedly.
Eileen and Julia looked at her, then turned to look at each other. He'd never miss a meeting or rehearsal, always managing to show up eventually, even to an early morning meeting.
"Did you see him at all this morning? Are you still living together?" Eileen asked.
"No...I moved out after opening night of Bombshell...but I still have his keys, I can go and check his apartment."
"I'll go with you – I have a cab waiting outside. Come on." Eileen said matter-of-factly, more of an order and less of a request, and turned without waiting to hear Julia's response.
Julia sighed, turning to Cathie who was still sitting nervously by the stage. "We'll call you when we get there, he's probably come down with a cold or something and overslept...you can get things started here for now?"
Cathie nodded and Julia walked back up the isle, following Eileen and texting Scott to let him know of the change in plans. She'd just have to meet him at his studio.
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At the studio, Derek felt the vibration of his phone and reached down, looking to see an unknown number calling. Irritated at the interruption, he answered with a short bark.
"What!?"
"This is Detective Peter Walsh of the 50th precinct...are you familiar with a Kyle Bishop?"
Karen noticed the sudden lack of virulent and sarcastic verbal carnage and looked at Derek, who was now standing almost frozen in place. She had never seen the man look so still and blank-faced; his fiery personality giving expression to his craggy features even when he was sitting and utterly focused on watching a routine. Something wasn't right.
"Karen, do you want to go over it again? Karen?" Sam's voice interrupted her thoughts, and she turned back to the piano, seeing Sam look at her expectantly.
"Sorry! Right...start at the top then?"
For once, Derek had absolutely no idea what to say or do. After the hellish roller coaster that had been leaving Bombshell and stumbling upon Hit List, things had finally begun to smooth out (more or less...it was theater, after all), but this...? He had heard about the fiasco involving a drunk and strung-out Jimmy from Karen last night and then seen the aftermath himself just that morning, but she hadn't mentioned any specifics about Kyle and why he and Tom of all people would have been out in the west end last night...
His mind drew back to the phone conversation he'd just had.
"Sir? Sir, are you alright?"
"Yeah...sorry...um, what was the name of the hospital?"
" and a were transported to Mercy Hospital at around 3am this morning. We were unable to pull any contact records from so far, and had to be sedated due to shock. Do you know anyone listed as or 's emergency contact? Friends? Family?"
"I...His mother and sister live down in Pennsylvania, but I don't know their information..."
"Is there anyone else we would need to contact locally who might have more information?"
"I don't...Julia Houston, Tom's partner would know. Bloody hell, Julia...She's supposed to be down to the studio in the next half hour or so."
"Is there any way to contact her immediately? A phone number, a location...?"
"Yeah, although...may I...I'd like to break the news to her myself, if possible...we all work together."
"That's fine. Tell her to contact me as soon as possible."
"Yes...yes, thank you."
His mind was numb as he vaguely heard the detective promise to meet them at the hospital and hangs up so he can contact Kyle's family. God. He needed get a hold of Julia, notify everyone at Bombshell...they'd have to postpone opening night for Hit List as well...bloody hell.
He lifted a hand up to slowly rub his face, feeling completely steamrolled. The weight of everything that had just happened coming down upon him made it hard to think.
"Derek?"
He suddenly realized Karen had approached, and he struggled to gather his thoughts.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out heavily, he looked up at Karen and the rest of the performers, who during his conversation had quieted, clustered in small groups as they look at him in confusion and concern.
"Everyone...everyone come over here and sit down, I have some bad news..."
Karen gave him a look as they all moved to sit on the stages and random prop pieces around him, but he shook his head. This...this would impact all of them, not just with Kyle, but with Tom as well. Most of the crew had worked under him at some point or another, and even the most novice members had heard of the famous Houston and Levitt...had dreamed of working for them in a production.
By the end of his explanation, the young performers were stunned and silent. Sam held a tearful Karen closely and other members leaned upon another, mutually offering simple comfort and support.
"...and that's all we know for now." He finished quietly. Scott, who had walked in shortly after he had begun and leaned against the railing, brought up the question on everyone's mind.
"What about the show?"
"What about it? We're canceling tonight's performance. With Jimmy out, and now Kyle...I know you were close to Tom, Sam...Karen..." Sam nodded silently, holding onto Karen a bit tighter as she sniffs into his shoulder, looking lost.
"...Can I speak to you in private, Derek?" Scott asked with a frown on his face.
Derek's eyes narrowed at Scott's tone. "Alright...we need to get a hold of Julia anyways..."
Karen sniffed then spoke out. "I can call her..." she offers tentatively.
"No, it's best she hear it from me. Everyone take a break in the lounge while I get things sorted, we'll go from there what'll happen next. None of this gets out until we know more about what's going on." he orders, and follows Scott out of the theater.
"What is bloody wrong with you? Those kids out there are shocked and in no shape to even consider performing tonight!" He hissed at Scott when they step into his office and he closes the door. "Tom is in critical condition for God's sake-"
"Tom isn't a part of Hit List. Kyle is. I know he's injured also, but this show..."
"This SHOW is Kyle and Jimmy. Losing Kyle even temporarily so soon after the fiasco with Jimmy...Sam isn't ready to go out as lead, and both he and Karen worked with Tom personally on Bombshell. They're both completely devastated, not knowing whether or not the man's going to still be alive. Tonight's show is canceled."
"...what do we tell the ticket holders though? The show was almost sold out. This is Kyle's show. To cancel...it could ruin the start of Hit List and ground it before it even gets a chance to make a solid run." Scott pleaded.
"I don't care what you bloody tell them. It's not a requiem or bloody candlelight vigil...the show is canceled, got it?"
"Alright, alright..." Scott sighed mournfully. "I'll go call the ticket holders..."
Derek missed the sly expression on Scott's face and the furtive and calculating look in his eyes as he walked out of the office to find their assistant.