Chapter 26 — Fire Behind the Line

Three days after the fire at Dong Kieu cinema, news of Tang Huu Phat's arrest spread throughout Hoa Trach city like an earthquake. He was stopped by the police at a road border checkpoint while trying to cross the border gate by private car under a false identity, carrying a suitcase full of cash and some property documents that had been hastily transferred in the previous days.

Thien Ly received news from Trong Khiem as soon as he finished handing over the subject to the provincial investigation agency. His voice on the phone was filled with both relief and fatigue after many days of non-stop work.

"We caught him, Thien Ly." He said, his voice still shaking with emotion. "Tang Huu Phat is in custody, facing a series of charges — premeditated murder, insurance fraud, organized arson, and bribing public officials."

Thien Ly stood still for a moment, feeling a wave of complex emotions flood her body — relief, joy of victory, but also a dull pain that could never completely disappear, even though the mastermind had been captured.

"Thank you, Trong Khiem." She said, her voice choked. "Thank you for everything you've done."

"We did this together." He replied, his voice gentle. "I'll be back at the station as soon as I can. We need to celebrate, even if it's just a simple meal together."

That evening, the entire platoon of Fire Brigade No. 3 held a small dinner at the station to celebrate the results of the investigation, although everyone knew this was only the first step in a long legal journey ahead. Captain Dinh, who rarely shows his emotions, could not hide his tears as he raised his glass in a toast.

"Eight years ago, we lost the best captain we ever had." He said, his voice shaking with emotion. "Today, we finally found the truth, thanks to his daughter's courage and unshakable perseverance. Nguyen Khai Binh, if you can hear us now, please know that your sacrifice was not in vain."

The entire squad raised their glasses, a moment of emotional silence engulfed the entire room. Thien Ly felt tears rolling down her cheeks, but this time, they were tears of relief and pride, no longer of simple pain like during the past eight years.

Doan Thuy Van, after being officially allowed to publish the entire story, wrote a series of long-term reports in the provincial newspaper, recounting the entire journey from the first fires until the criminal network was completely destroyed. The article was quickly shared widely, not only within Hoa Trach city but also throughout the country, making the story of a female firefighter who persistently sought justice for her father an inspiration for many people.

"I never thought my story would receive so much attention from so many people." Thien Ly told Thuy Van when the two met after the first article was posted, bringing hundreds of encouraging comments and shares from everywhere.

"That's because your story is not just a personal story, Thien Ly." Thuy Van replied, smiling. "It's a story about courage, about faith in justice, something that so many people are longing to see in their own lives."

In the following days, the whole Hoa Trach city was shocked by a series of published information about the organized crime ring behind Prosperity Land Group. Bui Xuan Thanh officially testified, providing full records of fraudulent insurance contracts. Pham Van Khoa, with his active cooperation in the investigation process, was considered partially relieved of his criminal responsibility, although he still faced a harsh sentence for his direct role in the death of Thien Ly's father and many other damages.

Vo Ba Tho, after recovering his health at the hospital, voluntarily surrendered everything he knew and fully cooperated with the investigation agency. Although it was impossible to avoid the sentence for accepting bribes and covering up criminals, his cooperation helped significantly speed up the process of collecting evidence against Tang Huu Phat.

"I know I will pay for what I did." He told Thien Ly in the last meeting before the first instance trial, his eyes were much calmer than the panic of the days of escape. "But at least, you can leave with some peace, knowing that you finally did the right thing."

"I hope you will find peace, Uncle Tho." Thien Ly said, her voice was sincere even though there were still many complicated things in her heart. "Even though I can't forget what happened, I don't want to keep the hatred in my heart forever."

Cao Van Thien, who courageously stood up to testify despite facing real danger, was recognized as one of the most important factors in helping to break up the eight-year-old criminal network. He visited Thien Ly's family as soon as things calmed down, bringing a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, like he did every year on the anniversary of his friend's death.

"This time, I didn't come just to light incense in remembrance." He spoke to Ms. Van Khanh, his voice filled with both relief and emotion. "I came to say that, finally, Khai Binh has been completely exonerated. The whole world now knows he is a true hero."

Mrs. Van Khanh hugged him, both old friends shared tears of liberation after eight long years of carrying the burden of doubt and suffering. Thien Ly stood looking at that scene, feeling an unprecedented peace creep into her soul, as if a wound had healed in a way she had never dared to hope for.

That night, when Thien Ly stood in front of her father's altar, lighting a stick of incense, she felt a deep relief spread throughout her body, completely different from the heavy feeling that had followed her for the past eight years. "Dad, I did it. The truth is finally out. I hope you can rest in peace, knowing that your honor has been fully restored."

Outside the window, the full moonlight shines down on Hoa Trach city, a city that is gradually recovering from recent upheavals, but also a city that is entering a new chapter, where justice has finally won, even at the cost of eight years of suffering and waiting.

The next morning, Thien Ly stopped by to visit Mr. Nghiep, the carpentry workshop owner who lost his life's work in the first fire of the series of cases. He is standing in front of the empty land where the carpentry workshop was once located, which has now been cleaned up, preparing for rebuilding with official compensation from Tang Huu Phat's confiscated assets that the court has decided to allocate to the victims.

"Miss Ly, thank you." He said, his voice choked up when he saw her coming. "If it weren't for you and that investigator who persistently pursued it to the end, perhaps justice would never have come to people like us."

"That's the right thing to do, Mr. Nghiep." Thien Ly replied, looking around the empty land where there was once an entire inheritance, now carrying hope for a new beginning. "I hope you will soon be able to rebuild the carpentry workshop, so that the sound of chisels and wood shavings can resound in this neighborhood like before."

Ms. Loan, the owner of the grocery store, and the family of the teacher teaching the love class also received similar good news, when the court decided to use part of the property confiscated from Tang Huu Phat to compensate for all the victims in the series of fires. The entire Dong Kieu ancient town, after days of living in fear, is now beginning to revive with a new belief in justice and safety.

The city government also announced the decision to put Dong Kieu ancient town on the list of architectural heritage that needs to be preserved, completely ending the "Dong Kieu Prosperity" project that once threatened to erase an entire region of the city's memory. People in the neighborhood organized a small ceremony to celebrate the good news, inviting both Thien Ly and Trong Khiem to attend as honored guests.

"Thanks to you two, this whole neighborhood still exists today." An old man in the neighborhood said, raising a glass of tea to invite them both. "Our ancestors left behind these houses, which seemed to be about to be lost forever, but now they are preserved thanks to the courage of our children."

Thien Ly looked around at the radiant faces of the people in the neighborhood, feeling a deep pride rising in her heart, completely different from the pain and loneliness she had carried with her for the previous eight years. Her fight, now, not only brings justice to her father, but also protects an entire community, a precious part of the city's cultural heritage that she loves.