TBC Publishing Pride Month Flash Fiction Challenge, #26 of 30

TBC Publishing Pride Month Flash Fiction Challenge, 26 of 30

Title: Bleakburg

Author: R. Scott Tyler

Genre: Mystery

Word count (500 max): 471

Nolan examined the murder scene, realizing he had insider knowledge. He had seen the victim just two days earlier…on Grindr. Nolan Chase, the closeted gay sheriff of the small, conservative town of Bleakberg, kept tabs on the local gay community without ever participating. Deep down, he knew he’d never be accepted by either side if they found out what he was.

The deceased man’s name was Oliver Baxter, who worked as the cook at a local diner and was also an editor for a community news platform called ‘Patch’. Nathan often ate lunch there almost every day. He knew Oliver by name and regularly read his Patch news, but he didn’t realize Oliver was gay until he saw the Grindr profile appear.

“Jeez, I guess Oliver was as deeply in the closet as I am,” he thought to himself.

Oliver’s throat had been slit. Based on the blood splatter, it was likely done from behind. This was extremely unusual for Bleakberg. Since murder itself was rare in his jurisdiction, both deputies had been called to the scene and did their best CSI impressions. A local doctor, contracted to assist with such cases, was also summoned.

Sheriff Nolan reviewed the findings the next day, but his mind kept drifting back to the reason he ended up in Bleakberg ten years ago. He was working in a large city a few hours away and had just had another terrible fight with his boyfriend of three years.

“You know I can’t do anything about it!” he yelled at Clay.

“And you know you can, you just refuse to think about it!” Clay replied. “Steven was beaten up by a group of off-duty policemen! He was simply walking from the bar to his car!”

The fight had landed two patrolmen on suspension (with pay), which they were acquitted of after ten days and a strong defense by the police union, ending Nolan and Clay’s three-year affair.

Nolan made the switch to rural policing shortly after that. He’d been too angry and ashamed to admit any wrongdoing and was so deeply closeted he couldn’t face anyone at the station. He almost picked up the phone to call Clay, but he was sure it would turn into another big fight, so he shoved the idea away. Still, he decided he would find out who did this to Oliver and make them pay, whether it outed him or not.

They found Oliver’s phone several feet under the dumpster behind the diner, where Oliver’s body had been. The team also stored Oliver’s laptop in the police evidence locker. Those two items would be Nolan’s starting points, assuming he could access Oliver’s profiles on Patch and Grindr using the computer.

If he asked Clay to help him look for anything suspicious, he might also be receptive to it, even enthusiastic.

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