Service Before Self

By Tegon Maus

A recent transplant to Southern California, Toby Grant has landed his dream job. He’s a service tech for Handy Dandy Services—the premier handyman service in the southland.

Things don’t go well for Toby on the first day when he is teamed up with Ryan Burnell, a twenty year veteran of Handy Dandy. Toby quickly learns the hardships of being Ryan’s partner, and finds himself in one uncomfortable situation after another.

In an effort to understand his new partner, Toby accidently uncovers Ryan’s past involvement with drugs, burglary, and murder. He also learns about Ryan’s last partner of five years—Delsin Honaw—who had been murdered...stabbed twenty-seven times.

Haunted by one misunderstanding after another, Toby learns the true meaning of the company’s motto—“Service before Self.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
• Release date: Feb 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310634536

Tegon Maus

Dearheart, my wife of forty five years and I live in Cherry Valley, a little town of 8,200 in Southern California. In that time, I've built a successful remodeling /contracting business. But that's just my day job... everyone that writes, everyone who tells you how to write, all say the same thing... Write about what you know and what I know is me. Well, at least the me I see when I write... a protagonist frequently wedged between a rock and a hard place but manages to work things out at the last minute after all. Like most of us when pushed into a corner it only brings out the best in us and we become the unstoppable force of a reluctant hero. If I have a signature style for creating a character then this is it. I have a Action / Adventure novel called "The Chronicles of Tucker Littlefield," published by Netherworld Books and a Paranormal Fiction story called My Grandfather’s Pants as well as Sci-Fi novel called "Machines of the Little People carried by Tirgearr Publiashing and a number of short stories published by The Short Humor Site.

Book preview

A recent transplant to Southern California, Toby Grant has landed his dream job. He’s a service tech for Handy Dandy Services—the premier handyman service in the southland.

Things don’t go well for Toby on the first day when he is teamed up with Ryan Burnell, a twenty year veteran of Handy Dandy. Toby quickly learns the hardships of being Ryan’s partner, and finds himself in one uncomfortable situation after another.

In an effort to understand his new partner, Toby accidentally uncovers Ryan’s past involvement with drugs, burglary, and murder. He also learns about Ryan’s last partner of five years—Delsin Honaw—who had been murdered…stabbed twenty-seven times.

Haunted by one misunderstanding after another, Toby learns the true meaning of the company’s motto—Service before Self.

SERVICE BEFORE SELF

Tegon Maus

Tirgearr Publishing

Author Copyright 2015 Tegon Maus

Cover Art: EJR Digital Art (ejrdigitalart.com)

Editor: Troy Lambert

Proofreader: Christine McPherson

A Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away. If you would like to share this book, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not given to you for the purpose of review, then please log into the publisher’s website and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting our author’s hard work.

This story is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, incidents are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

DEDICATION

To my wonderful wife who thinks I’m very funny…we’re having her checked for Alzheimer’s soon.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To Kemberlee Shortland and Troy Lambert, for turning a blind eye in my direction, and letting me run around willy-nilly, book after book!!

SERVICE BEFORE SELF

Tegon Maus

If you're like me—and I have every reason to assume that you are—then every day is the same. Like me, you get up at the same time, leave for work, drive the same roads, eat the same things day in and day out.

Now, some would call it a rut, some would simply call it life. But the funny thing about life is every once in a while the universe, or God, or whoever it is that rolls the dice, gives us a little bump and we find ourselves on a whole new road. A road we didn't know existed, and then, of all things, that rut doesn't seem so bad after all.

Chapter 1

What do you mean he's not coming in today? Goddamnit. Come on, people, let’s get it together, the man behind the counter at the far end of the room shouted.

I'm looking for Mr. Conway, I mouthed weakly to no one in particular.

Several people walked briskly past me, giving me little notice at all.

It was Monday, 7am, and I found myself lost in the commotion of a new job. I felt completely out of place.

There had to be at least three dozen people dressed in identical dark blue uniforms rushing about, grabbing their daily assignments, hurrying to their trucks like a scene out of an old war movie.

The noise was deafening, the room beyond chaotic, and my heart pounded in unison with its beat.

