The Man by the Lake

By Andrew Ashling

We all have something in our past we want to hide, but some of us have darker secrets than most…

 

After the death of their parents, Mark, the oldest of the Spencer siblings, has taken his younger brothers under his wing. Or that is what the world thinks it knows… and it has the records to prove it.

 

In fact the records are doctored and the four guys are unrelated to each other. They live together in a polyamorous relationship somewhere in a quiet suburb. The Spencers, as they call themselves, are very protective of their little family and will go to almost any lengths to keep it safe.

But will that be enough when one of them is suspected of being a murderer?

 

While The Man by the Lake is set in the world of my satirical short story collection Just Don't Mess With Us: Family Matters, this story is much darker and hardly humorous. It asks some tough questions and leaves it to the reader to answer them. Also, while gay relationships are implied, there is no on-screen sex.

 

This is a short story of around 12300 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ormidon Publishing
• Release date: Sep 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201681111

Book preview

The Man by the Lake

Matt had chosen the diner carefully. It was near an exit from one of the highways that connected the city to the rest of the state. Far away from the quiet suburbs where he and his brothers lived. The place was beloved by truckers and young families alike because it served good comfort food at very reasonable prices. There was always a pleasant buzz of people coming and going, eating and laughing, and yet the place never felt crowded or loud.

He sat down in a booth for two, facing the only entrance.

He didn’t have to wait long. A man of medium height with glasses, hair combed back and graying on the sides, came in and looked around. When his eyes caught Matt he smiled as if he had just seen his only grandson in a long time.

Matt wasn’t good at guessing ages, but he thought the man to be in his late fifties or early sixties.

This seat taken? The man didn’t wait for an answer and sat down.

Can I offer you something? Matt asked, trying to hide his nervousness.

Coffee, please, Mr. Spencer. Black. No sugar.

Matt ordered two coffees from a bored waitress.

Thank you for agreeing to meet me, the man said while they were waiting.

Your telephone call was, eh… worrisome. You said you’re a federal agent?

About to retire. This is my last assignment. I hope to spend my golden years in this nice cabin I own by a little lake. Not one of those popular touristy lakes. Too expensive. This one is calm and peaceful. Far from the madding crowd, as Mr. Hardy would say. On the weekends there are some families with young children, but weekdays I’ll be all by myself, I guess. I like it that way, believe it or not… In fact, I’m going there soon. What with comp time I’m still due, my pension starts next week. He removed his glasses. But you don’t want to hear all that. We just met and here I go rambling about my retirement plans. I’m sorry, Mr. Spencer.

No problem. You obviously knew how I looked before you arrived here. And you know my name. Yours is—

Not important.

The waitress put two cups on their table. Matt looked at the man nipping cautiously from his hot coffee and noticed the nicotine stains on the fingers of the hand holding the cup. He must be a heavy smoker.

Why did we have to meet here? Not that I’m complaining, the man asked, putting his cup down.

I take care of my three younger siblings. I didn’t want to burden them with… with whatever it is you think you need to investigate.

The man gave Matt a pleasant smile.

That’s a lie, Mr. Spencer. They’re not your brothers. The records say they are, of course, but I doubt there is even one of you related to another one. It would be more accurate to say you run a shelter for stray tomcats.

We’re a family, Matt countered, blushing.

"Yes… Yes, in the broadest sense of the word, maybe. Just maybe."

I don’t care what you think.

The man put his glasses back on and beamed.

Oh, but you should, Mr. Spencer. You really should. What if one member of your cozy little family was a murderer?

Impossible, Matt shrieked silently. He went white as a sheet. Improbable. I know them.

Improbable? Yes. Impossible? No. Let me tell you a story, Mr. Spencer. A story about a certain boy called Danny.

When the man had finished, Matt leaned back.

It could have been an accident. It sounded weak. You can’t even prove that this… this Danny was there when it happened.

I’m sure that by now you know under what name Danny is known these days.

Matt hesitated.

"I… I have money. Not