The Guest Who Disappeared Into The Night
The seriousness of the calls
CHAPTER 11 - THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CALLS
Mr. Harris's office, ground floor, 15 July, 3:08 p.m.
Gregory Harris
Shannon, dear...
Gregory Harris
You should have told me!
Gregory Harris
This is really serious!
Gregory Harris
Shannon, why DIDN'T you tell me?!
Bryan looks at Mei-Hua nervously. She doesn't look back. Instead, she stares at the Harrises without uttering a word. Bryan can see that Mei-Hua is as tense as he is.
Shannon Harris
*Looks angrily at her husband*
Shannon Harris
Oh, so now I've done SOMETHING wrong?
Gregory Harris
I AM the owner of the hotel.
Shannon Harris
*Shakes her head* No, dear.
Shannon Harris
WE are the owners of the hotel.
Shannon Harris
I can't believe that---
Everyone jumps startled back.
Bryan Dawson
Jeez, Mei-Hua.
Bryan Dawson
Did you have to---
Pan Mei-Hua
*Stares angrily at Bryan* Not now!
The young private investigator turns her head back, looks at the Harrises, and does her best to speak calmly.
Pan Mei-Hua
Mr. and Mrs. Harris.
Pan Mei-Hua
I understand that you've gone to great lengths to get a business of your own: to start a hotel service in the countryside to be close to nature.
Pan Mei-Hua
Despite not having a degree for hotel management and despite you had to borrow money, you still went on to reach your dream.
Pan Mei-Hua
That's commendable.
Pan Mei-Hua
But it seems you haven't made good enough plans.
Gregory Harris
So now you're judging us, Miss Pan?
Shannon Harris
Shut it, Gregory!
Shannon Harris
Let her continue!
Pan Mei-Hua
About the threats...
Pan Mei-Hua
It is clearly that you both have tried to protect each other.
Pan Mei-Hua
That's admirable.
Pan Mei-Hua
But that doesn't solve the problem.
Pan Mei-Hua
And here we are...
Pan Mei-Hua
...Being forced to stand in front of you and listen to your family matters that have nothing to do with us!
The Harrises stare at Mei-Hua. It's quite embarrassing to be talked down by a young customer, but they realise that she's right. Even if they continue to argue with each other, the threats are still there and the rest of the customers are still in potential danger.
Pan Mei-Hua
So if you both don't mind, I actually want to go back and finish my lunch.
Bryan Dawson
But Mei-Hua...!
Bryan Dawson
It's already in the afternoon!
Pan Mei-Hua
Out of the office.
Bryan doesn't think twice and begins walking towards the door, followed by Mei-Hua.
Shannon Harris
You're right.
Shannon Harris
Both my husband and I shouldn't have caused a scene in front of you---
Gregory Harris
Actually, it was you who---
Shannon Harris
Stop interrupting me, Gregory!
Shannon Harris
Look, darling.
Shannon Harris
I'm sorry that I've yelled at you.
Shannon Harris
I know that you've tried to protect me from problems.
Shannon Harris
And I have done the same, for your sake.
Shannon Harris
But Miss Pan is right.
Shannon Harris
We won't solve anything by shouting at each other.
Shannon Harris
You've told Miss Pan and Mr. Dawson about the threats that you've received.
Shannon Harris
Now it's my turn.
Mei-Hua and Bryan stop walking towards the door and turn around, watching Mrs. Harris.
Shannon Harris
As I've told you earlier, I've also received silent calls since we purchased this house.
Shannon Harris
Not only at night, but also during the day.
Gregory Harris
But how...?
Gregory Harris
Why didn't I...?
Shannon Harris
I honestly don't know, dear husband.
Shannon Harris
Maybe because the caller couldn't reach you.
Shannon Harris
Or maybe because the caller wanted to intimidate both of us.
Shannon Harris
I did notice one small thing though...
Mrs. Harris starts to think hard. It is as if she suddenly remembers a detail that she hasn't thought about earlier.
Shannon Harris
The caller was outdoors when they made those calls.
Gregory Harris
*Slaps his forehead*
Gregory Harris
How is that going to help us, love?
Shannon Harris
Hey, you wanted to me to---
Pan Mei-Hua
I wouldn't say that information was completely useless.