Conway? I asked, and someone pointed to the shouting man behind the counter. He was middle-aged, balding, his tie had been pulled loose, and his shirt had been opened at the top. Wrapped around his skull was a headset he spoke into harshly before shouting out names, both at virtually at the same time.

Grant? he yelled, waving me closer, covering the mouthpiece.

Yo, I shouted over the din, raising my paperwork over my head, making my way toward him.

Loudspeakers crackled overhead, pounding out rock music, stopping only long enough to call out someone's name followed by instructions to show up somewhere else in the building.

Got your paperwork, kid? he asked, grabbing the documents I had protected with my life for this very moment. He looked them over. Okay, everything looks good to go. Welcome to Handy Dandy Services, he said, shaking my hand. Now, let’s get you partnered up and out. Your guy called in sick today. Had to take his wife to the hospital. Third kid, you know?

Sure, I said, completely confused. There was so much noise, so much activity, so many people rushing around it was almost overwhelming.

At twenty-six, I had worked for several home repair companies in Arizona before coming to Handy Dandy Services, but none of them operated on this scale.

Based in San Bernardino, the company employed 112 people and more subcontractors than any three of their competitors combined.

Offering a wide variety of services, including pest control, landscaping, architectural services, room additions, new builds, electrical, plumbing, nearly every trade the average homeowner could possibly need, had made it the predominant company of its kind in Southern California.

Alright, here we go. Sorry, kid. Time waits for no one, he said, striking me lightly on the arm with the back of his hand.

Ryan, he shouted, waving.

From across the room, a large Hispanic man with a barrel chest, heavily muscled arms, and an intimidating manner, came our way. He stood a few inches taller than me, with broad shoulders, dark long hair pulled into a tail, tied at the back of his head. His face was unshaven, giving him a slightly unprofessional appearance.

Ryan Burnell…meet your new partner…Toby Grant, he said, pointing at me.

I don't need a partner, Ryan said gruffly, turning to walk away.

Hey. I don't remember giving you a choice, Burnell, Conway yelled, suddenly angry.

Give ‘em to Hicks. I don't need a partner, he said over his shoulder.

Alright, Conway snapped. I'll drop your suspension.

Whatever that meant, it stopped Ryan cold. He was still facing away from us. The fingers of his right hand wiggled a little as if they suddenly itched.

And Kenyon? Ryan asked, without turning around.

Fuck, Burnell, I can't… Conway started.

Ryan simply flipped the man off and began to walk away again.

Alright, alright, I'll drop her suspension as well, but so help me God… Conway threatened.

Yeah, yeah. It won't happen again, Ryan said.

Damn well better not, Conway threatened, sticking a thick finger in the man's face. Get your packet and roll.

Where we going today? Ryan asked, taking a large envelope Conway slid toward him.

I looked to one of them for an explanation, but received none.

Ah, fuck no. Come on, boss, cut me a little slack, Ryan moaned.

Sorry, pal, I don't set the jobs. I just hand them out.

Come on. Switch me. I can't take a newbie to the west side on his first day, Ryan pleaded.

I hear you, but who would I send if not you? Conway asked, shrugging.

Goddamnit, put them off…reschedule.

Can't, I already tried, Conway countered.

Fuck, Andy, I'm begging you.

Get rolling. You got an 8am across town, Conway said, jerking a thumb in the direction of the truck bay.

Goddamnit, Ryan shouted, grabbing the envelope, storming off.

I stood there, uncertain what I should do.

You need a special invitation? Move your ass, Conway barked, pointing toward Ryan.

I ran as quickly as I could to catch up.

Keep him safe, Burnell. I mean it, Conway shouted after us.

Ryan flipped the man off again without breaking stride or turning to face him.

Where we going? I asked as I caught up with him.

Rule number one, don't talk to me until spoken to. You're only with me for the day, then you're Johnson's problem, he said harshly.

Beg your pardon? I gasped.

What are you? Stupid? I said don't talk to me, got it? he said, jabbing a finger into my chest.

Got it, I snapped in return. What an ass, I said softly to myself as he turned and walked away.

We went through a large set of double steel doors, entering an interior parking garage. Bay after bay filled the cavernous warehouse, each loaded with a bright blue utility truck with the Handy Dandy Service logo emblazoned in white across its side.

