Chapter 31 — Shrimp Street Without Name

Three days have passed since the news about the rented car with license plates related to the Ocean security team, but there has been no further progress in finding Ms. Ut Phuong. Hai Yen and Kien spent all their free time tracking down each old relationship, each person who knew her from her time in Nam Can, hoping to find some clue that could lead to where she was being held, if indeed she was being held and not simply hiding out of fear.

They went to the house of Ms. Ut Phuong's only son, currently working as a worker at an industrial park in Binh Duong, through the phone number she left behind. The call was tense, as the son, after learning his mother was missing, reacted with anger mixed with panic.

“My mother has lived peacefully for many years after leaving Nam Can,” he said over the phone, his voice shaking with anger. "Why does my mother have to get involved in your family's affairs? If something happens to my mother, I won't leave it alone."

“We understand your concern,” Hai Yen replied, trying to keep her voice calm even though the blame hurt her. "Your mother proactively came to me, proactively handed over what she kept for ten years because she believed it was the right thing to do. I'm doing everything I can to find her, and I'm sorry for not foreseeing this risk."

The boy was silent for a moment, his voice softening somewhat after his sincere apology. "I'll be back tonight. If you find any clues, please let me know immediately."

The end of the call left Hai Yen with a new feeling of heaviness, understanding that, although she did not intend to, her journey had caused another family to suffer more, exactly like what her family had experienced ten years ago.

While waiting for news, Hai Yen decided to meet Captain Hung and Kien again, asking him to use his influence in the port authority to ask for more information about the activities of the Ocean security team, especially the unusual movements in the past week.

Mr. Hung, although still maintaining his familiar cautious attitude, agreed to support within the allowed limit. “I can ask some acquaintances who work as security guards in a nearby industrial park,” he said. "But I repeat, all information I have is for reference only and cannot be used as official evidence."

Two days later, Mr. Hung called back, providing important information: one of Ocean's former guards, who had recently quit his job due to disagreements with his superiors, was currently working as a security guard at a nearby construction site, and might be willing to talk if properly approached.

Hai Yen and Kien found this guard, a young man named Tam, in his thirties, with the tired look of someone who had just experienced a career shock. At first he was reserved, but when he learned clearly about their purpose, and after being assured that the information would be kept anonymous if necessary, he gradually became more open.

“I quit my job because I couldn't stand what I had to do there,” Tam said, his voice filled with resentment. "They forced me to participate in escorting an elderly woman to another location, saying it was to 'protect her safety', but the way they did it was no different than kidnapping. She was scared, cried, asked to go home, but my superiors still ordered me to continue."

Tim Hai Yen pounding. “Do you know where she is now?”

“I just know they took her to an old warehouse, not far from here, which used to be the company's abandoned shrimp food warehouse,” Tam replied, his hands shaking slightly as he remembered. "After that, I no longer participated because I asked for leave the next day. I couldn't bear the conscience of having to do such things."

He drew the route map to that warehouse on a piece of paper, his hands still shaking with fear and regret. "I'm not sure if she's still there, this was three days ago. But that's the last place I know."

Hai Yen thanked Tam, promised to keep his identity confidential as promised, then hurriedly left with Kien, both of their hearts beating rapidly with the fragile hope that had just flashed after many days of deadlock.

“We have to notify the police immediately,” Kien said as they got into the car, his voice both excited and worried. “Can't go there by myself, it's too dangerous if there's still someone guarding it.”

Hai Yen nodded, immediately called the lieutenant, conveying all the information with the highest accuracy possible, although her voice could not hide the trembling of mixed hope and fear. This may be the first opportunity, after many days of searching in vain, for them to actually find the whereabouts of Mrs. Ut Phuong, although none of them can be sure that what awaits them at the end of that road will be a happy ending or an irreparable loss.

The lieutenant, after hearing it, was silent for a moment and then spoke decisively. "With such specific information, I will immediately report to the provincial investigation team, requesting an urgent search warrant. You two wait here, absolutely do not go near that area arbitrarily. I will contact you as soon as there are new developments."

The next two hours were the longest that Hai Yen had ever experienced. She and Kien sat in the car parked far away from the old warehouse area as instructed, never taking their eyes off the road leading there, where rusty corrugated iron roofs loomed behind rows of overgrown chopsticks trees. Neither of them said much, only occasionally exchanging a few short sentences to reassure each other, the rest was the heavy silence of people waiting for something that could change everything.

Nearly five o'clock in the afternoon, three police cars, one leading with a priority siren, entered the small road leading to the warehouse area one after another. Hai Yen squeezed Kien's hand tightly, her heart beating faster with each passing second.

Less than half an hour later, her phone rang, it was the lieutenant's number. She picked up the phone immediately, her hands shaking so much that she almost dropped the phone.

“Miss Yen,” the lieutenant's voice rang out, somewhat cheerful and rarely gentle. "We found Ms. Ut Phuong. She is alive, seems panicked and exhausted from being kept for many days in poor conditions, but has no serious injuries. We are taking her to the district hospital for a health check."

Hai Yen's tears flowed uncontrollably. She sobbed in the car, both because of extreme relief and because the emotions that had been pent up for many days had finally found a way out. Kien hugged her, he couldn't hide his emotions, his voice choked as he whispered in her ear. "Found it, Yen. She's been found."

They drove straight to the district hospital, and when they got there, they saw Mrs. Ut's son Phuong had just arrived home, standing outside the emergency room with a haggard face from worry and fatigue after a long all-night car ride. When he saw Hai Yen, he no longer looked angry like he did on the phone, he just silently nodded in greeting, his eyes full of mixed emotions that were hard to name.

The doctor said Ms. Ut Phuong was dehydrated and weak due to lack of adequate food and water during the days of being held, but had no serious physical injuries and needed rest and fluids for a few days before she could be discharged from the hospital. When allowed to visit, Hai Yen gently entered the hospital room and saw Mrs. Ut Phuong lying on the bed, her face haggard but her eyes still lit up when she recognized her.

“Child,” she whispered, her voice weak but still trying to smile. “You know I'll find you anyway.”

"Don't talk too much, rest," Hai Yen said, holding her skinny hand, tears welling up in her eyes again. “I'm sorry for letting this happen to you.”

“It's not your fault,” Mrs. Ut Phuong replied, her voice was weak but firm. "I don't regret giving the notebook to you. I only regret that I didn't have more courage to fight them as soon as they came looking for me."

Before leaving the hospital room to let her rest, Hai Yen held her hand tightly one last time, silently promising not to let what she had gone through become meaningless. Leaving the hospital late at night, exhausted after a tumultuous day, she felt a deep sense of relief — for the first time in many days, something had ended on a positive note, instead of continuing to spiral deeper into a cycle of grief. She knew there was still a long road ahead, but tonight, she allowed herself to breathe, even if just for a moment.