Chapter 22 — Mystery At 3 A.M

“But I'm cowardly.”

“When Dong Dien came looking for me, I ran away.”

His voice lowered.

“I owe her my life.”

Khuong Hoa's eyes turned red.

“So why did you appear now?”

Lam Hac Nien looked at An An.

“Before the apartment building caught fire last night, someone sent me a photo.”

"In the photo is the door of the two people's house."

“On the back is written that the child of the Khuong family is about to die a second time.”

An An's whole body stiffened. Lam Hac Nien shook his head.

"Don't know."

“But that person knows a lot of things.”

“It could be someone else left by your grandmother from that year.”

“It's also possible that someone within them was scared.”

When Captain Dien walked in, his face was very tired.

“Captured Liang Chengyuan.”

Khuong Hoa raised his head.

“The warehouse in the basement of the old training center.”

“He guarded that iron box, thinking that the key and main files were inside.”

“When he was arrested, he was preparing to set fire to the warehouse.”

“What about Dong Dien?”

Captain Dien said.

“He refused to open his mouth.”

“But the film spoke.”

In the film, there are not only original photos of thirteen children. But there is also information about each child before and after their names were changed. Place of birth, recipient, recipient, transfer history. At the end there is also a miniature photo of a book page. Dong Dien's name is not in the section receiving money. Which is in the purging section. He is responsible for making his old identity disappear. Fire, disappearance, fake death, household registration change. Khuong Hoa was so cold when he heard it. Team leader Dien continued.

“The bank employee testified.”

“Her mother was also on the list that year.”

"Dong Dien used her status to threaten her and forced her to access information in her safe."

"The apartment complex manager received money from Luong Thua Vien and coordinated to cut off all emergency power lines in the building in advance."

“The man in black is a servant who has been raised by Liang Chengyuan for many years.”

“Last night a total of four people came to your house.”

“The last person was stopped at the entrance to the motorway.”

Khuong Hoa slowly closed her eyes. This pursuit has finally taken shape. Not an invisible demon. It's human. There are many people who are both greedy and afraid of light. But An An asked again.

“Uncle Dien, how is your son?”

Captain Dien's expression finally calmed down.

"No problem."

“The people at the school were controlled by us.”

“Your wife is also safe.”

An An nodded slightly. The girl seemed to have finally breathed a sigh of relief, her whole body falling into Khuong Hoa's arms. Khuong Hoa hugs her child.

“Mom is here.”

An An closed her eyes, but quickly opened them again.

“What if I don't wake up?”

Khuong Hoa's throat choked. She didn't know how to answer. Lam Hac Nien stood by the door and spoke softly.

“There are paths that the living cannot follow to the end.”

“Maybe your grandmother gave you a push.”

“It's also possible that I'm not willing.”

“But you two survived.”

“That's enough.”

An An did not say anything more. When it was morning, Khuong Hoa stood by the window. The city in the distance gradually lit up. Not the deadly darkness after a power outage. It's a real sunrise. A few days later, the blockade still had not been lifted from the apartment complex. Khuong Hoa took An An to a temporary residence arranged by the police. They don't come back seventeenth floor too. Later, Khuong Hoa found a very small photo in her mother's old album. In the photo, grandmother stands in front of Vong Giang photo shop. Next to her is a little girl. That girl is not Khuong Hoa. Not An An either. On the back of the photo write a sentence. If the darkness is too long, leave a path for those who come later. Khuong Hoa looked for a long time, then put the photo in a new evidence bag. The case will continue. Those whose names are on the list will be questioned in turn. Children whose names are changed will also have someone to help them find their past. An An's wound gradually recovered. Only on her wrist was a very faint scar left. The inside of Khuong Hoa's wrist still has fingernail marks from her daughter that night. Sometimes at three seven in the morning, Khuong Hoa would suddenly wake up. The room was very quiet. The wifi transmitter light is still on. The refrigerator is making a soft operating sound. In the hallway, people occasionally pass by. She will look at An An first. An An sleeps next to her, her breathing is steady. One morning, An An woke up and saw Khuong Hoa staring at her. The child rubbed her eyes.

“Mom, aren't you sleeping again?”

Khuong Hoa rubbed her child's head.

“I'm afraid you'll have nightmares again.”

An An was silent for a moment then spoke softly.

“It won't.”

An An looked out the window. The dawn light fell on her pale face.

“Because this time, we won't leave the door open for them.”

Khuong Hoa held her child's hand. Outside the window, the sky was finally bright.