Another morning, another day in front of Xianshi Inn.

 

“Do you know what that word means? ‘Xianshi’? ” in their car holding a cup of coffee in his hand, Thomas asked Aimee, “That’s like a Chinese word right?”

 

“I don’t know. ” Aimee shook her head while looking at some of the security camera footage on her laptop: “I put it in a translator and the word has multiple meanings, it can mean ‘reality’, or ‘to show’, or ‘leisure and comfortable’, or ‘being a pervert’.”

 

“Well, ‘leisure and comfortable’ checks out though?” Thomas looked out of the window and saw some guests excitedly going into the inn, “The inn does look pretty clean and neat though, not like the other places.”

 

“Or it can just mean ‘being a pervert’, you know, because the owner is shady and would like a joke.” Aimee frowned as she zoomed in on a photo.

 

“Geez sis, you have too much prejudice against this guy!” Thomas laughed: “What has he done to offend you so?”

 

“Nothing … just … he gives off an annoying vibe.” Aimee thought for a bit and could not find a reason: “He kinda weirds me out, OK?”

 

“So? He kinda weirds me out too. But I’m not treating him as a pervert.” Thomas could not stop laughing: “I felt that he’s just a weird old man, don’t assume the worst of people, you know? ”

 

“Yeah, I know, I know. I just can’t shake the feeling.” Aimee said.

 

“Hello detectives.” a sudden voice came from Aimee’s window and almost made Aimee pull her gun while Thomas just spilled his coffee out the car window.

 

“Mr. Yu? What are you doing here?” Aimee put her gun back into her holster and asked.

 

“I saw your car out front.” Jianmen answered with a smile and a deliberately strong Chinese accent, “Are you providing police protection like I asked? That is very very kind of you! Thank you very much!”

 

“No, we are not providing police protection. What are you doing here?” Aimee impatiently answered.

 

“Well, I saw you near my inn and I want to say hi.” Jianmen sounded ever so innocent, “And I understand what you mean, you cannot say that you are providing secret police protection. Because then the criminal will know, big trouble.”

 

“No, no, no, we are not providing secret police protection!” Aimee was very eager to clarify the situation.

 

“Yeah yeah yeah. I understand.” Jianmen touched his nose then pointed at Aimee and Thomas, while winking clumsily and handing out two small brown bags, “As a token of my gratitude for … being here, I brought you homemade matcha cake.”

 

Aimee wanted to refuse: “Oh, no, we can’t...”

 

“I’m sorry, we are working, and we are technically not allowed to take gifts.” Thomas explained to Jianmen.

 

“Oh, relax, this is homemade, and I am the boss so it does not cost anything. ” Jianmen insisted, “Also, you are not working. You are not providing secret police protection, right? You are just driving by, technically.”

 

“Hmm. Okay. It does smell good though.” Thomas just took the brown bags right from Jianmen’s hands.

 

“Of course, I am a really cheap boss, but my corporate meals and snacks are top-notch.” Jianmen lightly patted the top of the car and said: “I used all the Californian good stuff - gluten free flour, avocado, and with my special matcha powder and a little coffee grind - it’ll brighten up your day.”

 

“Oh my god. It’s sooo good!” just when Aimee was about to say anything, Thomas interrupted her with a loud exclamation.

 

“I knew you’ll like it.” Jianmen looked at Aimee with a smile: “You police officers, always with your donuts, too sweet and full of artificial flavor. San Jose’s finest deserve something good. Feel free to drop by my inn and buy some if you want more, I’ll give you guys friends and family discount.”

 

“Hey, that’s a very offensive stereotype.” Thomas said to Jianmen in a serious tone: “We are preferring bagels now, got it?”

 

Then both him and Jianmen started laughing, while Aimee facepalmed.

 

“Alright. I’ll have a taste.” Aimee took the other brown bag.

 

“Okay, great. Hope you like the cake.” Jianmen waved and started backing away: “Thanks again detectives, and please stay safe.”

 

“Alright, you too!” Thomas happily waved Jianmen goodbye as well.

 

“Mmmm.” Aimee took a small bite and exhaled: “You weren’t lying. This is good.”

 

“Right? ” Thomas finished his last bite of the cake: “I wonder why the inn is not more popular.”

 

“Because it has a weird boss?” Aimee took another bite.

 

What neither of them could see, was that two traces of orange-gold air traveled from somewhere inside the cake and into their bodies, and shortly after, a little bit of black smoke rose from their shoulders and was burned off by something invisible.