The Guest Who Disappeared Into The Night
The woodcutter's realisation
CHAPTER 16 - THE WOODCUTTER'S REALISATION
Mr. Harris's office, ground floor, 15 July. 4:49 p.m.
Gregory Harris
I think we all want to know why you're suspecting Mr. Westley, Miss Pan.
Everyone is now staring at Mei-Hua, who, despite being the centre of attention, is quite calm.
Pan Mei-Hua
*Looks calmly at Terence Westley*
Pan Mei-Hua
Mr. Westley, I want you to cooperate fully with us.
Pan Mei-Hua
I won't accept any more interruptions from you.
Terence Westley
*Mutters something inaudible*
Pan Mei-Hua
I said, are we clear?
Terence Westley
Yeah, yeah, I heard you.
Pan Mei-Hua
Mr. Westley, you're a woodcutter, correct?
Terence Westley
Didn't ya hear what Kenley said earlier, Missy?
Isaac Kenley
You promised!
Terence Westley
Alright, alright!
Terence Westley
I'm sorry!
Terence Westley
Happy now, Kenley?
Terence Westley
I apologised to the super private investigator, the "precious" Miss Pan!
Terence Westley
ARE YOU ALL HAPPY NOW?!
Shannon Harris
*Shakes her head*
Shannon Harris
How rude...!
Terence Westley
What did you just say---
Pan Mei-Hua
I'm giving you one last warning, Terence Westley!
Pan Mei-Hua
Cooperate with us, or prepare to meet the police!
Terence Westley
*Shakes his head*
Terence Westley
Alright...
Terence Westley
You win, Miss Pan.
Pan Mei-Hua
Don't you ever use that tone again, Mr. Westley.
Pan Mei-Hua
No one is "winning" here.
Pan Mei-Hua
I'm trying to prevent a crime!
Terence Westley
*Looks surprised*
Terence Westley
What crime?
Bryan Dawson
Is he being serious?!
Shannon Harris
Mr. Westley, don't you remember what Miss Pan said?
Isaac Kenley
Terence, they're talking about the threats that my employers have received, at the beginning of June!
Terence Westley
Yeah, I remember now.
Terence Westley
What about them?
Pan Mei-Hua
You don't seem to take it very seriously, Mr. Westley.
Terence Westley
Why should I, Miss Pan?
Terence Westley
*Points at the Harrises*
Terence Westley
Those two city dwellers have taken the house away from Mrs. Wilson---
Gregory Harris
We didn't "take" it from her.
Gregory Harris
We bought it legally---
Terence Westley
Like I would care, Mister!
Terence Westley
Anyway, if they're receiving threats, that only means that there are other people who also agree with me regarding this!
Shannon Harris
How outrageous!
Shannon Harris
Do you really believe so?
Terence Westley
The threats don't really mean anything anyway.
Pan Mei-Hua
How can you be so sure about this, Mr. Westley?
Terence Westley
I'm sorry?
Terence Westley
Am I hearing a dumb question, now?
Terence Westley
Have you never been threatened, foreigner?
Terence Westley
I'm sure you have, with regard to your...
Terence Westley
*Hesitates for a bit*
Terence Westley
...With regard to your background.
Everyone but Miss Pan gasps.
Pan Mei-Hua
You have a point, Mr. Westley.
Pan Mei-Hua
Yes, I have been threatened in my line of work.
Pan Mei-Hua
Sometimes, they don't mean anything.
Terence Westley
That's what I meant!
Pan Mei-Hua
But there are also times when threats have become reality.
Pan Mei-Hua
Can you please show Mr. Westley the threatening e-mail message?
Gregory Harris
Certainly, Miss Pan.
Mr. Harris immediately takes out his smartphone.
After he opens the e-mail with the latest threat, Mr. Harris gives Terence Westley his smartphone.
The middle-aged woodcutter can't believe his eyes.
Terence Westley
What the---?
Gregory Harris
My thoughts exactly.
Gregory Harris
If you have never received any silent calls during nighttime or threatening e-mails like this one before, you would believe that it's a just bad prank.
Gregory Harris
May I get my phone back?
