Tow Truck Driver: Michael J Bryant

By Michael J Bryant

Bruce Hobs is a tow truck driver trying to keep up a family tradition of being a wrecker service provider and hopefully owning his own tow truck one day. It was a very stressful full-time job that didn’t leave much time for himself.
No sooner than Bruce can finally take ownership of his very own tow truck that his life quickly turns upside down with troubles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312803633

Book preview

Tow Truck Driver

      By

      Michael J Bryant

            Copyright 2023 Lulu Author, Michael J Bryant

                                    All rights reserved.

  ISBN # 978-1-312-80363-3

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

                  This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All contents herein, ideas, fictional events, characters, story lines, and anything else pertaining to this story of Tow Truck Driver belong to the author Michael J Bryant, exclusively written and designed for this book alone.

                                Written By: Michael J. Bryant

                            Copyright By: Michael J. Bryant 

                  Copyright March 13, 2023. All rights reserved.

                          US Copyright Office Washington, DC

      Dedication:

          Never give up on a dream or a prayer because they do come true and be careful of the roads you choose in life.    Jeanne Marlene Bryant

Contents 

Family Tradition                    Chapter 1 

Shock of a Lifetime                                              Chapter 2

A Crazy Kind of Day Chapter 3

Abandoned Vehicle                                          Chapter 4

A Growing Mystery                                                  Chapter 5

Fossil Fuel                                                                Chapter 6

The Tumbleweed Bar and Grill                              Chapter 7

The Missing Key                                                      Chapter 8

The Investigation Begins                                        Chapter 9

Confession                                                              Chapter 10

Early Morning                                                          Chapter 11

The Ledge Gives Way                                              Chapter 12

                                            Introduction

Bruce Hobs is a tow truck driver trying to keep up a family tradition of being a wrecker service provider and hopefully owning his own tow truck one day. His grandfather and even his father were both tow truck drivers and had provided a good living for their families. It was a very stressful full-time job that didn’t leave much time for himself, but it was what he wanted.

No sooner than Bruce can finally take ownership of his very own tow truck that his life quickly turns upside down with troubles.

A Family Tradition            Chapter 1

It was around 1:30am as Bruce Hobs was heading out to a multicar accident scene near Gorman California. It was still lightning, thundering and raining as he turned onto the 138 heading west toward the I-5 Freeway. It would be about an hours’ drive from the Rosamond area where he lives with his wife. The wipers on his old 1974 Ford F-350 wrecker tow truck were doing their job at keeping the windshield as clear as possible. There wasn’t a lot of traffic on hwy. 138 this time of the morning outside of truckers and a car ever now and then.

He soon got a call over the CB radio, saying, Hey Bruce, this is Dave at the shop. Can you hear me, ok?

                              Loud and clear Boss man, he replied over the CB mic., What can I do for you?

What’s your ETA to the accident? he wanted to know.

                              Right now, I am about halfway there so just guessing, about 20 more minutes depending on traffic, Bruce told him, I am going as fast as I can.

                              Roger that, Dave then said, I guess you already know that your buddy Terri Mason of the Highway Patrol did request your assistance.

                              Oh yes, no sweat Dave, he quickly told his boss, My buddy Corporal Mason and I go way back, and he does help keep me busy at times. In fact, I don’t mind a bit.

Good, Dave replied with a laugh, I just don’t want to be accused of favoritism. We have a few drivers that complain whether they are called in the middle of the night or not. It is like babysitting at times, I swear.

                              I copy that, Bruce agreed with a laugh himself.

                              Say, he next inquired, When are you going to let me buy this old classic tow truck from you?

                              Bruce continued saying, You already know how much work I put into this thing to keep her road ready, looking new and all the equipment up to date. I’ve been driving this thing now for 5 years and I know every inch of her.

                              You already know the story Bruce, he replied, I was going to get rid of it for a newer rig a few years back, but you talked me out of it. Besides that, that old Ford is 48 years old.

So, Bruce then said over the CB mic, I am 30 years old, and I have a long way to retirement myself. I am not going anywhere so nothing to worry about there. I happen to like working for you and the Oliver Towing Service. Hell, if you like I’ll sign a paper saying I’ll do 10 more years here if that is what it would take to change your mind on selling me this beauty.

With a laugh, Dave replied, You are making the pot sound better. Let me think about it and consider a fair price. Long as you are still working for me, I can carry the expensive insurance and tagging.

