Page 36 of The Dreidl Disaster

Except he couldn’t get to sleep, having tried and failed to slow down his brain.

Luckily for him, he had notes to make presentable for his meeting with Liv. Questions and thoughts and…

An email.

He put his papers down next to his laptop before switching into his email.

An invitation.

To a lunch with selected members from the chamber of commerce. At Levitan’s.

The next day.

He checked the other emails included on the distribution list and saw the Mayor’s.

Which meant this was not in invitation but a summons. And there was no other response than yes.

Which he gave, cc’ing Liv.

As he typed the email, things fell into place. Levitan or someone from the chamber had been responsible for quieting the room. And he’d bet he’d find out what the cost was at this meeting.

What did he want? What did they want?

Did this have anything to do with McManus?

He had absolutely no idea, and even more importantly, he didn’t have time to ponder about it beyond sending his agreement to attend the luncheon, because just as he sent it, a separate email from the mayor came in. He read through it, and the important part read:

Change of location. Meet me in my office. I’ll have breakfast waiting. We’ll prepare. And strategize.

And coffee,he replied.I don’t think I’m going to sleep.

You should at least try,came another email from the mayor.It’s going to be a long one.

I have notes, he returned.Gotta prep for the meeting with you and then the lunch.

You have Shabbat plans?

She’d switched to the email program’s adjacent chat app, and he wondered why she asked. But he answered anyway.Best friend and a few others in Rivertown. You?

Family, but I’m not going to sleep either. Email me the notes when you’re done?

Sounds good.

He took a long swallow of the glass of water, before settling in for a long night.

Knowing that Liv would be on the other end kept him awake for reasons other than why he was in town.

*

Liv had madethe mistake of waiting for the notes and then reading through them instead of going to sleep.

I like this,she’d messaged Artur after going through the notes.

Thank you. You think this is what they’re going to be talking about?

I don’t know. Racking my brain. Maybe I’ll have answers in a few hours.

See you then?

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