GEORGE SEES TROUBLE

"Now Jason, help me out," Carolyn says. "We have to find out when these people can meet with us." She looks at her watch. "We have less than three hours! Hee hee heh heh ha." She and Jason start dialing numbers.

George pulls the car over. You both get out. "Gum?" he offers. You chew for a moment in silence, watching the city traffic go by.

"See that down there?"
He points down the

avenue, where the street ends in a dark clot of trees. "That's Slow Water Park."

"Yeah," you say.

"Lemme see if I got this right," he says. "The protesters are after Councilman Pierce because the frogs are dying in the park. And so the Councilman's after you to find out what's going on."

"Right," you say. "He doesn't want to appear indecisive. He's announcing his solution at two o'clock."

George shakes his head. "You got trouble," he says.

"People around here are proud that we have wildlife right in the center of town. If you don't get it right, the Councilman's sure gonna catch it. You been working for him long?"

"Today's my first day," you say.

"Maybe your last day too, eh?"

The car's sunroof whirs open. Jason's head pops up. "Hey," he says. "Let's roll."

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