Chapter 18 — Fire Behind the Line

Trong Khiem was summoned to Vo Ba Tho's office on Thursday morning. A sudden, unannounced call made him immediately feel that something was wrong. When entering the spacious office on the top floor of the headquarters of the City Fire Department, he saw Mr. Tho sitting behind the desk, his face looking unusually serious.

"Please sit down." Mr. Tho spoke, his voice still maintaining the usual politeness, but there was a coldness hidden underneath that Trong Khiem could not help but notice.

"Why did you call me up?" Trong Khiem asked, keeping his tone professional, even though he was on high alert.

"I received a report that you are expanding the scope of your investigation beyond the scope of your original assignment." Mr. Tho said, pushing a file across the table. "Specifically, you are looking up old records related to the Vinh Thinh warehouse fire eight years ago, a case that has been concluded and closed long ago."

"I believe there is a direct connection between the old case and the current series of fires, sir." Trong Khiem replied, keeping his voice calm but firm. "Scientific evidence shows that the same catalyst was used in both cases."

"That evidence could just be a coincidence." Mr. Tho said, his voice a little sharper. "Mr. Khiem, I understand that you are a dedicated investigator, but I need to remind you that reopening a closed case, especially when it involves a deceased officer, can cause unwanted consequences for the victim's family, and also for the reputation of the industry."

Trong Khiem looked straight into Mr. Tho's eyes, trying to read something hidden behind that serious shell. "With respect, sir, I believe that the victim's family deserves to know the truth, no matter how difficult it is to accept. That is our responsibility as people of justice."

A tense silence enveloped the room. Mr. Tho looked at Trong Khiem for a long time, then sighed, his voice softened but still carried an implicit warning. "I do not prohibit you from continuing the investigation, but I request that you fully report all developments to me before announcing any conclusions. This is standard procedure, Mr. Khiem, there is nothing unusual."

"I understand, sir." Trong Khiem replied, although in his heart he knew clearly that this was not simply standard procedure, but an attempt to control and possibly stop the investigation before it went too far.

Before Trong Khiem left the room, Mr. Tho called back, his voice changing to a fake intimacy. "Mr. Khiem, I'll be honest, I really like you, I see you work hard and have a future in the industry. Don't let an old case, long closed, affect your career path. There are some things that the deeper you dig, the more people will be hurt, including you."

Trong Khiem stopped at the door, turned his head to look at him for a moment, trying to keep a calm expression even though his heart was on high alert at those words that were both threatening and bribery. "Thank you for your concern. But I believe justice has no concept of 'too late', sir."

Mr. Tho looked at him, his eyes flashed with something cold before returning to his usual warm look. "It's up to you. But remember, every decision has its price."

When leaving Mr. Tho's office, Trong Khiem felt a deep insecurity creeping into his heart. That last sentence, although expressed gently, still carried within it an unmistakable threat. He went straight to the parking lot, sat in the car for a long time before calming down enough to immediately call Thien Ly and recount the recent conversation.

"He's trying to control all the information before we can act." Thien Ly spoke on the phone, her voice full of worry. "If we report all developments to him, he will have enough time to destroy the evidence or warn Tang You Phat."

"I know." Trong Khiem replied, his voice tense. "I will have to find a way to both adhere to reporting format and keep the most important information private until we are ready to act decisively."

That afternoon, Cao Van Thien went to the fire station and found Thien Ly with a rare panicked expression. He pulled her to a deserted corner, his voice trembling.

"I just received a strange call." He said, his hand shaking as he held the phone. "An unidentified male voice said that you should 'stop meddling in things that don't concern you', otherwise your family will be in trouble."

Thien Ly felt a cold run down her spine. "Uncle Thien, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but I'm scared, Thien Ly." Mr. Thien said, his voice filled with panic. "I have young children and grandchildren who are still in school age. I don't know if I still have the courage to continue testifying."

Thien Ly held his hand, trying to reassure him even though inside she was also panicking. "Uncle Thien, I understand your fear. But if you retract your statement now, everything we have worked for all this time could collapse."

"I know." Mr. Thien nodded, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. "I'm not saying I'll take it back. I just... I need time to think, to mentally prepare for what's about to happen. And I want you to know, if anything happens to me, you have to promise to continue, with or without me."

"Don't say that." Thien Ly said, her voice choked with emotion. "Nothing will happen to you. Khiem and I will make sure of that."

Mr. Thien looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and silent determination. "Your father, if he were still alive, would definitely be very proud of you, Thien Ly. He always said you were the bravest child he ever knew, even when you were little."

Those words made Thien Ly unable to hold back her tears. She hugged Uncle Thien, the two stood silently in the corner of the fire station yard, sharing a moment of sadness but also full of determination.

That evening, when Thien Ly told Trong Khiem the whole incident, his face became more serious than ever. "They are putting pressure on each link, trying to shake the resolve of our supporters. This is a very methodical tactic, Thien Ly, not the actions of amateurs."

"So what should we do?" Thien Ly asked, her voice filled with worry.

"We need to speed up the process." Trong Khiem said, his voice decisive. "The longer they wait, the more time they have to apply pressure, destroy evidence, or even commit more dangerous actions. I will contact the provincial economic police and ask them to intervene directly, beyond Mr. Tho's authority."

"Do you think that will be safe?" Thien Ly asked, worried about his safety.

"Nothing is completely safe in this situation." Trong Khiem replied, looking straight into her eyes. "But I believe that the more people in authority know about this incident, the more difficult it will be for the person behind it to continue to hide or harm us without leaving a trace."

Thien Ly nodded, even though her heart was still heavy with worry. She looked out the window, where Hoa Trach city was engulfed in darkness, the lights sparkled like thousands of eyes watching their every step on this thorny journey. She knew the decisive moment was approaching, and they didn't have much time to hesitate anymore.

Before saying goodbye to return to the room, Trong Khiem held her hand, his voice lowered, carrying a rare seriousness. "Thien Ly, I want to tell you something, before things get even more complicated."

"You say it." She looked at him, sensing something important was about to be said.

"No matter what happens next, no matter how much pressure Mr. Tho puts on, no matter what risks I face for my career, I will never regret meeting you, and for walking this path with you." He said, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I want you to know that, so that no matter what happens, you never have to feel guilty for dragging me into this investigation."

Thien Ly felt her throat tighten, a warm feeling mixed with worry welling up in her heart. "Don't talk like you're preparing to break up, Trong Khiem. We will get through this together, and go to the end of the road together."

"I hope so." He smiled slightly, squeezing her hand tighter. "It's just, I wanted you to know in advance, in case things take a turn we didn't expect."

The two of them stood there for a long time in the deserted hallway of the fire station, not saying another word, simply enjoying each other's presence amid these uncertain days. Outside, the city continues its daily life, unaware of the silent battle going on to protect the truth and justice for a person who died eight years ago.