The Finder

By Woude' Wood

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Woude Wood grew up in the inner city housing projects near 55th street. In the Cedar/Central neighborhood, his father died at 52. His biological mother also died when he was six years old. Woude credits his second mother, Lillian, as the person who instilled in him the will and determination to survive and succeed in life. He graduated from East Tech High School, the same school that famed Olympians Jesse Owens and Harrison Dillard graduated from. He struggled for many years with alcohol and heroin addiction. He attended Cuyahoga Community College and Capital University, earning his degree at 38. He retired from Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division as a probation officer. Wood is an avid runner. He currently lives in Bay Village, Ohio.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781493156740

Woude' Wood

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Woude’ Wood grew up in the inner city housing projects near 55th street. In the Cedar/Central neighborhood, his father died at 52. His biological mother also died when he was six years old. Woude’ credits his second mother, Lillian, as the person who instilled in him the will and determination to survive and succeed in life. He graduated from East Tech High School, the same school that famed Olympians Jesse Owens and Harrison Dillard graduated from. He struggled for many years with alcohol and heroin addiction. He attended Cuyahoga Community College and Capital University, earning his degree at 38. He retired from Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division as a probation officer. Wood is an avid runner. He currently lives in Bay Village, Ohio.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Woude’ Wood.

ISBN:   Softcover   978-1-4931-5673-3

eBook   978-1-4931-5674-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 02/09/2015

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

540047

Contents

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

Epilogue

I

Mason Hicks rummaged through the assortment of junk in his garage. I know I had a box around here somewhere, he mumbled to himself…

In the corner behind an old bicycle with one wheel, Hickey spotted a corrugated cardboard box. This will do fine, he decided. ‘Juice Hickey’ (why did I let him give me that awful nickname!!!). I’m on to something! Finch would say; beads of sweat appearing on his dark forehead. Soon he would be assigned a new partner-but he would never forget Finch. Hickey realized that the old man was very close to buttoning up a now very cold case. Somewhere in that great precinct in the sky Finch was looking down observing what he called Juice Hickey’s ‘asinine behavior’—(he liked the way it sounded but Juice wondered if Finch even knew what the word meant). He could hear him now, I don’t believe you! "It’s asinine!" You! A grown man reading comic books—did your mamma drop you on your head or something when you were a baby? Then his whole body would shake with laughter. He decided not to put off the inevitable task of packing up his partner’s desk. Hickey genuinely missed the veteran detective. He laughed at himself as he remembered what a hard time he’d given the old man. It was bitter sweet though - Now he was gone. A pensive look appeared on his face. He would get to the bottom of this case for detective Richard Finch. It was the least he could do, after all… .

He had to do some backtracking. Finch succeeded in getting a confession in connection with the slaying of Marcie Long. There was the girl—Charlotte; she was present when it all went down at the now dead suspects’ apartment. She was able to corroborate the story Harvey Mason related to Detective Finch. Then, there was the button Paul Long had in his possession—he was at the scene too! Ironically that button would solidly implicate his best friend in a homicide. It was found near Marcie Long’s body. That button contained Harvey Mason’s DNA. It was a perfect match to the one missing from his coat. Detective Finch had hoped that the now dead suspect, Harvey Mason will lead him to the guns never recovered from the cold case. A robbery/homicide which occurred a few years back. Ironically before Detective Finch could question him—all hell broke loose… . both of them were now dead!

Call it a detective’s instinct; Hickey had a feeling that day in Harvey Mason’s apartment, Finch was about to blow that robbery/homicide case wide open! Detective Finch had finally gotten close to finding out what happened to those pieces when the gas station on East 40th street was robbed and the attendant was murdered.

II

Paul sat behind his desk completing an ‘out-patient treatment referral form for one of the resident’s. Nearly a year had passed since the funeral. It still felt surreal. Like that time his car was stolen; He knew where he had parked it. The next minute it was gone! No warning. No premonition—just gone. Thinking of Harvey he got that same feeling. He could still see his big wide grin. His gold tooth illuminated his entire face. Recovery and sobriety; why is it some get it—while others don’t???!!! That was the million dollar question. It was ironic.