Shannon Harris
*Looks happy at Mei-Hua*
Shannon Harris
You see that, Gregory?
Shannon Harris
That's how a professional works!
Shannon Harris
If you just---
Bryan Dawson
*Clears his throat*
Bryan Dawson
Mr. Harris, did you also receive your calls from a person standing outdoors?
Gregory Harris
*Looks perplexed because of the sudden interruption*
Gregory Harris
I don't pay attention to those details!
Shannon Harris
*Shakes her head*
Gregory Harris
*Looks desperately at Mei-Hua and Bryan*
Gregory Harris
Hey, come on!
Gregory Harris
You have to give me some slack here!
Gregory Harris
Do you think everyone pays attention to background sounds at the recipient's end?
Bryan Dawson
Mr. Harris does have a point.
Bryan Dawson
Do you agree, Mei-Hua?
Pan Mei-Hua
It's natural that not everyone pays attention to every detail.
Gregory Harris
*Gives a sigh of relief*
Pan Mei-Hua
Mrs. Harris, apart from the fact that the caller was outdoors, could you hear anything more?
Shannon Harris
I could hear the rustling of tree branches...
Shannon Harris
Gregory, you...!
Pan Mei-Hua
Mrs. Harris, please go on.
Shannon Harris
I could hear birds chirping...
Mr. Harris wants to stop his wife from saying anything else, but when he notices Mei-Hua's stern expression, he quickly changes his mind.
Shannon Harris
...And when I received those night calls, I could hear the sounds of grasshoppers.
Pan Mei-Hua
*Stands frozen in place*
Bryan Dawson
Are you alright?
Bryan Dawson
...Stop creeping me out!
Gregory Harris
Miss Pan...?
Pan Mei-Hua
*Comes to her senses after a while*
Pan Mei-Hua
This is worse than I thought!
Bryan Dawson
What do you mean?
Pan Mei-Hua
If Mrs. Harris could notice that the mysterious caller was outdoors, surrounded by trees with rustling branches because of the wind...
Pan Mei-Hua
...And hear the sounds of birds and grasshoppers...
Mei-Hua takes a pause while looking at everyone seriously. She is tense. She realises that the situation isn't as easy as she had thought. The Harrises really need those volunteers now!
Pan Mei-Hua
Mr. and Mrs. Harris...
Pan Mei-Hua
I'm going to be frank with you.
Pan Mei-Hua
The guests are really in danger.
Mei-Hua can see the Harrises become distraught. But what could she do? She had to tell them the truth!
Pan Mei-Hua
If you're really serious about this business, you need to have more people as soon as possible!
Gregory Harris
Miss Pan...
Gregory Harris
I beg of you...
Gregory Harris
We really need your help!
Bryan Dawson
Come on, Mr. Harris!
Bryan Dawson
What do you think Mei-Hua has done in the past hour?!
Bryan Dawson
And have you already forgotten what she had said?
Bryan Dawson
Both of us can't look after the hotel by ourselves!
Mr. Harris falls to his knees. Bryan can clearly see that he's in great despair.
Gregory Harris
We're ruined...
Mrs. Harris kneels down to give her husband a hug.
Shannon Harris
Oh, my poor darling...
Shannon Harris
We'll make it, Gregory.
Shannon Harris
I promise you, we WILL be able to run a hotel!
Mrs. Harris stands up again after a while and looks at Mei-Hua and Bryan.
Shannon Harris
I'm prepared to pay you 100 US dollars per hour from my own pocket.
Mrs. Harris doesn't care about her husband's reaction. She has made up her mind, and no one is going to stop her!
Shannon Harris
Don't worry.
Shannon Harris
I promise you that you two won't need to look after the hotel all alone!
Suddenly, Mrs. Harris's smartphone rings.
Shannon Harris
Shannon Harris at Repose Hotel speaking...
Shannon Harris
Oh, Mr. Kenley!
Shannon Harris
Uh-huh. Hmm. Yes. Well done!
Shannon Harris
Please tell them to come to the office immediately!
Shannon Harris
Thank you, Mr. Kenley.
Mrs. Harris looks at her husband with a big smile. Mr. Harris is confused.
Shannon Harris
They're here.
Gregory Harris
Who are here?
Shannon Harris
Our extra pair of hands.
Shannon Harris
The volunteers from the village.
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