Chapter 5 — Mystery At 3 A.M

When the words "the iron box disappeared" rang out, the atmosphere in the testimony room seemed to have been drained by half. Khuong Hoa immediately looked at An An. An An did not cry out, nor did she inquire. She just slowly placed the paper cup on the table, her fingertips pressing on the rim of the cup, causing the water inside to vibrate in small circles. Captain Dien asked police officer Ha.

“Who was on the scene?”

Police Officer Ha turned over the notebook.

"Firefighters entered first, then criminal technicians, the police station was blocked, management only coordinated registration downstairs."

"The door lock to Ms. Khuong's house was broken and the inside was ransacked."

“The bottom of the wardrobe had scratch marks, it seemed like it had been touched before the fire broke out.”

Khuong Hoa's heart sank.

“Does that mean they took the box first, then set it on fire?”

Team leader Dien did not immediately respond. He stared at the photo of the crime scene, his eyebrows furrowed. In the photo, the wooden panel below the wardrobe is cracked. On the floor were scattered old towels left by Khuong Hoa's mother and a water-soaked album. Khuong Hoa recognized that position. The iron box was placed deepest inside, covered by two cotton blankets. An outsider couldn't find it just by looking. Unless that person already knows where the box is located. An An suddenly spoke up.

“Don't have to get the box first.”

Everyone looked at the baby. Her voice is very soft.

“Last time, after entering the house, they searched for a long time.”

“They knew the box was under the closet, but they didn't know the key wasn't at home.”

“This time they will definitely find the key first.”

Captain Dien asked.

“So why did the box disappear?”

An An raised her head, her eyes covered with a layer of gray-white fatigue.

“Because someone took advantage of the chaos to get in.”

“It wasn't the three chasing us.”

Khuong Hoa's heart tightened.

“How do you know?”

An An looked at the photo.

“The closet door is opened so neatly.”

“The last time they ransacked things, they used smashing methods.”

“This time it's like someone knew very little about time and just took the right target.”

Captain Dien's pen stopped. Police Officer Ha also bowed his head and looked back at the scene photos. Khuong Hoa suddenly remembered the strange phone call. The other person said she took the box away. But if the box was already in his hands, why did he still ask that? Just as she was about to speak, her phone lit up again. This time it wasn't a call. It's a photo. In the photo, an old iron box is placed on a dark wooden table. On the lid of the box is a red sticker that Khuong Hoa used to put on when he was a child, now half of it has come off. That was indeed the iron box her mother left behind. Below the photo there is only one sentence. Where is the key, she knows. Khuong Hoa's back immediately broke into a cold sweat. Team leader Dien held the phone and looked at the number sent. Another strange number. Police Ha immediately went out to investigate. But An An's eyes always stopped on the photo. The girl suddenly raised her hand to zoom in on the photo. On the edge of the wooden table is a concave mark. That indentation is very special, like a row of small holes burned by a cigarette tip. Khuong Hoa also saw it. Her face gradually changed.

“This is the desk in Leung Thua Vien's office.”

Captain Dien raised his eyes.

“Are you sure?”

Khuong Hoa nodded.

“I saw it three years ago.”

“He likes to rub his cigarette butt on the corner of the desk, first secretary I changed the tablecloth several times but still couldn't cover it."

An An stared at the row of small holes and suddenly spoke.

“He hasn't moved yet.”

Khuong Hoa's heart tightened. She always thought that after Luong Thua Vien left the training center, he completely disappeared from her life. But right now, he seems like a nail buried in the wall. Three years passed, the plaster fell off, and he was still inside. Team leader Dien stood up.

"Investigate all real estate in the name of Luong Thua Vien and his relatives."

“Investigation of the current hiring relationship of the former training center.”

“Also check to see if this table has appeared on camera recently.”

Police Officer Ha stood outside the door and responded. Khuong Hoa said softly.

“The keys are at the bank.”

The room was silent for a moment. Team leader Dien turned his head to look at her. Khuong Hoa tightened her bag of documents.

“After my mother passed away, I put the old set of keys she left behind in the safe.”

“I have never opened that iron box.”

“I really don't know what's inside.”

Captain Dien asked.

“Who knew you left the key at the bank?”

Khuong Hoa shook his head.

“No one.”

After speaking, she paused again. An An slowly looked over at her. Mother and daughter remembered the words said on the phone almost at the same time. The other person not only knows the key is at the bank, but also knows which bank she remembers it being kept at. This is no longer simply a matter of watching. Someone has been following her for a long time. It's been so long that she can recall every action that she thought was covered by time. Captain Dien put the photo in the evidence bag.