A knock at the door startled him from his daze.
"Are you about done, Detective?" Minnie said as she rounded her head from behind the door. He hadn't heard it open.
"Ah," Xiajun said, flustered. He shoved the diary in his back pocket, pasting a reassuring smile on his face. "Yes, Madame. But could I possibly ask you something?"
Minnie opened the door wider and he realized she was not alone. A couple of young girls peeked from behind her, their eyes wide with curiosity. They seemed to look quite young, around the ages of 13.
"Oh, you are not alone," he said as his face fell. "Maybe another time, then."
Minnie didn't say anything. He saw she was carrying a tea tray in her hands and he immediately rushed to relieve her of it.