Chapter 2 — Mystery At 3 A.M

“I taught English as a tutor for five years.”

“How long have you been out of work?”

“Have you ever made enemies with anyone?”

Khuong Hoa intended to say no. But when the words reached her mouth, she suddenly remembered an old incident. Three years ago, in the last month before she quit her job, a student's parent made a fuss at the center. An accident happened to the child after a closed session, and the parents suspected the center was hiding something. At that time, Khuong Hoa was not a homeroom teacher, but while arranging documents, she saw an attendance sheet with the time changed. She gave copies to parents. After that, the center had to compensate and the boss was also replaced by someone else. She always thought it was over. Team leader Dien noticed her hesitation.

“Do you remember something?”

Khuong Hoa told that story. An An suddenly raised her head.

“That was the year.”

Khuong Hoa looked at her. An An's voice lowered.

“Last time, the person outside the door also mentioned that year.”

"He said that mother should not meddle in matters, causing death to someone who does not deserve to die."

No one in the room spoke. Police Ha quickly took notes in the notebook. Captain Dien asked in a low voice.

“What happens after that?”

An An's eyelashes trembled.

“Then the smoke got thicker and thicker.”

"We used wet towels to cover our mouths and noses, wanting to stand by the bedroom window and call someone."

“But the phone has no signal.”

“It's dark down there.”

“The window on the opposite side also doesn't have the light on.”

“The whole building looked like there was no one there.”

Khuong Hoa listened until his hands and feet were cold. Everything was so similar to last night. Not pieces created by dreams. Those details are too specific. So specific that she didn't dare use two coincidental words to comfort herself. An An looked at her wrist.

“Mom stuffed my bag of papers and told me to hide in the bathroom.”

“Mom said if someone breaks the door, I have to lock the bathroom door.”

“I'll go out and hold them off.”

Khuong Hoa's eyes immediately turned red. She reached out to hug her daughter. But An An did not move. The girl seemed to still be trapped in that smoke.

“When the door was broken open, there was no fire outside.”

“There were three people coming in.”

“One person was wearing a black coat, one person was wearing a gray baseball cap, and one person was coughing very badly.”

“They didn't come to save people.”

Captain Dien's eyes darkened.

“What are they doing in the house?”

An An opened her mouth. The voice suddenly broke off. The baby tried to swallow.

“They were looking for things.”

“Looking for what?”

“I don't know.”

"They ransacked the office, searched the closet, and even turned up the bed mattress."

“Mom asked who they were, they slapped her.”

Khuong Hoa unconsciously touched her face. Of course there were no injuries there. But her heart felt like someone was squeezing it. Finally An An's tears fell.

“I was in the bathroom when I heard mom scream, telling me not to come out.”

“Then someone said the child was also here.”

“They kicked in the door.”

“I can't keep it.”

Speaking of this, her fingers began to tremble. Khuong Hoa immediately hugged her child.

“Stop talking.”

But An An grabbed her sleeve tightly.

“It must be said.”

“If we survive this time, they will still come back.”

“They haven't found what they're looking for.”

Captain Dien immediately asked.

“Is there anything in your house that would make them do that?”

Khuong Hoa shook confusedly head.

"Do not have."

Their house is very ordinary. An office, two bedrooms, a pile of old books, a computer and documents she has accumulated over the past few years. An An suddenly asked.

“Mom, where is the iron box my grandmother left behind?”

Khuong Hoa was stunned.

“At the bottom of the closet.”

“Last time they searched that place too.”

“But I can't open it.”

“Because the keys aren't at home.”

Khuong Hoa's heart beat strongly. The iron box was something her mother left behind before she passed away. She always thought there were only a few old photos and certificates inside. She hung the key on an old set of keys that had not been used for a long time, placed in the bank's safe. Captain Dien looked at her.

“That iron box is still in the apartment?”

Khuong Hoa was just about to answer. The phone suddenly rang. A strange phone number appeared on the screen. She clicked to listen. There was a very loud electrical noise on the other end. A few seconds later, a man laughed softly.

“Miss Khuong.”

“Run really fast.”

Khuong Hoa held the phone, her fingertips stiffened to the point of turning white. Team leader Dien immediately raised his hand, signaling her not to hang up. Officer Ha took out another phone and quickly went to the window to make a call. The man on the other end of the line laughed softly. The laughter seemed to stick close to her ear and then crawl in.

“Miss Khuong, why didn't you say anything?”

Khuong Hoa forced herself to keep her voice calm.

“Who are you?”

The man did not answer.

“Stop pretending.”

“You took the box away, right?”

Khuong Hoa's heart suddenly sank. Captain Dien's eyes also changed. He used a pen to write two words on paper.