Why do you suppose the author, Larry Watson, chose to make Len, the deputy sheriff, an alcoholic? What does this say about the kind of life Len has had? In your opinion, why does David choose not to tell Len what he saw?

Len is the Wes's deputy and the first one to realize that Frank killed Marie. Len is trusted by Wesley to the point where Wesley entrusts his family’s safety to Len when he realizes that by arresting Frank he created tension between him and his father. Len's alcoholism doesn't make him the most reliable character.