Chapter 20 — Fire Behind the Line

The results of the examination of the phone collected at the abandoned demolition factory, sent back three days after the fabric stall fire, brought a new ray of hope amid turbulent days. Trong Khiem called Thien Ly to the office as soon as he received the report, his face showed excitement mixed with caution.

"The technical team has recovered part of the data from the phone." He said, opening the report file on the computer. "Not much, as the device had its data erased before being left behind, but enough to confirm the phone number belonged to a junk SIM, activated about nine years ago, and that there were a number of calls to another phone number saved under the initials 'H.P'."

"Tang Huu Phat." Thien Ly said immediately, her heart beating fast with excitement.

"Very likely." Trong Khiem nodded. "We also determined, based on the location data left in the cache, that this phone frequently moved between the demolition workshop area and another address — a small house on the northern outskirts of the city, likely Pham Van Khoa's current residence."

"Can we go there now?" Thien Ly asked, her voice filled with impatience.

"I have applied for a search warrant, but must wait for official approval, expected within the next two days." Trong Khiem replied, his voice careful as usual. "I know you want to act now, but if we break in without a legal warrant, any evidence obtained could be invalidated in court."

Thien Ly nodded, although inside she was anxious to face directly the person who caused her father's death. "Okay, I'll wait. But Mr. Khiem, I'm worried that if we wait too long, he will know and run away."

"I understand that concern." Trong Khiem said, his face serious. "I have arranged to closely monitor that address now, ensuring that if there are any signs that he is about to leave, we will have a timely response plan."

Two days passed in extreme tension. Thien Ly temporarily moved to live at the fire station, while her mother and younger brother were still protected in the temporary apartment. She spent most of her free time reviewing all files with Trong Khiem, preparing everything for the day the search warrant was approved.

During that waiting period, Doan Thuy Van contacted again, announcing that she had quietly collected some more information about the real estate transaction network of Thinh Vuong Land Group, showing that at least five other houses in the old town were on the list of "needing to speed up the clearance process" according to an internal document she obtained from an anonymous source.

"If that list is real, then there will likely be many more fires before Pham Van Khoa is arrested or the entire network is dismantled." Thien Ly told Trong Khiem after reading the information Thuy Van sent, her voice full of worry.

"I have passed this information on to the area patrol team, requesting increased surveillance of those five addresses." Trong Khiem replied, his face could not hide the tension. "But we can't protect everywhere at once, especially when we still don't know for sure who on the inside is assisting the other side."

Those days of waiting were also a rare time when Thien Ly and Trong Khiem had the opportunity to be closer to each other, not only as colleagues solving crimes, but also as two people who were gradually discovering new feelings between each other. The hasty meals at the fire station canteen, the late-night conversations over a cup of hot tea, all become precious moments amid the constant stress of life.

The evening before the scheduled search warrant execution, Trong Khiem stopped by the fire station, bringing with him unpleasant news. "The surveillance team reported that this morning a small truck arrived at that house, carrying many boxes of goods. It's possible that he sensed danger and was preparing to move."

"So we have to act today, we can't wait any longer." Thien Ly said, her voice urgent.

"I have contacted for an emergency order." Trong Khiem replied, his face tense but decisive. "We'll have orders in the next few hours. But Thien Ly, I need you to understand, if he's really preparing to escape, this could be a sign that the entire network knows we're getting close. That means things are going to get more dangerous in the coming days."

Thien Ly nodded, clearly feeling the weight of that warning. "I've been ready to face that, for a long time."

Trong Khiem looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of worry and admiration. He stepped closer, gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look straight into his eyes. "I know you're strong, Thien Ly. But I need you to promise me one thing — no matter what happens in the coming days, you won't act alone, won't take unnecessary risks. I can't bear it if anything happens to you."

"I promise." She said, her voice softening at the sincerity in his eyes.

He leaned down and kissed her gently but full of desire, as if he wanted to convey all the emotions that words couldn't express. Thien Ly responded to that kiss, wrapping her arms around him, seeking comfort and strength in the arms of the man who became her strongest support amid these stormy days.

"No matter what happens," he whispered in her ear, "I will always be by your side, Thien Ly. From now on."

"Me too." She replied, resting her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat steadily and strongly. "You're the only person, other than my family, who has made me feel like I'm not alone in the past eight years."

They stood holding each other like that for a long time in the deserted break room of the fire station, enjoying a rare moment of peace amid the storm that lay ahead. But that peace didn't last long — Trong Khiem's phone rang, interrupting their private moment.

He answered the phone, his face gradually changing color as he listened to the information from the other end of the line. "Okay, I understand. We'll be there shortly."

"What's going on?" Thien Ly asked, her voice filled with worry when she saw the look on his face.

"The surveillance team reported that the house was empty." Trong Khiem said, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Pham Van Khoa disappeared before the search warrant was approved and executed. He fled."

Thien Ly felt a wave of disappointment overwhelm her, but she tried to stay calm. "So what should we do next?"

"We will issue arrest warrants nationwide, coordinating with the police of neighboring provinces." Trong Khiem said, his voice had regained its usual assertiveness. "But I'm worried that his timely escape means someone inside has leaked information about our search plan."

That sentence made Thien Ly feel a chill run down her spine. If an insider is leaking information to the other side, it means that none of the people they trust are completely safe, and the war ahead will be far more dangerous than they imagine.

"We will find him." Thien Ly said, her voice became firm again, compressing her disappointment into determination. "And we will find out who leaked the information, even if we have to turn the whole system upside down."

Trong Khiem looked at her and nodded firmly. "We can do it, Thien Ly. I believe in it, and I believe in you."

Bang Tam stopped by the office around midnight, carrying two boxes of hot porridge, and saw the two of them still poring over a pile of documents. "You two should eat something. It's not good to stay up late." She put the porridge box on the table, glanced at Thien Ly with a thoughtful look when she saw the unusually close distance between the two.

"Thank you, Bang Tam." Thien Ly said, a little embarrassed when she noticed your eyes.

"I'm not asking anything." Bang Tam smiled mischievously, although she clearly realized something was changing between the two of them. "But I'm happy for you, Thien Ly. In days like these, having someone by your side is also a good thing."

After Bang Tam left, Trong Khiem looked at Thien Ly and smiled slightly. "Your friend seems observant."

"Bang Tam is always like that." Thien Ly replied, also smiling, although that smile quickly faded when she remembered the dangerous reality that lay ahead. "I just hope everything ends soon, so that all the people I care about no longer have to live in fear."

"Soon." Trong Khiem held her hand, his voice full of determination. "We've come a long way, Thien Ly. We're not far anymore."

That night, as the two of them planned their next steps together, outside the fire station window, Hoa Trach city was still asleep, unaware that beneath that peaceful surface, a life-and-death war was gradually coming to an end, and the coming weeks would determine the fate of not only the two people sitting here, but of an entire network of criminals that had existed for eight long years.