Harvey wanted to be so much in the eyes of so many. In some ways Paul could see bits of Harvey in himself. Perhaps that is why they had become so close. Paul reflected upon his own ego based shortcomings. Harvey always talked about being a man of substance; but substance of character is cultivated. Substance-those attributes which shape us into what is good and decent-somehow got lost in Harvey’s addiction. In the dark side, as Paul’s sponsor called it, truth can gets distorted. That is what happened with—Harvey Paul mumbled to himself… . "His spirit was troubled . . . out of sync with truth and reality." "When he tried to do better; the disease and his own shortcomings got in the way." Where had he begun to derail? Paul gave way to a sigh filled with finality. He tried to reconcile himself to the fact that Harvey was no worse than any one else; he couldn’t have seen the metamorphosis….it’s beginning… . the finale. In this life, sometimes factors come into play; circumstances shape themselves in such away that they cannot be placated.

The phone was ringing. He glanced at the ‘caller ID" It was Mrs. Hofner again. This was the third time and it wasn’t even lunch! He put off answering all morning. Mrs. Hofner was a strange woman . . . It was her demeanor. She had an allure about her-He could never tell if she was flirting with him when in his presence or whether that was just her way. She was a knockout blonde with thick ripe lips and legs that went on forever. She was a resident’s wife-which means she was off limits to anyone in the house. He thought to himself - I’m not answering! The thought came and went.

Hello Mrs. Hofner, Paul long! How are you?"

Andy didn’t come back home last night. Did he come back from pass early? She sounded grim and worried.

It was important to monitor Pass privileges. Paul made it his business to stay on top the residents’ commute throughout the community. Most of the guys at Haven were homeless for a reason. Until they could sort through some things; Paul knew he had to stay on top of them. When Paul started The Haven his idea, his mission was to help them figure out the ‘why’ in there lives. ‘Why’ was important on so many levels. It was the’why’that helped them get honest about their present condition.

In his own life ‘why’ had to be reckoned with. Why did he so want to emulate ‘the guys in the street’? To most of the cats he threw in with, working a job like normal people was almost a cardinal sin. There were the pimps that beat their whores black and blue. Or there were the cats that hustled one-pocket at Crosses’ Most of them used drugs—Paul knew they couldn’t be trusted. If their lips moved they were lyin’. What was the attraction? Why had he chosen a path that resulted in so many irretractable consequences? Searching and peeling through layers of his own psyche was new and strange. It was not easy. There is a poignant fear that accompanies the journey inward. Many times what Paul saw in himself was depressing.

He experienced tremendous waves of shame and guilt. Searching within, without being under the influence of chemicals demanded an unassailable directness that at times made him feel emptier, less whole than when his recovery began. Healing in the recovery process meant—accepting the truth regarding his own life. As an addict he lived in a world which was tantamount to make believe;founded upon the illusions of the street life. Constructed of lies told for so long that he believed them. Addiction further convoluted an already painful existence. He remembered a passage in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. It was true there are many situations that can cause a person to yield to compulsion—than fight His life had been rife with ‘compulsive behaviors’ so much so that developing new inclinations always presented uncomfortable challenges in sobriety.

Let me check his room Mrs. Hofner He might have returned last evening. Some guys don’t trust themselves when they first earn a pass! They come back too early! Its okay if they do—this is supposed to be a safe place where they can get their bearings again. Andy was an exception to most of the other residents because he actually had a family and a - home albeit precarious - to return to. He arrived at The Haven in really bad shape. His wife’s patience was growing thin. Like most addicts and alcoholics in the late stages of the illness; he did not intend to continue drinking and using. Each time he swore off he really meant it. He was good at his job. They liked him in his dept. However, as far as his boss was concerned—there would be no more of the velvet hammer—if he couldn’t get clean and sober! Andy was determined to get it right this time. He completed a 14 day detox at the hospital. His wife somehow found The Haven website. The two of them came to Cleveland to talk with Paul.