The Search

By Jackson Heller

I dedicate this book to my parents Deb Heller, and Richard Heller

Maple Leaf Book Writing Project

Brattleboro, Vermont

Hi my name is Joe Allen and this is my story and how my life changed for the worst.

I put my son Barry to sleep and got in bed. I was waiting for my wife when I heard a crash. I ran down stairs and went to the living room where my wife had been watching TV. I saw the door open. I looked at the couch and saw my wife with a knife through her heart. She had been murdered. I heard Barry coming down the stairs and I knew I needed to do something. I grabbed the phone and called 911. I tried to get the knife out of my wife’s chest. I could hear sirens outside.

My son grabbed my hand and asked if I had killed mom.

The police came in and saw the knife in my hand. They grabbed me and put me in handcuffs. I could hear Barry yelling “my dad did not kill my mom he didn’t.” I was thrown in the cop car and brought to the station. They threw me straight in a cell with no questions asked.

10 years later…

“Allen you have a visitor,” said one of the guards. I went to the telephone booth and sat at the chair. I saw my son sit down at the other chair. I picked up the phone as Barry did.

“Thank you so much for coming, I have missed you so much.”

“I know you didn’t kill mom,” said Barry.

“Thank you that is all I need to hear,” I said.

“I have proof I became a cop and I went over the evidence. I found two fingerprints on the knife,” said Barry.

“Could you find a match?” I asked.

“No,” Barry said sadly.

“Why not?” I asked.

“There are no records of him,” Barry said.

“How is that possible?” I was confused.

“I don’t know but I will keep looking,” Barry replied.

“Your time’s up,” the guard said.

We said goodbye and Barry left. I went back to my cell and sat on my stone hard bed and started to think. How could there be no match? Who would do this? All these thoughts were floating around in my mind.

The next day…

I woke up and saw a letter in my box. I got out of bed and took the letter out of the box. I looked at the address; there was nothing there. I wondered who it could be. I opened it up and read it. It read “If you want to find me you have to go on a journey. You will get out and find me. I’m the person who murdered your wife. Here is your first clue. Go to the place where elephants run to find the clue you must find someone who is not dumb but is actually quite smart.” I turned the letter over; there was more.

“Now escaping will be hard, for you must run and run and run; you will know when.” How will I know, this makes no sense? All I know is I must find the man that murdered my wife.

It was lunch time which meant that I would get some horrid food. They never served anything good. Well because it’s a prison I guess. I got my lunch and as I was walking I saw an open door. I could not believe my eyes. Was I really going to do this? I looked around and there was no one. I dropped my food and ran as fast as I could. I got out the door and then wondered what now.

I was on an Island, Rikers Island, one of most guarded prison islands. I had to swim not run. I heard sirens blaring in my ears. I ran and jumped in the water and swam as fast as I could. The water was frigid. The small waves barely grazed me. I could see boats going around the island. I could feel my legs cramping. I did not know how I was going to make it to land. All I knew was to swim and swim and swim. I felt myself being pulled by a current. Now I was in big trouble; I was being pulled out to sea. Land looked so close. I felt like I was right there. I started to think what happens if I make it to land? I would have to change my name and everything about me. And then I thought is it worth it? A chance of drowning being caught and having a longer sentence. But it is for Barry and my wife. I swam as hard as I could until I couldn’t. I felt myself being pulled under the water. And that is all I remember until waking up in a fishing boat heading for Spain.

I could hear them speaking a different language. I was pretty sure that it was Spanish; all I understood was yes/si. That was my only clue because I took French in high school. I asked them if they spoke English. They shook their heads no. I was annoyed but confused at the same time. How did I survive? Was I floating at sea? What happened?

It became night and they showed me to a bed. I got in and went to sleep.

I woke up the next morning with the smell of fish in my nose. I walked out the door and saw the men pulling in a net full of fish. I didn’t know what to do. I tried to ask for food but all they did was stand there and kept pulling in the net. It was a small boat so how hard would it be to find food? I looked all around - no food. How was there no food? How long had they been at sea? I had to find food; I was so hungry. I was so desperate I grabbed one of the fishes and took a bite. I probably should've taken the skin off. I was sick and was lying on my bed for a whole day.

