The Guest Who Disappeared Into The Night
The urgent assignment of tasks
CHAPTER 18 - THE URGENT ASSIGNMENT OF TASKS
Mr. Harris's office, ground floor, 15 July, 5:36 p.m.
Bryan Dawson
Time flies so fast!
Bryan Dawson
I didn't think of it earlier, but I'm actually beginning to be hungry.
Gregory Harris
Of course, young lad.
Gregory Harris
You and Detective Pan have been together with me since after lunchtime.
Gregory Harris
Of course, you would be hungry now.
Pan Mei-Hua
<It's time for dinner already?>
Pan Mei-Hua
<This has been a really long afternoon.>
During lunch, one of the guests got an allergic reaction after eating Swedish meatballs with cream sauce, lingonberry jam, green peas and boiled potatoes.
Thanks to quick intervention, Bryan and Mrs. Morris were able to stabilise Ronni Mogensen's airways.
The young Dane was directly sent to the hospital in Gloxmouth with an emergency helicopter afterwards.
Luca Costa, a bald man from Italy who had been in a quarrel with the "successful" singer Hunter Atkinson earlier in the morning, caused a scene in the canteen.
Not only was he verbally aggressive towards Mr. Harris, he was also physically menacing!
He almost managed to punch Bryan, if Mei-Hua didn't step in and protected her assistant.
After the shocking lunch, Mr. Harris has brought Mei-Hua and Bryan to his office, to tell them that he has received threats from an anonymous person.
Mr. Harris disclosed that he suspected that the perpetrator must be one of his guests, because of an e-mail that was sent to him two days earlier.
He was soon joined by his wife, and both wished to hire Mei-Hua and Bryan to investigate the guests and oversee the hotel's safety at the same time.
After a rather lengthy discussion about why she didn't believe in this case, and that she didn't want to be underpaid, Pan Mei-Hua finally agreed to the Harrises' job offer.
That conversation took more than two hours.
Then came the volunteers, among them another aggressive man who was very unreasonable.
That bloke was Terence Westley, a middle-aged woodcutter.
Since he was openly against the Harrises's business, he became Pan Mei-Hua's first suspect.
Alas, there was nothing that could link the aggressive man with the e-mail threats and silent calls.
So the investigation hasn't led anywhere.
And now, it's almost time for dinner...
Fred Maxwell
Mr. Harris, I didn't eavesdrop on your conversation, so I have completely no idea about the outcome.
Terence Westley
It was an interrogation, dammit!
Terence Westley
Have you forgotten that I'm a "suspect"?
Terence Westley
That foreigner over there---
Terence Westley
*Raises his right arm and points at Mei-Hua angrily*
Isaac Kenley
That's enough, Terence!
Isaac Kenley
You can talk about it later.
Isaac Kenley
Right now, we have other pressing matters.
Shannon Harris
We need to prepare dinner, and we've less than half an hour before the guests expect their meal in the canteen.
Shannon Harris
Mr. Kenley?
Shannon Harris
Can you please show Mr. Westley out?
Terence Westley
Now wait a minute!
Terence Westley
I'm NOT going anywhere!
Shannon Harris
And why is that, Mr. Westley?
Terence Westley
*Stares at Mrs. Harris*
Terence Westley
Because SOMEONE needs to take care of Mrs. Wilson's house!
Gregory Harris
You still are very stubborn, aren't you?
Gregory Harris
This is OUR hotel, not Mrs. Wilson's house any more!
Remembering Mei-Hua's words about Mr. Harris having the right to press charges against him, the middle-aged woodcutter forces himself to calm down.
Terence Westley
Mister, didn't you receive threats?
Gregory Harris
Why do you suddenly care?
Terence Westley
Because I can't simply stand by and watch when some scoundrel threatens to cause trouble at this house, Mrs. Wilson's legacy!
Gregory Harris
Don't you remember what I said before the interrogation?
Mr. Harris shakes his head and sighs.
Gregory Harris
Mr. Westley, I said that Repose Hotel can't have a staff member who hasn't a clue about the modern world.
Gregory Harris
So far, you've only shown us that you're prejudiced against other people and that you're a misogynist.
Terence Westley
Trying to slap---
Gregory Harris
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT!
Gregory Harris
Don't even try to justify your actions!
Gregory Harris
Now tell me, Mr. Westley, what can you do to make us believe you?
Shannon Harris
Remember, Mr. Westley, Miss Pan said that if anything happens to the guests, and you're seen near the hotel...
Shannon Harris
...You'll be in legal trouble.
Shannon Harris
So do us all a favour, and go home before we change our minds!
Fred Maxwell
If I may say something...
The Harrises look at the young farmer.
Fred Maxwell
While I haven't been to Miss...?
Fred Maxwell
*Looks at Mei-Hua*
Fred Maxwell
Pan, right...
