Chapter 1 link: s/10829355/1/
Detective Len Fenerman suspected an outsider after his phone call with Jack Salmon. Jack's voice was more up-beat than normal. Len felt Jack had given up on him obtaining justice for Susie Salmon, but it was not for a lack of trying on Len's behalf.
There were rules and procedures for arresting someone. Like hard evidence. Jack wouldn't want to hear it, but the rule of law was bigger, and more important, than Susie Salmon...
So, that's about the time that Len started to follow this Marty Mathers character-supposedly a reporter from The Daily Planet. Len had read Lois Lane's article on a seemingly random serial killer in the newspaper, too, but he wondered why Lois Lane would give up a lead like this to another reporter. Len didn't like it any too well.
Marty Mathers certainly wasn't traveling with a lot of money. He had checked into a low-budget motel the day he arrived. In the evenings, Marty hit the malls and dinners. Every night he brought a different woman home to the motel. This guy was getting more ass than a toilet seat. It was uncanny. During days, Len followed him. Marty was in the library a lot, and, of course, had interviewed Jack Salmon. Oddly, Marty Mathers had been in Norristown for almost a week and never contacted the police.
Len felt a tap on his shoulder. He quickly turned around, startled. Standing before him was Marty Mathers. His attire was ultra-modest, but he looked like a human weapon to Len. There was something dark about this Marty Mathers character. Something archetypical.
"Good Morning, Detctive Fenerman," Bruce said.
"G-g-good morning...I don't think I know you, sir." Len said.
"Did I startle you? I reckon in the police academy they taught you to watch your six? But I digress. Name's Marty Mathers. I'm a reporter for The Daily Planet. Lois Lane sent me here to follow-up on the disappearance of Susie Salmon. I've noticed you were following me all week, but you never offered to do an interview. Maybe we can take coffee and do one now?"
Len thought about all the subtext of what Marty Mathers had just said. Disappointed with his sub-par police skills, he decided to agree to coffee and an interview. Obviously, Marty Mathers was too good to trail, and he might as well put all of his cards on the table.
"I spoke with Jack Salmon," Bruce said.
"I suppose he told you his theory that George Harvey is the perpetrator?"
"Yes, he did. It's a real shame..." Bruce said.
"What, what's a shame?" Len asked.
"Jack has lost faith in you, but for the wrong reasons. I think you suspect Harvey, too, but you have rules and procedures that-ahem-hinder you. But I know that you want justice. You do want justice, Len, may I call you 'Len'?"
"Yes, I want justice, Marty!" Len slammed his fist down on the table. Other patrons looked at them before returning to their morning newspapers.
"Well, maybe I can help..." Bruce smiled slyly and Len put together what he meant.
This was going to be remedied with extra-judicial means. This was going to be off the books...
