The next day, Shan's call came just as promised.
"Good morning, sir, my name is Shan Hao."
Xiajun rolled around in his bed, still matted with sleep. "Mmm, yes, I know."
"I ran the pictures boss sent me through the database and I've got the results with me." There was a pause as Shan allowed Xiajun to respond.
"Go on."
"I only received one result, unfortunately."
Xiajun jumped out of bed, quite alert now. "What do you mean?"
"One of the two men seems to be undocumented, sir."
"And who was the other identified as?" Xiajun already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear a professional say it.
"Leonard Francis, it appears. More commonly known as Leo." Shan paused and there was some disturbance at the other end of the line, as if someone was vigorously pressing buttons on a keyboard. "The man seems to be in his late 30s, unmarried, and the father is the renowned Alexander Francis of the foreign embassy. What else would you like to know?"
Xiajun was already noting away everything on his laptop. "Tell me about his current whereabouts and see if you can find out where he was a few days ago."
Shao typed something on his keyboard. "It appears he's in Hong Kong at the moment, and has been for the past couple of weeks, but he normally resides in Huizhou."
"Where does he live right now?"
"He's checked in at The Elysium near the city square."
"Room number?"
"My sources say it's Room. . .40 on the 4th floor."
Xiajun nodded. "Thank you, Shan. I'll contact you later."
With that, Xiajun put his phone away and ordered room service, which came twenty minutes later. A tray topped with tea, toast, a thin stick of butter and a pot of apple jam, all of which Xiajun downed in two minutes so he could go investigate Room#40.
****
There were a lot of people on the 4th floor, for some reason, so Xiajun knew banging the door down could not be an option. Instead, he stood before the pristine white door for a moment and turned the knob, half expecting it to slide open. Of course, it remained shut.
Sighing, Xiajun carried himself to the front desk of the hotel and stood there for a while, watching people go in and out of an elevator. Eventually, he went up to the receptionist and started off the conversation with a charming smile.
"Hello." The receptionist looked up when he approached her. "My friend, Leonard Francis, asked me to come visit him in hi room. I believe it's Room 40. . .? Could you please confirm?"
The woman peered suspiciously at Xiajun before reaching down for a register and looking through the long lists of names, eventually stopping at one.
"Yes, Room 40 is correct."
Xiajun nodded. "Um, the thing is, it's his birthday and I'd like to surprise him today. Would I be asking for too much if I said I'd like a key for Room 40. . .?"
The receptionist narrowed her eyes and slapped the register shut. "My apologies, sir, but we don't have permission to give away spare room keys to anyone other than the room owner. I suggest you use the hotel telephones," she pointed to a line of telephones on a far wall, "and ask your friend to come down."
Xiajun frowned. "I said it's his birthday and I'd like to surprise him by decking out his room in balloons and gifts. He's usually out for a morning run at this time of the morning so this is the ideal time. Please help me out, ma'am." Xiajun leaned over the counter, getting very close to the receptionist. "Please. . .?"
The receptionist blushed and stepped back, flustered. "I-I'll see what I can do." She scurried off to a room out of sight and only emerged moments later with her face still slightly tinged.
"Um, so I think it'll be fine if you return the key in a few moments. . ." she said, holding up a silver key. "I. . .I'm not allowed to do this, so if you could please be a little discreet. . ."
"Of course."
Xiajun took the key and went on his way.