The Guest Who Disappeared Into The Night
Wrong judgement?
CHAPTER 9 - WRONG JUDGEMENT?
Mr. Harris's office, ground floor, 15 July, 2:07 p.m.
Mei-Hua is in deep thoughts after Mr. Harris has presented his theory of possible acts of sabotage towards Repose Hotel, based on the latest digital threat which the hotel manager had received two days ago.
But while Mr. Harris's theory was logical, the young private investigator feels the whole situation isn't that simple.
Pan Mei-Hua
I understand your concern.
Pan Mei-Hua
But what you've just said is only a theory so far.
Pan Mei-Hua
Despite those threats, an actual crime hasn't been committed yet.
Bryan Dawson
But Mei-Hua...!
Bryan Dawson
Almost every guest has complained about something with the hotel so far!
Gregory Harris
I agree with Mr. Dawson.
Gregory Harris
Why would everyone "happen" not to be happy about the hotel?
Pan Mei-Hua
All guests have the right to complain when something isn't satisfactory enough.
Pan Mei-Hua
It's nothing wrong with that.
Pan Mei-Hua
I'd of course prefer if people could do so in a non-aggressive way.
Pan Mei-Hua
So what have the current guests of Repose Hotel complained about so far?
Pan Mei-Hua
Hunter Atkinson wasn't happy because he didn't get a room close to an emergency exit.
Pan Mei-Hua
Instead, he and the other guests must rely on fire escape ladders that they must deploy themselves if needed.
Pan Mei-Hua
Susanna "Sanna" Mårtensson was dissatisfied because she felt "cheated" by the hotel management.
Pan Mei-Hua
Because Sanna couldn't buy snacks between meals and because she believed that the main meals only consisted of one portion of food per guest, three times a day.
Pan Mei-Hua
If that was truly the case, I can understand Miss Mårtensson's strong reaction.
Bryan Dawson
In that case she does have a point...
Pan Mei-Hua
Stanley Daniels and Antoine Roux haven't really made any complaints.
Pan Mei-Hua
Mr. Daniels did agree with Miss Mårtensson's complaint because it was reasonable.
Pan Mei-Hua
Monsieur Roux only made a comment to your statement that you were worried about the food transport, Mr. Harris.
Pan Mei-Hua
In this case, he was right to question how the hotel will secure the food availability for the guests, not totally unlike Miss Mårtensson's complaint.
Mr. Harris continues to listen without interrupting Mei-Hua.
Pan Mei-Hua
As for Mr. Mogensen and the young lady who I haven't spoken with really much...
Gregory Harris
You mean Hiromi Arakawa?
Pan Mei-Hua
Yes, I was thinking of her.
Pan Mei-Hua
Those two guests haven't made any complaints yet.
Bryan Dawson
What can I say?
Bryan Dawson
Mr. Mogensen seems to be a nice chap.
Bryan Dawson
And Miss Arakawa?
Bryan Dawson
She seems to be...
Pan Mei-Hua
And finally, Mr. Costa...
Pan Mei-Hua
He was aggressive and had difficulties controlling his emotions.
Pan Mei-Hua
But besides his general outbursts, I believe Mr. Costa was genuinely shocked by Mr. Mogensen's allergic reaction.
Pan Mei-Hua
I can't really say that he had any malice intentions of complaining in front of you, Mr. Harris.
Pan Mei-Hua
I guess it's just his personality.
Bryan Dawson
You know what, Mei-Hua?
Bryan Dawson
I take back my initial assessment.
Bryan Dawson
I agree with your reasoning.
Bryan Dawson
There's no way the guests could have "made things up" in accordance to the anonymous threats.
Bryan Dawson
No offense, Mr. Harris.
Bryan Dawson
But I kind of agree with Mr. Costa.
Bryan Dawson
You're the hotel owner after all.
Bryan Dawson
If something happens to the guests---
Gregory Harris
The fault would be all mine since I had failed to keep them safe.
Pan Mei-Hua
Mr. Harris, about the threats, have you spoken with the police about them?
Gregory Harris
As a matter of fact, I haven't.
Pan Mei-Hua
Why haven't you done so?
Gregory Harris
What do you think?
Gregory Harris
I don't have problems with anyone.
Gregory Harris
Until today, I only treated the nightly calls and the threats as bad pranks.
Gregory Harris
Besides, the police have more important things to do.
Gregory Harris
Do you think they would suddenly take those threats seriously and send some police officers to guard the hotel 24/7?
Bryan Dawson
Mr. Harris, have you ever thought of hiring a security guard?
Gregory Harris
A security guard...?
Gregory Harris
My boy, are you out of your mind?
Gregory Harris
How can I afford to hire a security guard when I can't even hire more people to my staff?
Gregory Harris
I need at least a front desk clerk, two porters, people who manage housekeeping, a waiter or a waitress, kitchen staff and...
Bryan Dawson
Alright, alright!
Pan Mei-Hua
Bryan, Repose Hotel is more or less a roadhouse, a motel, or a coaching inn.
Pan Mei-Hua
The term varies depending on where in the world we're in.
