Chapter 20 — Mystery At 3 A.M

An An slowly backed away. She backed up to the edge of the stairs. Behind is the staircase that my grandmother told me not to go down. Seeing the girl's movements, the man smiled deeper.

“Go down.”

“Didn't your grandmother tell you not to come down?”

“The more she doesn't let you go, the more it proves there's something underneath.”

An An suddenly understood that her grandmother's four words were not a reminder for her not to run away. It's written for those chasing her to see. People who really understand grandmother's symbols will know that three short and one long are paths. People who truly understand her thoughts will also know that blunt words are often used in reverse to deceive enemies. An An put one foot on the stairs. The man immediately rushed forward. But she suddenly bent down and pulled a piece of old electrical wire from under the stair railing. The electric wire had been broken a long time ago, but the grandmother rolled it into a foot trap. The man rushed forward too fast, his ankle got stuck, and his whole body fell down the stairs. An An took the iron clip from the filing cabinet and slammed it on his wrist. The man screamed in pain. The rolling door outside was finally knocked open. Captain Dien's voice came in. An An did not answer. The girl clutched the negatives and ran down the stairs. It's not that she doesn't trust Captain Dien. But because Dong Dien is still holding Khuong Hoa. If she leaves here, mother will no longer have any exchange value. The stairs are very short. Below is an old anti-aircraft tunnel. Walls are wet, water is stagnant on the ground. In the distance, footsteps were heard. One person is pulling another person away. Khuong Hoa's shoe heels rubbed on the ground, making intermittent sounds. An An followed the sound and followed. She didn't dare call her mother. He was afraid that Dong Dien would strike first. At the corner of the tunnel there is an iron door slightly open. A dim red light emitted from behind the door. An An stuck close to the wall. She saw Dong Dien tying Khuong Hoa next to a rusty pipe. Khuong Hoa bowed her head, her face pale. The metal plate on her shoulder is still there, perhaps containing a drug that paralyzes people. Dong Dien is searching Khuong Hoa's bag. He couldn't find the piece of iron. Because the real piece of iron is in Captain Dien's hands. Dong Dien cursed softly.

“Where did the old lady hide the main file?”

An An's palm was full of blood. She didn't rush out. It looks around. Under the red light there is a row of old mailboxes. The mailbox door was covered with dust. Only one compartment was wiped very clean. An An's breathing stopped. Previously, Vong Giang photo shop also accepted photos and letters. Grandma once said the place no one is looking for the most is not the place no one goes. It's the place everyone passes by every day but never takes a close look. An An slowly reached out and pulled out that clean mailbox. Inside there was a tube of vellum. On the paper tube was written the name of Khuong Hoa's father. Dong Dien suddenly turned his head. He saw it.

"Set down."

An An hugged the paper tube, turned around and ran away. Dong Dien pulled out a knife and pressed it close to Khuong Hoa's neck.

“You run one more step and see.”

An An stopped. The baby's eyes were red and scary. Dong Dien stared at the paper tube in her arms, his voice hoarse.

“Give it to me.”

At this moment, footsteps were heard from the other end of the tunnel. Not Captain Dien. The sound of those footsteps was very slow. Very solid. Voice one the man echoed in the darkness.

“Dong Dien.”

“After so many years, you still only know how to bully children.”

An An hugged the paper tube, her back pressed against the wet wall. Dong Dien's knife was placed next to Khuong Hoa's neck. If he lowered it another half inch, he would bleed. The red light fluctuated, clearly illuminating the person's face in the darkness. It was a man in his fifties, with gray hair, wearing an old coat, carrying a rusty iron box in his hand. Dong Dien looked at him, his eyes became chaotic for the first time.

“Lin Hac Nien.”

“You're still alive.”

The man laughed, but there was no warmth in the smile.

“You changed my name, burned the records, and made a death certificate for me.”

“Unfortunately, the dead can also come back.”

An An's fingers tightened. Lam Hac Nien. She had seen this name on a bag of negatives. On the back of the bag bearing the number thirteen, his real name is Lam Hac Nien. Dong Dien's voice was cold.

“You hid for twenty-one years, and now you appear to die?”

Lam Hac Nien put the iron box on the ground.

“I did not appear to die.”

“I appeared to testify.”

Dong Dien burst out laughing.

“Witnesses are the most likely to die.”

Lam Hac Nien looked at An An.

“Child, don't give him the paper tube.”

“The inside is not what he is most afraid of.”

Dong Dien's face immediately darkened. An An's heart beat strongly. The girl bowed her head and looked at the paper tube in her lap. If the paper tube isn't the most important thing, why did grandma write grandpa's name on it? Lam Hac Nien seemed to know what she was thinking.

“My grandmother is most afraid that mother and child will be forced to a dead end.”