In the morning I couldn’t feel movement. I walked out and saw people walking past a dock.

I walked out and started to wander around. I walked to the first food stand I could see. I ended up seeing a Spanish McDonald’s. Oh god I hated McDonald’s. They had the grossest food ever. I ended up walking right by. I found just a normal restaurant when I realized I had no money. I had to find an easy job. I remembered seeing a hiring sign on the McDonald’s door. Was I really considering this? I had to get a job or else I would starve. I also needed money to get to Africa. Africa because that is where I remember learning where elephants live. I just only hope it is true.

I went back to McDonald’s and asked for a job. Luckily they spoke a bit of English. They said yes; I questioned how easy they took me. I asked if I could get some water. They gave me a cup of tap water. That is what I would have to have for a while. Or at least till I have enough money for something else. They said that I had to be a janitor. I grabbed a phone and tried to call Barry. There was no answer. I let it go. They then told me I had to clean the bathroom. I also had the night job. Then I had an idea. I would sleep at McDonald’s. I had gotten hungry so I grabbed a burger and cooked it. Was I really going to eat this? I had no choice if I didn’t want to starve. Like the water I would have to eat that for a while. They could not find me and if they did I would be fired. I thought that it would not be that bad if I got fired. I swept the floor a few times. I had completely forgotten that I had to clean the bathroom. I finished sweeping and walked in the bathroom. I look around and remembered that I had to clean this. I got a mop and swept the room. I found a place to sleep and closed my eyes.

I woke up and swiped my time card. My boss walked in and said,

”Good morning, you’re early!”

I waved and got to work. Then the first customer walked in. They ordered a coffee and a sausage McMuffin. My boss got their food and drink and handed it to them. He stood up and I could see his hand shake. I asked the person if he was ok. They grabbed their heart and fell to the ground. I grabbed the phone and called 911. An ambulance got here and took the man away. I heard crying in the back room. “He was my friend!” my boss cried. I had to find a new job to get away from all this drama.

When my shift ended I went out and looked for a new job. I saw a hiring on a gas station door. It would probably be better than McDonald’s.

I called Barry again but there was still no answer. The next morning I went in and quit my job. I went to the gas station and asked for a job. Again they spoke a bit of English. All they needed me to do was make change. They gave me a twenty and asked for something that was eighteen dollars. I gave the person two dollars back. They kept doing that until they finally hired me. I was happy that it took some effort for them to hire.

My first day was fine along with the rest, mostly all of them. But one day was different. There was a TV in the corner of the room that I would watch when I was bored. All that was on the news was some Spanish stuff until one day something different happened. I was watching the TV when a breaking news sign appeared. A large fire had occurred in New York. I decided to call Barry. I dialed Barry’s number. It rang and rang and rang but there was still no answer. Oh god I thought. I kept calling but there was still no answer. I would leave short messages to call me but I got no call.

1 month later

I woke up and thought it would be another day without a call. I got dressed and went to work. At this time I was so close to getting a ferry ticket. I got to work and saw one of my employees on the phone. He called me over and said the call was for me. Who would call me? I picked up the phone and the person said,

”Is this Joe Allen?”

“Yes who is this?” I responded.

“It's Barry!” he said excitedly.

“Hi, Barry!” I couldn’t believe he called.

“I thought you were in jail?”

“I escaped,” I said weirdly.

“How, what?”

“I ran and swam.”

“Come join me here.”

“I can’t I, I just can’t bear the thought of mom. No matter how it comes up. I also do not want to get in trouble with the cops I’m sorry.”

We talked for a bit more. He had lost his phone and he had to get a new one. He couldn’t call because his new phone was not all set up. He was surprised I was in Spain.

After a few days I got a letter in the mail. It was from Barry. It was a credit card. I found a note and read it.

”I found your credit card; you can get euros now to get a boat.”

2 weeks later

I took a bus to the dock where I would leave to go to Morocco, Africa because I was able to take a boat there.