Hell, yes boss, sounds like a plan to me, Bruce excitedly told him.

How is the weather out there? Dave asked.

It is as crappy as when I left the house, Bruce complained, Only it seems to be raining harder now.

                              According to the weather radar this weather will be here a couple days off and on, he informed his driver, I’d better let you go so you can watch the road with no distractions. Once you pick up a wrecked vehicle, bring it all the way into the yard here in Lancaster. I’ll be waiting for you here.

See you shortly then, Bruce replied, I am out.

                              Hanging up the radio mic on the dash, Bruce had to smile thinking that he could be purchasing his favorite all time tow truck soon. His father James Ray and even his grandpa were tow truck drivers. He can remember way back as a kid, maybe 2 or 3 years old playing around on his dad’s tow truck. His grandpa drove for Mill Motors in Lancaster many years ago and he would bring his tow truck home every evening as well. Like himself now, they would always be on call for accidents, and such no matter the time of day or night.

Bruce still has an old picture of his grandpa’s tow truck and best he could tell it was a 1947 Studebaker. The picture he had was taken around 1956 and his dad and uncle being ages 3 and 5 at the time were standing in front of the old Studebaker wrecker in grandpa’s front yard. His father James drove tow trucks for many years as well up until he finally joined the LA County Sheriff’s Department. The towing business seemed to be in the family blood, and Bruce was just very proud of his job. Only difference between him, his grandpa and his dad were that they never owned their own tow trucks.

                            Thinking back about leaving his wife at home during this terrible storm tonight didn’t bother him a lot on this trip. Christa was most likely still fast asleep in bed and besides that, she had one of her brothers that Bruce had only just met staying at the house. Fighting to keep a clear view ahead and trying not to get blown around too much in the blasting howling winds carrying the rain sideways at times, Bruce continued as he was finally approaching the I-5 Freeway.

Now heading toward Gorman on the I-5 it wasn’t long before he ran into stopped traffic. Four or five lanes of stopped traffic meant that he was near his destination. Up ahead in the distance he could see emergency lights flickering. Bruce turned on all his emergency lights on the tow truck and proceeded on the shoulder of the roadway toward the wreck. He was soon motioned by a California Highway Patrolman to stop.

                              The officer headed toward his driver side door in the pouring rain while Bruce rolled down his window greeting, Morning Officer.

Morning, he said back, asking, What outfit are you driving for?

I am towing for Dave Oliver’s Towing Service out of Lancaster, Bruce informed the officer.

Ok, here is the scoop, the officer informed him, All of the drivers have been taken to hospitals and five of the seven wrecked vehicles have been towed already. While we are still waiting on another tow truck besides yours, most of the wrecked vehicle parts littering the highway have been cleaned up.

Sounds like this mess is nearly cleaned up then, Bruce commented.

We will be out here for hours trying to get a good flow of traffic again, he complained a bit, In any case, while you are hooking up, please pick up any debris you might see before leaving.

                              Yes sir, I always do, Bruce replied.

Pointing forward, the officer then said, Straight ahead you will run into another officer, Corporal Mason who will direct you on what to do next.

                              Thank you, I know him well, Bruce smiled as he rolled up his window to keep the rain out.

There were only two wrecked automobiles left at this accident. The Highway Patrol were finally getting traffic started again in the first two outer lanes while the other inner freeway lanes were still blocked by officers’ vehicles, emergency fire vehicles and a tow truck. Bruce turned on his tow truck floodlights so he could see and backed the F-350 wrecker up to one of the mashed vehicles.

Officer Terri Mason was finishing up his accident report inside his patrol car. The rain continued falling and the sky still lit up with lightning striking across the sky every few minutes. Getting on the horn, horn being the radio mic, Terri announced, Headquarters, this is Officer Mason. We have finally opened the first two lanes for ongoing traffic at a very slow pace. We should have the inner three lanes cleared in about thirty minutes or so.

                              Roger that, Headquarters standing by, the switchboard operator replied.

                              Tossing his report booklet up on the dash, Terri reached for the door handle saying, Time to get wet again.

Bruce was laying up under the frontend of a wreck when he heard someone inquiring, Are you taking swimming lessons down there or what?

Looking up and seeing his buddy Officer Mason looking down at him, he replied with a laugh, "There is