If I thought the chaos of the assignment room had been mind-numbing, it was nothing compared to this expanse. This was clearly where the pounding music originated.

People literally ran from trucks to the parts counter, stocking the vehicles with the day’s supply of electrical or plumbing parts. My heart pounded with the excitement of it all.

Hicks, Ryan shouted angrily.

I followed him as we thread our way through the steady stream of people to a young man closer to my age.

What's up, Burnell? he asked, shoving a large box into the hands of another man standing in the back of his truck.

Conway asked me to bring the newbie to you. I'm taking Kirby with me, he announced, giving me a light push in the young man's direction.

Bullshit, the man in the truck snarled, setting the box down in the back.

Let's go, I'm late, Ryan said, turning to go.

Hang on, tough guy. Lou already told me you and the newbie are going to the west side today. Conway asked him to load your truck, so fuck off, he said, laughing.

Alright, come on, Hicks, give me Kirby for the day. Johnson will be back tomorrow, then the newbie's his problem, Ryan pleaded.

I ain't going to the west side. Not after… Kirby shouted, waving his arms.

There's your answer, Burnell. You and the newbie have fun today, he said, laughing as he jumped into his truck and started the engine.

West side, his partner shouted, jumping into the other side.

Damnit, Ryan cursed, kicking at the ground.

Ryan, someone called from midway down the line of trucks.

Aww fuck, Ryan sighed. His shoulders slumped as he made his way that direction.

You sleep in today? I got you loaded. You got to roll, man, a young black man chided.

He and Ryan bumped fists and then each slipped an arm around the other’s shoulder, patting briskly.

Dude, he said to me, offering a hand, Lou.

Toby, I said smiling, taking it, happy to find someone friendly at last.

Break it up. Date on your own time, Ryan spit.

I stepped back a little, certain today was going to be a long, tough day. I didn't know who Johnson was but I missed him already.

You got everything? Do I need to check? Ryan asked, looking at the vehicle.

Dude. Check on the Lou man? You got to be on crack, he said, throwing his hands to one side with disbelief.

Yeah, yeah. I'm the one riding with the newbie, Ryan voiced.

I gave you double, in case he breaks it you got a back up, Lou said, folding his arms, spreading his feet in defiance.

That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks, man, you're the best.

Ryan's gratitude surprised me.

Alright, newbie, let's roll, he said, slapping the envelope into my chest.

Nice to meet you, Lou, I said, offering my hand again.

It’s cool, dude, he said, grabbing my hand, pushing his shoulder into mine.

The sound of the engine roaring to life made me hurry and I raced to get into the truck as it began to roll away.

We pulled out of the building and rocketed into the street.

What's our first stop? Ryan asked.

I didn't know. No one said, so I simply had no idea. I turned to him with a blank look.

Jesus fucking Christ, newbie. Open the envelope, put the shit inside on the clipboard. Read the top…you can read, can't you? he barked.

Yeah, I can read, I groused back at him.

Then fucking do it. What's our first stop?

I scrambled to get the paper out of the envelope and put the contents onto the clipboard hanging on the face of the dash.

Come on, come on. Give me an address, it gets dark here by eight, Ryan sniped, pounding his fist on top of the dash to hurry me along.

My heart pounded wildly as I drowned in confusion, searching for an address.

1685 Kearney, Upland, I stammered.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, Ryan cursed angrily, slamming on the brakes and spinning us in the opposite direction.

Cars honked, people screamed, and tires screeched, all in an effort to keep from hitting us.

Get it right, newbie, he said with a growl.

How the hell was I supposed to know? You didn't tell me a fucking thing about what I'm supposed to do, I snapped.

Easy, kid. Don't make me stop the truck, he returned, and then smiled.

Chapter 2

For the next twenty minutes we rode, not speaking. Only the voice of the GPS filled the cab, all the way to the city of Upland and to the address on the sheet.

As we pulled up in front of the house, Ryan turned the engine off, taking the clipboard, flipping through the day's assignments.

Nice place, I said lightly, unsnapping my seat belt.

What's the company motto? he asked, without looking up.

What? I asked, trying to figure out if it were a trick question or not.

Company motto…know what it is? he repeated with more aggression than the first time.

Service before self, I answered, feeling relieved it jumped into my