Chapter 4 — Husband's Death Certificate

The shoe cabinet at the entrance was rummaged through, and the drawers in the living room were all pulled out. The parcel box containing the photos and documents has disappeared. I stood at the door, not going inside. Neighbor Aunt Truong poked her head out. "Tieu Lam, someone came to your house just now. He said it was Captain Tham's family. He took the key to open the door." “You guys?” "Three people. An old woman, a girl, and that pretty lady. She's the one who works in the same office as my husband." Mother Tham, Tham Dao, Hua Niem. I asked: “What did they take away?” "A box of paper. And the things in your nightstand. Tieu Lam, I've said too much, you've already passed away, so don't put too much stress on your husband's family." I looked at her. "Aunt Truong, if someone took advantage of your son's death to come into your house and steal evidence, wouldn't you advise yourself not to stress yourself too much?" Aunt Truong's face turned red. “I have good advice for you.” “Then stop advising.” I picked up the phone and called the police. Twenty minutes later, local police arrived. I turned on the surveillance camera. In the screen, Tham Dao opened the door with my spare key, Tham's mother stood at the door cursing loudly, Hua Niem wearing a mask walked into the bedroom. After the police looked at it, they asked me: "Why is the spare key in their hands?" “Tham Nghien gave it.” "We're all family, let's reconcile first." I laughed. "A family member broke into the house and took evidence. Is it possible to reconcile?" The policeman was a bit awkward. "Right now it's still not possible to determine if it's evidence. You said the box had photos and those things, do you have a copy?" "Have." I took out my phone and opened the photo album. Everything was photographed by me. The parcel box, the picture of the bed inside, the note, the used items, all are clearly visible. When the police saw the photo, their expression immediately changed. Aunt Truong stood nearby and took a peek, then quickly covered her mouth. “Isn't this Hua Niem?” The police asked: “Who is this woman?” “Promotion officer of Tham Nghien agency, Hua Niem.” He returned the phone to me. “We will contact them first.” “Don't contact yet.” I said. “Let's do the paperwork first.” The policeman frowned. "Miss Lam, your husband just died. If this matter gets out loud, it won't be good for anyone." I have heard this saying too many times today. Not good for anyone. They never said it wasn't good for me. Because in their eyes, I don't count as that "someone". I placed the death certificate on the table. "My husband died in the line of duty. Now someone breaks into the house of the martyr's widow and takes away objects suspected of harming the martyr's honor. If you don't file a file, are you preparing for me to cry in front of the newspaper office?" The police officer looked at the red seal and finally changed his tone. “We will register according to the process.” I sat on the sofa, watching them take photos for evidence. Aunt Truong stood at the door, her voice much lower than before. “Tieu Lam, I didn't know the inside was so complicated.” I didn't reply. She said again: "The girl just now looked quite good, I didn't expect..." "Isn't it illegal for a good person to steal things?" Aunt Truong didn't dare say another word. At nine o'clock in the evening, Tham Dao called. I pressed the listen button and recorded. "Lam Thinh, are you sick? Are you calling the police to arrest my mother?" “You took my things.” "Those are my brother's things! What if my mother takes her son's relics?" “Is the box in the nightstand also your brother's relics?” Tham Dao was speechless. Next to me came the sound of Tham's mother crying. "Let him sue! Let him take this old woman to jail! My son's bones are not cold yet, he already wants to force me to death!" I asked: "Where is Hua Niem?" The other end of the line was silent for half a second. Tham Dao said: "Nien Niem was forced by you to the point of being hospitalized. Are you satisfied?" “Which hospital?” “What else do you want to do?” “See if she's dead.” Tham Dao shouted: "Lam Thinh, why are you so cruel!" "Didn't she ask to follow Tham Nghien? I came to help her check her progress." The phone is disconnected. Ten minutes later, a colleague at the emergency center sent me a text message. Hua Niem is in the emergency room of hospital No. 2 in the city, suffering from minor scratches and emotional shock

motion, requiring hospitalization. I changed my clothes and went out. The hallway of hospital emergency room No. 2 was lit with white light. Hua Niem lay on the bed watching, with a bandage on her forehead. Tham's mother sat next to her, wiping her tears, while Tham Dao was feeding her water. Tham's father stood at the end of the hallway on the phone. When I walked over, Tham Dao saw me first. “What are you doing here?” I placed the criminal record receipt on the head of the bed. "Come to inform you, the matter of breaking into the house to take things has been registered." Tham's mother grabbed a glass of water and threw it. This time I leaned to avoid it, the cup shattered on the ground. The nurse shouted: "Don't make noise!" Hua Niem weakly spoke up: "Sister-in-law, the box was not taken by me." I asked: "Did I say you got married?" She bit her lip and didn't speak. Tham Dao stood in front of her hospital bed. "Don't bully her. Niem Niem hit her head until it bled." I glanced at that gauze.