we didn't get any cards at the office for several months, then a little bundle arrived in quick succession.

the author ran out of room to type each section on the small cards, and the final sentences, pencil-written, crawl back up along the sides to the tops.

The Joe Lose case 11-03=09 report by O.L. Gumshoe Jr. update

After shaking Joey down a few times, I finally got the break in the case I've been waiting for.Compiled a trail of evidence on the murderers son showing where he was and when.Soundtrack: I'll Be There by Micheal Jackson. As I reflected upon this, I began to examine the case from different angles.This was useful in determining his perspective.Like father, like son. Same emotional makeup.It afforded me a window inside the murderers mind so I could anticipate his next move and be one step ahead of him. To make this work, I had to pace myself. Not pushing too hard too soon.While I was gathering evidence,I had to make it appear as if nothing in his life had changed significantly.He couldn't handle too much truth too soon. Soundtrack: I am sailing. I am sailing through the dark night across the sea I am sailing to a distant shore, home to you. The realizations had to come over him slowly, little by little.Memories of past history between people builds trust in relationships and forms a bond.I was an outsider, unknown to him.I had reached a part of his subconscious mind. Establishing common groumd was no small accomplishment. It was a milestone.I realized it when his demeanor towards me changed. He seemed protective of me. Sights, sounds and even smells can trigger memories and cause an emotional reaction.It was the same voice that sang when he was a child.The most serious repercussion I had to consider was that Joey would lose respect for me and deny me the chance to continue the investigation.Lives are destroyed because people get tired of each other. Somebody wanted to be rid of the victim, because he knew the truth. Now, I know too.

someone has been sending postcards to my office. they appear to be installations of a noir murder mystery, but with a surrealism that smacks of auster's new york trilogy.

they are typewritten on cards with corrections and addenda written in in pencil.

the address on the cards is the correct one for our office, a small distributor and publisher of artbooks, but the company name is given as "PUBLISHER: NATIONAL LAMPOON." the return address is a po box in newport news, virginia. our front-of-office manager finds them creepy and was discarding them unread until i expressed fascination, so now she sends them directly to my mailbox. eventually the cards will be lost among my other ephemera, so i'm going to begin posting them here, to find a new life.

i'll try to reproduce them as accurately as possible, but i'm not able to represent the notes written in sideways in the margins and i'm not going to bother coming up with a notation for the many instances of typewritten words obliterated by pencil. you'll have to use your imagination. the cardstock is soft, nubbly, and cream-colored--pleasant to the touch.

with no further delay, here is my installment #1, the first card that was passed to me.

5-6-09 Followup report by Det O.L. Gumshoe Jr Joe Lose Case
In observing the situation, I saw that Joey and his aunt were from two different worlds. She was old fashioned. He was into modern cell phones, wIFI. This stuff was foreign to her. They barely spoke at all. There must be some reason. She knew about the murder. (statement on file) . Joey was keeping a low profile. He had more to lose than she did.He was a rich kid. His Aunt was poor however. The truth would save her life.But Joey had clammed up. Saw him going for morning coffee.He had another visitor. I know from experience that broken families must take on Extra responsibility in order to survive. It was a damn shame what was getting ready to happen here. Joeys Aunt was going to lose her brother and he being an ASS! I've seen snobbery before. It is an intolerable injustice that destroys lives.I needed a devine intervention to perform a miracle! All Joey had to do was stop and listen. Soundtrack: Why must people fight and dies Why can't they live in peace. Hate is everywhere you go leaving no room for love to grow. Once there was a man walking through this land he was always kind and loving jesus is the name and he's still the very same and if you wanta meet him all you have to do is pray. Red like the Robin's chest is love's bright fire Small in the black of the worlds great bane but when the light overpowers the darkness, love boundless love takes wings again. Sew the seeds of love wherever you my go shining forth a Heavenly light and where there is hate joy instigate for they reward is waiting above. Will the circle be unbroken in the sky Lord in the sky.