I knew that the people at the boat would not check my I.D. So I got to the dock and sat down. The boat left in thirty minutes and I could not wait to get on. I was pretty tired and I needed to get some sleep on the ferry. I had gotten soundproofing headphones. I got on the ferry and went to sleep.

I woke up and got off the ferry. I was last off the plane and there were a lot of people. I went to the food court and got a slice of pizza. I got out of the airport and went to my hotel. I got to my hotel and set my stuff down I then started searching for some of the smartest people in Africa.

After searching for a while I went out and got some food. I found this chain called Nando’s. The menu was mainly chicken. I looked and saw a lot of “fancy dish.” I did end up deciding on getting a plain plate of chicken. The waiter came over and I ordered. It took about twenty or so minutes to get to me. The wait was worth it though. The chicken tasted really good. It had a crispy feeling and the inside was kind of tender. I got the check and left. When I got back to my room, I went right back to my research.

The next morning was my time to go and look. I checked out of the hotel and started walking.

5 hours later

I got to the first person on my list who was a teacher, like most of them. There was only one that was a scientist. I told them my name and why I was there. They did not get what I said and told me to leave. I left and went to the next person. I did the same thing with the same result. After a while I thought it was hopeless… until the eighth said something different.

“Oh yes.”

“What.”

“I was told to give you a letter.”

“Ok where is it?” I asked.

“It’s right here.” He handed me the letter. I took the letter and left.

When I got home I opened the letter.

”Go to the place where this all started go home,” the letter said. Do I really want to do this? I do; I have to.

2 days later

I was in that same dock that I had arrived in. I was waiting for a boat back to New York when I saw someone. It was the person that gave me the note. I went up to him and said hi. I asked him where he was heading. He told me that he was getting on the same boat as me. We said bye when my boarding number was called. I wondered if I would ever see him again. When I got off I got a taxi and went to my old home.

I knocked on the door. A man opened it. I asked him what he was doing. He brought me inside. When I heard the first three words out his mouth I got mad. “I am the…” That's all he said when I butted in

“Why?” I said. He looked confused at that comment.

“What…Oh god.’

“It’s true?”

“Yes.” He was the man that killed my wife. I punched him and knocked him out. I was mad. He woke up an hour later.

I punched him again “admit it admit that you killed my wife.”

“I killed your wife.”

“Don’t tell me tell the police!”

I drove him to the police station. I had the bright idea of going in with him. The men grabbed me when I yelled ’WAIT!” The man that killed my wife explained everything. They let me go and took him.

I got home and asked myself why he would do that. I had the chance to ask him but I didn’t. Maybe that was for my own good.

15 years later

January 6, 2016.

Everyone is happy that it is a new year; I am not. Especially not today, today was a year from the day my wife was murdered. I was mad and sad just thinking of it. I also went back to that thought why. I needed to know.

Right away I ran to the station. I begged to see the man. For some reason they let me. I went down and right away he saw me. He looked up and asked why I was here.

“I need to know, why did you kill my wife?” I asked.

“Money I killed your wife for money,” he answered.

“No amount of money should make you kill my wife!”

“It was $250,000.”

“Why in the world would you think I care?”

“I don’t know, it was for my job also.”

“What’s your job?”

“I work for a bank.”

“How does that have anything to do with my wife?”

“She had a story about a robbery that happened at the bank a few weeks before the murder. She found out and started to write about it. No one could know about the robbery and our horrible security.”

“So you killed her!!!”

“Yes,” he said sadly.

“I can’t take it anymore; I’m getting out of here.”

I walked away with my head down. I got home and tried to forget what had happened.

Present day

I haven’t forgotten about those days, but I’ve moved on. I got remarried and have a dog named Sally. I live in a small house in Long Island. Barry happily visits me every week with his kids. My grandkids Ben and Luke are very kind. I don’t know when and if I should tell them what really happened to their grandmother. But for them that is a story for when they are older. I have a lot of good stories from my journey that I didn’t tell. But all those stories are for another day…

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