Read Online A Straight Line to My Heart by Bill Condon - Free Book Online Page A

he says. ‘You’ve always told me that. Right or wrong?’
    â€˜I suppose.’
    â€˜You’re on a roll. Don’t stop. Now tell me what you’re really feeling.’
    â€˜Well . . . I guess I am a little bit excited.’
    â€˜Good.’
    â€˜And scared – because it’s all new and I don’t know what I’m going to have to do or what the people will be like . . . but I think it’s a good scared.’
    Bull smiles. It’s like he’s just dragged a confession out of a suspect.
    We’re behind a line of cars at a traffic light when we hear a siren. I see a fire-truck across the road on our left. Cars pull over to let it pass and it sneaks through the lights and speeds off.
    â€˜Do you think we should follow it?’ I ask.
    â€˜Why would we want to do that?’
    â€˜In case it’s a big story. I could write an eyewitness report.’
    â€˜You’ve seen too many movies.’
    â€˜I’m serious, Bull. The editor said he wanted someone who showed initiative. There’s not going to be a better chance than this.’
    â€˜But he’s going the opposite way to us. If we chase after him there’s a good chance you’ll be late for your job.’
    â€˜No guts, no story. Please follow him.’
    He turns off the highway, mumbling to himself. And soon we’re on the same road as the fire-truck, but way behind.
    â€˜Can you go faster? I can only just see him. We won’t be able to hear his siren in a minute.’
    â€˜There’s a speed limit.’
    â€˜You’re a cop, Bull. Hello .’
    He grits his teeth and plants his foot down on the accelerator.
    â€˜Happy now?’
    â€˜That’s much better. What about the siren?’
    â€˜No. No. Positively no.’
    â€˜Just a short burst to get those cars out of the way – we’re gunna lose him if you don’t. One tiny little–’
    â€˜Bloody hell! This is the last time I give you a lift anywhere!’
    Bull hits the siren. Cars slow and shift across lanes to let us through. We soon catch up to the fire-engine guy, who surprises us when he switches off his siren, moves to the side of the road, and stops.
    â€˜Oh, jeez.’ Bull covers his face with his hands. ‘He probably thinks I was trying to pull him over.’
    â€˜I’ll go and explain it to him,’ I say.
    â€˜No you will not. Stay here – I’ll do it.’
    He’s about to get out of the car but changes his mind when the firey hops down from the truck and hurries back to us.
    â€˜Everything all right, officer? No problem, is there?’
    Bull leans out the window. ‘No. You’re right, mate. You just keep on your way. Thought I’d follow you to the fire, that’s all – case I can lend a hand.’
    â€˜Oh, I see. Right. Yeah . . .’
    This guy is sweating bullets. Nervous as. Even Bull picks up on it.
    â€˜Anything wrong, buddy?’ he asks.
    â€˜Well, um – to tell you the truth, I wasn’t actually going to a fire. It was more like a drill.’
    â€˜A drill, eh?’
    Bull gives me a knowing glance – like he’s saying, ‘we’re on to somethin’ here’ – and gets out of the car.
    â€˜Think I might wander over and have a gander at your truck, mate.’ He’s already on his way, the driver trying to keep up. ‘You got some id I can have a look at?’
    Suddenly the fire-engine’s siren begins wailing.
    The firey yells, ‘Rory! No! No! Turn it off!’
    A kid of about six or seven sticks his head out of the window and waves gleefully to us from the fire-truck before the siren is switched off.
    â€˜Sorry, officer.’ The guy’s in his sixties but that doesn’t stop his face from lighting up as red as the fire-engine. ‘I’m minding the grandson this morning.’ He shows Bull his id . ‘You know