"R" Line

'R' LINE Mike Ryan andSally Malone, a 30-something couple, met in the busyard where both worked as drivers. Mike drove the 'R' Line commuterbus weekdays from Hayward to San Francisco, and back. This novel is their story, ablend of romance, murder mystery, union corruption and political reform asMike, Sally and their fellow workers confront the corrupt union leadership in abitter struggle for power. Eventually their activities lead to a new,democratic union. Along the way the way, Mike and Sally are followed by twolocal police detectives investigating the dead body found on Mike's bus. The tale includes illicit sex,larceny, an FBI investigation and a murder mystery. What more could you wishfor?

Patrick Hancock was born in Famoso, California in the San Joaquin Valley. He attendedpublic schools during the Great Depression, experiencing first hand the impactof migrant agricultural workers' children in his classroom. Pat joined the Navy at 17, trainedas a meteorologist and later studied industrial relations and economics. After graduation from UCLA, heworked at many jobs: meter reader, bus driver, carpenter, teacher, communityorganizer and union negotiator. During this time he wrote many letters,newspaper articles and edited a business newsletter. This first novel reflectsPat's continuing interest in the changing labor movement in the U.S. Pat and his wife Lee have livedin the silverlake area of Los Angeles for 34 years.