It was 9 am and Bì Yù was heading off to work, promising that she would be back in time to come with me to the Red Lantern Hotel.
‘See you back here at two thirty,’ she said.
As soon as the front door closed behind her, I dialled Uncle Johnny’s number. When he answered I told him we had safely arrived in Shanghai.
‘How are you and how’s Harper doing?’
‘We’re all as good as we can be considering.’
I heard the front door open and close again. A few seconds later a thin, middle-aged woman entered, carrying a bucket filled with cleaning products and a mop. She smiled at me and said something in Chinese, then held up a cloth and headed for the bathroom. Bì Yù hadn’t told me she had a cleaner. My pulse raced. I didn’t know who this woman was. I started thinking about the money I had hidden.
‘So, has everything gone okay so far with Mr Zhāng and the hospital?’ Uncle Johnny asked. ‘Tell me what’s going on.’
I told him Harper’s surgery was scheduled for Thursday.
‘Marlowe, I’ve done a little digging into transplants in China.’ He paused. ‘I’d like to send you some articles. They have some sensitive content. Perhaps sending them by post would be better than via email.’
Articles? I’d read articles. I didn’t need to read any more articles. Harper’s surgery had been scheduled. I didn’t want anything to get in the way of that.
‘I’ve read a lot already –’
‘Please. I feel it’s important.’
I recited Bì Yù’s address, just to make him happy.
‘Thanks. Keep me posted. You have my number, if there is anything I can do… Please be careful, Marlowe.’
The cleaner emerged from the bathroom and opened the door to my bedroom. Oh no – I couldn’t let her see the money.
‘Thanks, Uncle Johnny – I’ve got to go.’
‘Wait!’
For God’s sake, what now?
The cleaner was vacuuming around my bed now. She was way too close for comfort.
‘Have you spoken to your dad?’ Uncle Johnny was asking.
‘What?’
‘I was thinking of stopping by the house to see him. You know, it’s been so long.’
The cleaner had shut the door. Why would she do that?
‘Sure. Sorry, Uncle Johnny, I really have to go.’ I ended the call and ran to the bedroom. Flinging open the door, I saw that she was making my bed.
‘Stop!’ I shouted.
She looked up at me, frowning.
‘Stop! You don’t need to clean in here.’
She started talking rapidly in Chinese but I shook my head and pointed to her and then to the door.
‘What’s all this shouting about?’ Harper appeared in the doorway, breathless.
‘Nothing,’ I said, as the cleaner, giving me a baleful look, collected her things and left the room.
‘You’re acting so strange, Marlowe,’ Harper said. ‘And I heard you speaking to Uncle Johnny. Why didn’t you let me speak to him? I would have liked to say hello and let him know how I am doing and feeling in my heart.’
It hadn’t occurred to me that she might be listening.
‘I’m sorry, Harper.’
‘You said I had surgery scheduled for Thursday.’
I froze. Think of something to say quick.
‘I told you I didn’t want a surgery and you promised no more hospitals.’
I couldn’t think of something to say. I couldn’t come up with the words.
‘Why didn’t you talk to me about this?’
‘I’m – I’m sorry, Harper. I just want to get you the medical treatment you deserve.’
She looked so sad.
‘You never think about me anymore or what I want.’
She was right. Yet she couldn’t possibly advocate for herself and seek the best medical care as well as I could.
‘Harper,’ I said, ‘wait.’
But she walked off to her room without looking back.