Pan Mei-Hua
You can also treat it as a bread and breakfast if you want to.
Pan Mei-Hua
But my point Bryan, is that you can't expect this kind of business to have lots of personnel.
Pan Mei-Hua
Many roadhouses in the world are only run by nuclear families, usually between two or five family members.
Pan Mei-Hua
What about Repose Hotel?
Pan Mei-Hua
As you remember, the hotel is only owned by two people in a single family.
Pan Mei-Hua
They run it together with only two employees.
Bryan Dawson
Alright, Mei-Hua, I understand!
Gregory Harris
Miss Pan, not many people are as understanding as you.
Gregory Harris
My wife and I are lucky to have you as one of our first guests.
Gregory Harris
The same goes for you, Mr. Dawson.
Pan Mei-Hua
But back to the topic, Mr. Harris.
Pan Mei-Hua
Bryan and I promise not to disclose anything from this conversation with anyone.
Pan Mei-Hua
However, we can't be of any help to you.
Pan Mei-Hua
As I've said before, Mr. Harris, a crime hasn't been committed yet.
Pan Mei-Hua
There is no evidence to link the threats you've received to the events of this morning.
Pan Mei-Hua
There isn't anything of importance that either Bryan or I can work on.
Pan Mei-Hua
Mr. Harris, there is no use starting an investigation.
Pan Mei-Hua
Finding a suspicious saboteur is only a wild goose chase!
Pan Mei-Hua
Asking us to investigate the six remaining guests?
Pan Mei-Hua
You're only going to make things worse than it is.
Mei-Hua can see Mr. Harris's disappointed facial expression.
She knows that she has been harsh on the hotel manager.
But telling a potential client the sad truth includes in her profession as well.
Gregory Harris
*Shakes his head and laughs*
Gregory Harris
Oh my, oh my...
Mr. Harris struggles to keep his emotions at bay.
Gregory Harris
That's the hard reality we're living in, isn't it?
Pan Mei-Hua
But that's the tru---
Pan Mei-Hua
I beg your pardon?
Gregory Harris
How much do you charge for everthing?
Gregory Harris
This consultation and the investigation?
Bryan Dawson
You can't be seri---
Gregory Harris
Well, I am!
Gregory Harris
My wife and I have come this far, and I'll be damned if some prankster manages to force us to close our hotel down!
Gregory Harris
True, I couldn't afford to hire more people to my staff or a security guard before.
Gregory Harris
But during crucial times like this?
Gregory Harris
I have to go "all in."
Gregory Harris
Miss Pan, my budget is indeed not very good right now.
Gregory Harris
But we're already a bit in the summer season.
Gregory Harris
You're Repose Hotel's only guests so far.
Gregory Harris
So it's extremely important that everything goes well.
Gregory Harris
Because if things get bad and we get bad reviews...
Mr. Harris tries his best to speak calmly, but his voice trembles a bit anyway.
Gregory Harris
Well, you can imagine that our economic situation will literally deteriorate if that happens.
Gregory Harris
So name your price.
Gregory Harris
I can pay you as much as you want!
Pan Mei-Hua
*Shakes her head*
Pan Mei-Hua
Mr. Harris, do you have any idea how much it is to hire a private investigator in the US?
Pan Mei-Hua
For general services, you may expect to pay around 75-120 US dollars per hour.
Pan Mei-Hua
I normally ask my clients to pay me in US dollars, and I charge around 100 US dollars per hour.
Pan Mei-Hua
Yes, that's the same cost for a highly skilled security guard with a military background.
Pan Mei-Hua
What do you think is worth your money?
Pan Mei-Hua
Active protection?
Pan Mei-Hua
Or a timeconsuming investigation that will lead us to nowhere?
Mr. Harris realises that he's in over his head with his request.
But is there a better alternative than hiring Mei-Hua and Bryan?
If the hotel is forced to close down, then the Harrises would face economic problems that could last for years!
Gregory Harris
Miss Pan, Mr. Dawson...
Gregory Harris
You've presented reasonable arguments about this situation.
Gregory Harris
But I've made up my mind and nothing can change it.
Gregory Harris
*Clears his throat*
Gregory Harris
I would like to hire you and Mr. Dawson, to keep an eye on my guests and prevent bad things from happening to our hotel.
Pan Mei-Hua
*Shakes her head*
Pan Mei-Hua
You're asking too much of us, do you realise that?
Pan Mei-Hua
We can run background checks on the guests if you really want to.
Pan Mei-Hua
But preventing bad things from happening to your hotel?
Pan Mei-Hua
Mr. Harris, you STILL need a security guard.
Pan Mei-Hua
Can you afford both?
Mr. Harris realises that Mei-Hua is correct.
Gregory Harris
I don't have any other choices now.
Gregory Harris
And it's too late to hire a security guard who can start working today...
Pan Mei-Hua
But didn't Mr. Kenley say that there will be volunteers coming to the hotel this afternoon?
Bryan Dawson
Mei-Hua, are you telling Mr. Harris to pay some of the volunteers to handle the hotel's security?
Bryan Dawson
But that's insane!
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