The Guest Who Disappeared Into The Night
A difficult decision
CHAPTER 12 - A DIFFICULT DECISION
Mr. Harris's office, ground floor, 15 July, 3:24 p.m.
So it turns out, even Shannon Harris has received silent calls since the Harrises bought the house that would become Repose Hotel.
But while Mr. Harris only received the calls during the night, Mrs. Harris received them both day and night!
Thanks to Mrs. Harris's meticulous observation, she has noticed that the anonymous caller only called her outdoors.
When she told Mei-Hua and Bryan that she could hear the rustling of tree branches and the birds and grasshoppers chirping in the background on the recipient's end, Mei-Hua became alarmed!
Because of the previous threats and silent calls, Mr. Harris wanted to add an extra layer of security. But he thought that it was enough to hire only Mei-Hua and Bryan to check up on the guests and look after the hotel, just to keep the costs down. Meanwhile, Mrs. Harris was realistic and was prepared to pay the private investigator justly from her own pocket.
Luckily, Mr. Kenley has come with the great news that he has managed to get volunteers from his home village to help out in the hotel during the upcoming storm.
So, will everything be alright now?
Bryan Dawson
Mrs. Harris, will you please excuse us?
Bryan Dawson
I'd like to discuss some things with Mei-Hua alone.
Shannon Harris
Of course, dear.
Bryan Dawson
*Looks at his boss and friend*
Bryan Dawson
Mei-Hua, can we...?
Mei-Hua nods and leaves Mr. Harris's office, followed by Bryan. Bryan closes the door behind him.
Bryan Dawson
What do you think?
Bryan Dawson
This case, of course!
Pan Mei-Hua
Didn't we agree that we were supposed to have a vacation and relax?
Bryan Dawson
We did, but...
Pan Mei-Hua
Then why are you even bringing this up?
Bryan can't believe his ears. Is Mei-Hua really thinking of declining Mrs. Harris's offer?
Bryan Dawson
Are you really thinking of abandoning them?
Pan Mei-Hua
Strong words, Bryan.
Pan Mei-Hua
But that won't work on me.
Bryan sighs. He knows fully well that once Mei-Hua has made a decision, it's very difficult to change her mind. Bryan remembers that many clients in the past tried to affect her emotionally so that she would do as they wanted. After many cases during her three years of working as a private investigator, Mei-Hua has become a more hardened person.
Bryan Dawson
But she has agreed to pay you full price!
Pan Mei-Hua
You don't understand, Bryan.
Pan Mei-Hua
It's not just about the money.
Pan Mei-Hua
You want to know what I think about this case?
Pan Mei-Hua
I'll tell you this: Accepting this job offer only spells trouble.
Bryan Dawson
What do you mean?
Pan Mei-Hua
*Shakes her head*
Pan Mei-Hua
Haven't you thought of it thoroughly?
Pan Mei-Hua
I don't want to say it, but...
Pan Mei-Hua
...It's a lost cause from the start.
Pan Mei-Hua
The Harrises want to run a hotel, but lack formal education regarding hotel management.
Pan Mei-Hua
Sure, they've taken some online courses.
Pan Mei-Hua
But that's not enough.
Pan Mei-Hua
They have only two employees who must manage all the 15 rooms, besides cooking and keeping everything else in the hotel in order.
Pan Mei-Hua
Now, it turns out that everything didn't go smoothly as planned.
Pan Mei-Hua
The Harrises have received threats and silent calls, but have chosen not to report to the police.
Bryan Dawson
Yeah, and...?
Pan Mei-Hua
You still don't get the picture?
Pan Mei-Hua
Everything was badly planned from the start!
Pan Mei-Hua
And now, the Harrises are putting the guests, including us, in danger by not cancelling the bookings!
Bryan Dawson
Whoa, whoa, whoa...!
Bryan Dawson
Calm down, Mei-Hua!
Bryan Dawson
I think you're overthinking things.
Bryan Dawson
And it sounds like you're complaining now, not unlike Miss Mårtensson and Mr. Atkinson!
Bryan Dawson
Didn't you defend the Harrises earlier today when Mr. Atkinson criticised Repose Hotel, and show an understanding of the suboptimal conditions when the Harrises apologised several times?
Bryan Dawson
Why have you suddenly changed your mind?
Pan Mei-Hua
Why are you such a dummy?!
Pan Mei-Hua
All that was BEFORE I knew the Mr. Harris have received those threats!
Pan Mei-Hua
He should have done something about them, instead of just sweeping them under the rug and pretend that everything is going to be fine!
Pan Mei-Hua
He should have done something about them, BEFORE accepting guests to Repose Hotel!