Terence looks at the smartphone screen one more time, and gives it back to Mr. Harris afterwards with some hesitation.
Pan Mei-Hua
What's the matter, Mr. Westley?
Pan Mei-Hua
The threat consists only of one single sentence.
Pan Mei-Hua
I'm sure a sentence like that doesn't take too much time for you to read through, does it?
Terence Westley
*Looks at Mei-Hua angrily*
Terence Westley
*Struggles to keep himself calm*
Terence Westley
...On Earth do you mean, Miss Pan?
Pan Mei-Hua
Like I've just said, Mr. Westley, the threat consists only of one single sentence.
Pan Mei-Hua
"Are you sure you can protect all of your guests?"
Pan Mei-Hua
That sentence alone sounds serious to me.
Pan Mei-Hua
Yet, you stood there, holding Mr. Harris's smartphone for a while.
Pan Mei-Hua
Were you planning on deleting a piece of evidence?
Isaac Kenley
*Quickly interrupts*
Isaac Kenley
Miss Pan, I assure you, Terence isn't used to new technology---
Pan Mei-Hua
Answer me right now, Mr. Terence!
For the first time during the afternoon, Terence Westley has difficulties finding words.
Bryan can see that Mei-Hua is becoming really annoyed with Terence.
Bryan Dawson
Boss, I don't think...
Bryan quickly stops himself when he sees Mei-Hua's angry expression.
Isaac Kenley begins to pity his fellow villager.
Isaac Kenley
Miss Pan, I think Terence's reaction is proof enough---
Terence Westley
"Proof enough" what?
Terence Wesley begins to regain his composure.
Isaac Kenley
*Looks at Terence*
Isaac Kenley
Proof enough that you're innocent.
Terence Westley
You really believe me, Kenley?
Pan Mei-Hua
As much as I love to see you two getting along well again, I'm the one who makes the assessment here.
Pan Mei-Hua
Now, Mr. Westley.
Pan Mei-Hua
Are you ready to give us your explanation to all of this?
Terence Westley
Yes, I am now.
Terence Westley
*Clears his throat*
Terence Westley
I had no idea that someone would send threats to Mr. Harris.
Terence Westley
Yes, I'm against the city slickers because they took over Mrs. Wilson's house and forced her away.
Bryan can see that the Harrises want to protest, but choose not to interrupt Terence.
Pan Mei-Hua
Why do you think Mrs. Wilson was "forced away"?
Terence Westley
What do you mean by that?
Terence Westley
If someone buys your house, do you think you'll be allowed to stay?
Pan Mei-Hua
But have you ever thought that she probably wanted to move away from the countryside, and into the city?
Isaac Kenley
That's actually true, Terence.
Isaac Kenley
Mrs. Wilson has told me before that she wanted to be near her remaining family that lives in Gloxmouth.
Terence Westley
When did she...?
Isaac Kenley
Around four months ago.
Terence Westley
*Is in deep thoughts*
Mei-Hua decides not to ask any more questions for now.
Instead, she looks at Terence Westley for a long time.
Terence seems to feel Mei-Hua's gaze upon him, so he snaps back into reality.
Terence Westley
*Turns to Isaac and the Harrises*
Terence Westley
I'm sorry.
Terence Westley
I'm sorry for my outburst earlier this afternoon.
Terence Westley
I'm sorry for having hurt you, Isaac.
Isaac Kenley
*Pats Terence's left shoulder*
Isaac Kenley
No harm is done.
Isaac Kenley
I'm not injured.
Terence and Isaac look at Mr. Harris.
Gregory Harris
Mr. Westley.
Gregory Harris
You were really aggressive this afternoon.
Gregory Harris
I actually feared for my wife's and my own safety.
Gregory Harris
If it weren't for Miss Pan...
Gregory Harris
I don't even dare to think what would have happened if she didn't step in and stopped you!
Shannon Harris
Miss Pan really protected us when she threw you on the floor, Mr. Westley.
Pan Mei-Hua
That wasn't on purpose though.
Pan Mei-Hua
That was because Mr. Westley wanted to sl---
Isaac Kenley
*Quickly interrupts Mei-Hua*
Isaac Kenley
Yes, we all know, Miss Pan.
Comments