Fred Maxwell
While I haven't been to Miss Pan's interrogation of Terence, it sounds to me that you're in urgent need of extra hands.
Fred Maxwell
I must admit that Terence can sometimes be unreasonably stubborn---
Terence Westley
I'll pretend I didn't hear that!
Fred Maxwell
---but I can vouch for Terence.
Fred Maxwell
I can trust him without any suspicion during a crisis, like the upcoming storm.
Fred Maxwell
When someone needs help, he definitely will help.
David Andrews
Uncle Fred is right, Miss Pan!
Samantha Reed
Dave and I can vouch for Uncle Terence!
Isaac Kenley
Children, please!
Samantha Reed
*Gets annoyed*
Samantha Reed
Stupid adults...
Fred Maxwell
Hush, Samantha!
Isaac Kenley
Mr. And Mrs. Harris, Miss Pan...
Isaac Kenley
*Clears his throat*
Isaac Kenley
Fred and the kids are right about Terence.
Sam angrily tries to protest, but is stopped by David.
Isaac Kenley
That's why I won't have any grudge against him, despite he pushed me down on the floor.
Thelma Morris
Did Terence push you, Isaac?!
Isaac Kenley
It's alright, Thelma.
Isaac Kenley
Don't overthink it.
Thelma Morris
Terence, you---!
Isaac Kenley
Enough, Thelma!
Isaac Kenley
I said it's alright!
Mrs. Morris looks at Terence angrily, but doesn't say anything.
Isaac Kenley
By the way, Thelma, where are Dennis and Trish?
Thelma Morris
He said he needed to go to the bathroom.
Thelma Morris
About Patricia, I've sent her to the kitchen straight away.
Fred Maxwell
So what are our assignments?
Shannon Harris
I think the most important thing first is to make sure that the guests get a proper meal.
Shannon Harris
As for the rest of the different tasks, we can talk about them later after dinner.
Thelma Morris
Mr. Harris, sir?
Gregory Harris
Yes, what is it?
Thelma Morris
I almost forgot asking you this.
Thelma Morris
Did you make any orders today?
Thelma Morris
I've received a phone call from a driver who claims that you've ordered lots of food from Gloxmouth.
Mr. Harris's face lights up.
Gregory Harris
That's right!
Gregory Harris
When will the driver arrive?
Thelma Morris
I would say in about 15 minutes.
Thelma Morris
He called me about two and a half hours ago, when he was halfway towards the hotel.
Thelma Morris
I was meant to give you a call, sir, but I was occupied in the canteen.
Gregory Harris
It's alright, you have so much to do alone.
Thelma Morris
It's not just about doing the dishes and cleaning the floors!
Thelma Morris
That brute, who almost got his arm broken by Miss Pan, is horrible!
Thelma Morris
At the same time, I had to comfort that Swedish woman.
Thelma Morris
Poor thing, she couldn't stop crying after what happened to Mr. Mogensen.
Thelma Morris
That so-called "singer" is too demanding!
Shannon Harris
We all understand, Mrs. Morris.
Shannon Harris
I can have a special debriefing with you later in the evening, if you want.
Thelma Morris
Thank you, ma'am.
Thelma Morris
I would love to!
Pan Mei-Hua
While I'm not a part of the staff, I suggest that we divide you into two groups.
Terence Westley
Who said that you---
Isaac Kenley
NOT NOW, TERENCE!
Pan Mei-Hua
The first group focuses on the dinner, while the second group focuses on receiving Mr. Harris's food order.
Shannon Harris
Good thinking, Miss Pan.
Shannon Harris
*Takes a quick glance across the office*
Shannon Harris
*Looks at Terence Westley*
Shannon Harris
Mr. Westley, while I agree with my husband that you're not welcome to Repose Hotel because of your backward way of thinking...
Everyone looks at Mrs. Harris.
Shannon Harris
...But I agree with Mr. Maxwell.
Bryan Dawson
Mrs. Harris, with all due respect...
Shannon Harris
Mr. Dawson, we're indeed in urgent need of extra hands.
Shannon Harris
*Staring into Terence's eyes*
Shannon Harris
...Didn't Mr. Westley say that he “can't simply stand by and watch when some scoundrel threatens to cause trouble at this house”?
Terence Westley
Yes, I did!
Shannon Harris
Then I'd say that we've a common goal, for now.
Shannon Harris
What do you think, Miss Pan?
Pan Mei-Hua
It's your decision, Mrs. Harris.
Gregory Harris
*Claps his hands out of joy*
Gregory Harris
Then it's settled!
Gregory Harris
Mr. Maxwell, Mr. Westley and Mr. Kenway...
Gregory Harris
You three follow me outside to the main yard to wait for the food delivery.
Shannon Harris
Miss Reed and Mr. Andrews, you follow me and Mrs. Morris to the kitchen.
Shannon Harris
In case we see Mr. Freeman, we'll ask him to join us as well.
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