Bryan becomes silent and can't think of anything good to say. Mei-Hua is right, but still, he can't think of abandoning people in need.
Bryan Dawson
What are you going to do now?
Pan Mei-Hua
To be honest with you, Bryan...
Pan Mei-Hua
I seriously don't know.
Pan Mei-Hua
*Looks at her watch on her left wrist*
Pan Mei-Hua
It's almost four o'clock now.
Pan Mei-Hua
If I'm not mistaken, there should be another shuttle bus coming soon.
Bryan Dawson
You're really planning to check out?
Bryan Dawson
You're really going to---
Bryan Dawson
You can't stop me now.
Bryan Dawson
You've been my friend and boss for years.
Bryan Dawson
I've listened to every word you've said and followed every instruction.
Bryan Dawson
But this time, you have no right to stop me.
Pan Mei-Hua
Alright, I'll listen.
Pan Mei-Hua
But I doubt you can convince me to change my mind.
Bryan sighs again. What can he say to change Mei-Hua's decision? Unless...
Bryan Dawson
You're right, boss.
Bryan Dawson
I honestly don't know what to say to change your mind.
Bryan Dawson
I've heard what you said.
Bryan Dawson
The Harrises didn't have a good plan from the start when they wanted to run a hotel business.
Bryan Dawson
Repose Hotel is severely understaffed.
Bryan Dawson
They have received threats that they should have gone to the police from the start.
Bryan Dawson
I agree with you that both of us aren't enough to protect everyone at the hotel.
Pan Mei-Hua
Then why do you still want to talk me out of it?
Bryan Dawson
Because that's the right thing to do, boss.
Bryan Dawson
I know that I can't convince you to reconsider your decision based on the arguments you've made.
Bryan Dawson
So that's why I'm staying.
Pan Mei-Hua
Are you out of your mind?!
Bryan Dawson
I knew that you would react that way, Mei-Hua.
Bryan Dawson
But I've made my decision.
Bryan Dawson
You can check out of the hotel if you want.
Bryan Dawson
But I'm staying.
Pan Mei-Hua
你的傻瓜。。。！(= Nǐ de shǎguā...! = You fool...!)
Bryan doesn't dare to utter another word while he looks at Mei-Hua who is clearly furious about his decision. But what can he do? He wants to stay because he pities the Harrises.
Pan Mei-Hua
*Shakes her head furiously*
Pan Mei-Hua
这是一个非常笨的决定！(= Zhè shì yīgè fēicháng bèn de juédìng! = This is a very stupid decision!)
Bryan can see that Mei-Hua doesn't know what to do now. While he didn't really plan on forcing his boss to make a decision, he's somehow glad that he might be able to convince her to stay at the hotel.
Suddenly, the door to Mr. Harris's office opens and Mrs. Harris appears.
Bryan and Mei-Hua can see that Mrs. Harris still holds the glass in her hand from before. They realise that they have been eavesdropped... Again!
Shannon Harris
Please forgive my intrusion, Miss Pan.
Shannon Harris
I know that I shouldn't have done---
Pan Mei-Hua
...Yet you did.
Bryan Dawson
Mei-Hua, take it easy now---
Pan Mei-Hua
*Gives Bryan an angry look before turning her head back towards Mrs. Harris*
Shannon Harris
Miss Pan, you have to understand---
Pan Mei-Hua
*Quickly flashes her palm at Mrs. Harris*
Pan Mei-Hua
Enough of this "you have to understand".
Pan Mei-Hua
You're not the first to say so, and you certainly will not be the last.
Bryan sees that Mei-Hua clearly is upset, and keeps quiet. The young woman takes a deep breath before she continues speaking.
Pan Mei-Hua
I'll make it easy for you and Mr. Harris.
Pan Mei-Hua
I'm not going to check out.
Both Bryan and Mrs. Harris can't believe their ears. Did Mei-Hua change her mind all of a sudden?
Gregory Harris
*Rushes happily out of the office* Splendid!
Gregory Harris
I knew I could rely---
Pan Mei-Hua
Don't think this means you get cheap labour, Mr. Harris.
Pan Mei-Hua
I'm STILL going to charge you normally, and demand you to have extra staff!
Gregory Harris
B-b-but...!
Shannon Harris
That, Miss Pan, will not be a problem.
Shannon Harris
I told you that I would to pay you from my own pocket.
Shannon Harris
And the extra staff that Mr. Kenley brought with him will be justly compensated for their efforts.
Mei-Hua nods, but Bryan can see that she isn't satisfied with her decision. Bryan is a bit ashamed of himself, because he knows that the reason Mei-Hua finally decided to stay at Repose Hotel was...
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