Chapter 17 — Mystery At 3 A.M

“Which door?”

An An looked at Khuong Hoa's hand. Her fingertips tapped again. Three short, one long. An An took a deep breath.

"Darkroom."

“Behind the drainage ditch.”

The bank employee blurted out.

“I told you there was a secret door inside.”

Dong Dien tilted his head to look at her. The woman immediately shut her mouth. It was those words that made An An know that the bank employee had never been there. She only heard a bit of the old story, then was pushed forward by Dong Dien to find the way. Dong Dien waved his hand. The woman walked to the rolling door and took out the folded key from her sleeve. Her hands are shaking. When the rolling door was pulled up, the sound of metal rubbing echoed far and wide in the alley. The inside of Vong Giang photo shop is as dark as a well. The air smells musty and smells faintly of chemicals. Captain Dien's men immediately rushed out. An An knew they were definitely outside. But Dong Dien dared to place Khuong Hoa in the middle of the alley, proving that he had arranged a retreat in advance. She can't gamble. Dong Dien pulled Khuong Hoa up from the chair. Khuong Hoa could not stand firmly and staggered a step. An An unconsciously took half a step forward. Dong Dien looked at her.

“Your mother and I have a deep love, saving me a lot of effort.”

An An stopped walking. The girl stared at the camera on his chest. It's not an ordinary camera. There was a thin wire attached to the bottom of the camera, running along his sleeve to his palm. When he pressed the shutter button, he didn't just take a photo. Might as well be sending a signal. An An deliberately asked.

“Why did you take a picture of me?”

Dong Dien bowed his head and touched the camera.

“Because someone wants to see your final appearance.”

Khuong Hoa suddenly raised his head. An An's heart also sank. There are still others. Behind Dong Dien there may be someone who has never shown his face. The bank employee went into the photo shop first. Dong Dien pushed Khuong Hoa after him. An An was the last person to enter. As soon as she crossed the threshold, the rolling door behind her suddenly lowered. A "bang" sounded. The red light in the alley was completely blocked from outside. In the darkness, Dong Dien's voice rang close to her ear.

"Guide."

Inside the photo shop is colder than outside. After the rolling door was lowered, the last bit of light from the street lights was blocked. The darkness is like a wet cloth stuck to a person's face. An An stood at the door, not immediately moving forward. She heard Khuong Hoa's heavy breathing. I also heard the thin string in Dong Dien's hand gently rubbing against his sleeve. The bank employee walking in front turned on the phone light. As soon as the light turned on, Dong Dien's voice was cold. The woman's hands shook, the light immediately turned off. An An, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief. Dong Dien did not dare to leave the light on for too long. That proves that there are things here that he doesn't want others to see clearly. She said softly.

“In a dark room, white light cannot be turned on.”

Dong Dien looked at it.

“You remember it clearly.”

“Grandma used to say.”

“The items inside will be damaged if exposed to light.”

This sentence is true. Those were also the words she intentionally said to Dong Dien. If what Dong Dien wants is the original file, he will not dare to act arbitrarily. Dong Dien pushed Khuong Hoa. Khuong Hoa staggered forward. An An walked behind her, stepping on a piece of broken glass under her foot. A “crack” sound rang out. Everyone is stop. Dong Dien's hand pressed on Khuong Hoa's shoulder. An An immediately said.

“The picture frame is broken.”

“Previously, the walls here were full of photos.”

The bank employee cursed softly. Dong Dien said nothing. An An knew she had guessed correctly. He needs her to accept the way. He didn't dare to make her shut up. The front room of the photo shop is not large. On the left is a counter that has long been vacated. On the right wall there are still a few faded wedding photos hanging. The faces of the people in the photo are blurred by moisture, their smiles are like torn white sheets of paper. An An stopped in front of the red curtain. The curtain was covered with a thick layer of dust. The little girl raised her hand and gently brushed it away. Dust flew up, causing bank employees to cough continuously. Dong Dien immediately took half a step back. An An memorized this move. He is afraid of dust. Or more accurately, he was afraid of the old chemical powder in this place. In a dark room the chemical smell is stronger. In the corner of the wall is a row of plastic bins. Some barrels were cracked, the black liquid inside drying into hard patches. An An saw the drainage ditch. It was much smaller than in memory, like a black line inlaid in the ground. At the end of the drainage ditch there is indeed a small iron door. The iron door is very rusty, with an old lock hanging on it. The bank employee immediately took out the key to try it. The first one didn't work. The second one didn't work either. She tried more and more impatiently. Dong Dien looked at An An.

“Did your grandmother ever give you a key?”

An An shook her head.

"Do not have."

Dong Dien's eyes turned cold.