Chapter 21 — Fire Behind the Line

Ten days after Pham Van Khoa disappeared from his suburban house, a new clue suddenly appeared. Doan Thuy Van, while quietly investigating more about the network of Prosperity Land Group, discovered an unusual money transfer transaction from a subsidiary account of the group to a small truck rental shop in the coastal area, about forty kilometers from Hoa Trach.

"I sent someone to secretly monitor that store." Thuy Van said when meeting Thien Ly and Trong Khiem at a discreet cafe. "A man matching Pham Van Khoa's description has rented a car twice in the past week, always paying in cash, leaving no official identification."

"Do you know where he is now?" Trong Khiem asked, his voice tense but full of hope.

"My people followed us to a small boarding house near the fishing port, but then lost track because that area had too many winding paths." Thuy Van replied, pushing a map with the suspect area marked across the table. "I think he's temporarily hiding there, perhaps waiting to move on to a safer place."

Trong Khiem studied the map for a while, his face filled with the concentration of a strategist calculating his next move. "If we mobilize large forces to that area immediately, there is a risk of alerting him, causing him to escape again. We need a more cautious plan."

"So what should we do?" Thien Ly asked, trying to suppress the impatience rising in her heart.

"I would suggest coordinating with local police in that area to conduct a discreet surveillance campaign for two to three days, determining his exact whereabouts before making an arrest." Trong Khiem said, his voice had regained its usual professional calmness. "At the same time, I will prepare full legal documents to ensure that when we arrest him, we have enough grounds to press charges and do not leave any loopholes."

Before leaving the cafe, Thuy Van pulled Trong Khiem closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. "There's one more thing I think you two should know. I heard from a source inside the administrative building that someone recently asked about Mr. Khiem's investigation progress, asking very carefully, almost interrogating. That person who asked seems to have a close relationship with Chief Tho's office."

"Do you know exactly who it is?" Trong Khiem asked, his voice turned to high alert.

"I can't say for sure, it's just a rumor I overheard." Thuy Van shook her head. "But I think you two should be more careful in all interactions, even with colleagues you trust."

That warning made both Thien Ly and Trong Khiem feel a new insecurity, different from the fear of direct threats. This is the fear of an anonymous insider who may be very close, watching their every move without anyone knowing.

The next three days passed in extreme tension. Thien Ly, although not allowed to directly participate in official monitoring activities because she is not part of the investigation force, still cannot sit still. She spent her free time with Uncle Cao Van Thien and Mr. Tam Rang to complete the official statements, preparing for the time when all the evidence needed to be presented to the court.

"I'm still scared, Thien Ly." Mr. Thien admitted that during one meeting, his hand trembled as he signed the official notarized declaration. "But I believe this is the right thing to do, no matter what happens."

"I thank you very much." Thien Ly said, squeezing his hand. "Your father certainly would too, if he could see what you're doing for your family."

On the fourth day, Trong Khiem called Thien Ly with a voice full of excitement and caution. "We have determined the exact whereabouts of Pham Van Khoa - a small room in a boarding house near the fishing port. The arrest warrant has been approved. We will execute it early tomorrow morning."

"Can I come along?" Thien Ly asked immediately, even though she knew the answer would probably be no.

"I'm sorry, Thien Ly, but this is an official arrest operation, you have no authority to participate directly." Trong Khiem said, his voice was full of sympathy but firm. "I promise to let you know as soon as I get the results, no matter what happens."

Thien Ly nodded, although inside she was anxious to witness with her own eyes the moment the person who caused her father's death was arrested. "I understand. Be careful, Trong Khiem."

"I will be careful." He replied, his voice softening. "I have too many reasons to return safely now."

That night, Thien Ly could barely sleep, lying on the bed in the fire station break room, her mind racing with thousands of different scenarios. She thought of her father, of the eight long years of waiting for justice, of her mother's face every time she talked about that fateful night. Tomorrow, perhaps, will be the first day on the journey to bring the whole truth to light, no longer fragmentary pieces, but a complete, undeniable picture.

Nearly five o'clock in the morning, her phone vibrated. Thien Ly's heart pounded when she saw Trong Khiem's name appear on the screen, she quickly picked up the phone.

"Mr. Khiem? How is the situation?" She asked immediately, her voice urgent.

There was a brief silence before his voice spoke, carrying a complex tone that she couldn't immediately identify—part disappointment, part wariness. "We have captured him, Thien Ly. Pham Van Khoa is in custody."

Thien Ly felt a wave of relief flood her body, almost making her burst into tears on the spot. "Thank God... we finally caught him."

"But there's a problem." Trong Khiem continued, his tone becoming more serious. "During the search of the rented room, we discovered a notebook of his, recording details of his contacts and receipt of payments for each fire, including the Vinh Thinh warehouse fire eight years ago. But in it, he also mentioned another name, an intermediary contact between him and Tang Huu Phat, the person who had directly directed and paid him for many years."

"Who is that?" Thien Ly asked, her heart beating fast because of both worry and curiosity.

Trong Khiem was silent for a moment, then spoke, his voice heavy. "That person is recorded with the nickname 'Boss Tho'."

Thien Ly felt like the whole world around her stopped in that moment. Even though she had long suspected Vo Ba Tho, even though Uncle Thien had confirmed that he was the one who signed the edited report eight years ago, hearing direct evidence that he not only concealed the crime, but was also an intermediary link, directly contacting and directing the arsonist, still shocked her to the extreme.

"He is the direct superior of both of us, Trong Khiem." She said, her voice shaking with indignation. "He's been sitting in on briefings, pretending to care about this investigation, when he's the one behind it all."

"I know." Trong Khiem replied, his voice was firm and full of determination. "And that means we need to act extremely cautiously from now on. If he knows he has been exposed, he will likely do anything to destroy evidence or escape before being formally arrested."

Thien Ly looked out the window, where the sky was gradually turning to the light gray of the upcoming dawn. She clearly sensed that they were on the threshold of the most dangerous phase of the entire investigation—a phase in which the enemy, now cornered, would become ever more reckless and ruthless in order to protect themselves.

"We need to keep that notebook in an absolutely safe place." She said, her voice regaining the necessary alertness even though her heart was still filled with emotions. "If Mr. Tho knows it has fallen into our hands, he will find every way to destroy it, or worse, harm those who keep it."

"I sent copies to three different independent repositories, including an attorney I trust implicitly, who has no connection whatsoever to the City Fire Marshal's Department." Trong Khiem spoke, his voice filled with carefully calculated caution. "The original will be sealed and transferred directly to the provincial level today, without going through any internal channels of the city anymore."

"So what's the next step?" Thien Ly asked, feeling her heartbeat gradually stabilize when she heard his careful preparation.

"I will ask the provincial police to intervene directly and execute an arrest and search warrant for Mr. Tho as soon as possible, before he can react." Trong Khiem replied, his voice resolute. "But that takes time to complete the legal process, and during that waiting period, we must be especially careful."

"I get it." Thien Ly nodded, clutching the phone in her hand as if looking for a solid fulcrum amid the storm of emotions rolling in her heart. "Be careful, Trong Khiem. I will wait for you to return."