Chapter 14 — The City Behind the Mist

One week after the break-in at Mr. Thinh's house, the independent document examiner invited by the inspection team completed an official analysis report on the notary seal on the archived drawing. Khanh Linh and Viet Hoang were invited to the results announcement at the inspection team's temporary office.

"The inspection results clearly show that the notary seal on the current archived drawing was affixed at a different time, at least several months from the time recorded on the document, based on the analysis of the chemical composition of the seal ink and its level of aging compared to the rest of the document," Mr. Nguyen Trong Hai announced, his voice solemn as he read the report. "This is objective scientific evidence, confirming the high possibility that there was intervention and changes to the document after it was originally created."

That news made Khanh Linh emotional. Even though she had believed in this for a long time, having official scientific confirmation still brought a great sense of relief. "So is this enough to officially recognize the drawings we provided as authentic documents, sir?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.

"Combined with other evidence — witness statements, unusual signs about the payment, and now the results of scientific appraisal — we believe there is enough basis to conclude that the original drawings provided by her family are the correct documents, accurately reflecting what chief architect Bach Vinh Son requested to be done," Mr. Hai confirmed, his voice firm. "We will include this conclusion in the official report, and recommend reopening the entire investigation file on the cause of the disaster fifteen years ago from a criminal perspective."

Hearing this, Khanh Linh could not hold back her tears of happiness mixed with pain. Fifteen years of waiting are finally coming to an end, when the truth is officially recognized by an independent, objective authority.

"Thank you, thank you everyone in the inspection team," she said, her voice choked up. "My father is finally about to be completely exonerated."

Viet Hoang, standing next to her, held her hand tightly in a gesture of sharing sincere happiness. "You did it, Linh," he said, his voice also filled with emotion. "After all the difficulties and dangers I went through, I persevered to the end to find the truth."

However, Mr. Hai also warned that the official conclusions of the inspection team still need to go through a number of administrative and legal processes before being publicly announced, and reopening the criminal investigation will require more time and coordination between many different authorities. "We expect to complete the final report within the next two weeks," he said. "In the meantime, I advise you and the witnesses involved to continue to be cautious, because the other side may take more drastic actions when they learn of this result."

As expected, news of the appraisal results, although not yet officially announced, seems to have spread to Ho Xuan Truong through certain unofficial information channels. Just a few hours after the meeting, Khanh Linh received a call from himself. His voice was no longer as calm as before.

"Do you think you won, Miss Linh?" he said, his voice filled with bitterness, completely different from his usual polite demeanor. "You don't understand, my family has built a whole business from sweat and effort over the past decades. You intend to destroy it all just because of a truth that was buried fifteen years ago?"

"The truth should not be buried, Mr. Truong, no matter how inconvenient it may be to anyone," Khanh Linh replied, her voice firm and unfazed by his anger. "My father paid with both his honor and his life for the mistake that he and his family deliberately concealed. It is time for justice to be served."

The call ended in heavy silence from the other end of the line, no goodbyes, just the sound of an abrupt hang up. Khanh Linh stood still for a moment, feeling that the most decisive phase of this war was still ahead, when those with too much to lose would not easily let go.

Immediately after that, she immediately called Viet Hoang to inform her about the angry call from Ho Xuan Truong. "I think this could be a sign that he is losing control and can no longer maintain the calm, calculating look like before," Viet Hoang commented over the phone, his voice serious. "That's both a good sign, showing that he's being pushed into a corner, but also a worrying thing, because desperate people often act more unpredictably."

"I think, we need to mentally prepare for a public, official confrontation, which may take place sooner than expected," Khanh Linh said, her voice thoughtful. "If Mr. Truong feels he has nothing left to lose, perhaps he will choose to counterattack more strongly, instead of continuing his covert actions as before."

"I agree," Viet Hoang replied. "We should proactively contact Mr. Nguyen Trong Hai and propose to speed up the release of the official report, instead of waiting a full two weeks as originally planned. If the truth is made public sooner, there will be less chance for Mr. Truong to find a way to turn the situation around."

The next morning, Khanh Linh contacted Mr. Hai to express her concerns about the possibility that Ho Xuan Truong would take more drastic actions while waiting for the official report. Mr. Hai, after listening, agreed to consider the possibility of speeding up the process. "We will try to shorten the time to one week, instead of two weeks as originally planned," he said. "But we still need to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the report. We cannot miss any important details because of time pressure."

"I understand and thank you for your consideration," Khanh Linh replied, her voice filled with gratitude. "We just hope everything can be resolved as soon as possible, to minimize the risk for all involved."

In the afternoon, Khanh Linh visited Mr. Thinh at his daughter's house, where he was temporarily staying with more careful protection. The good news about the assessment results made him unable to hide his deep emotions. "Finally, after fifteen years, the truth has been officially recognized," he said, his voice shaking with emotion. "I only regret that Son is no longer alive to witness this day."

"I believe, somewhere, my father is also feeling this, Uncle Thinh," Khanh Linh replied, her voice equally choked. "And I know, if it weren't for your courage in deciding to keep the original drawing all these years, perhaps this truth would have been buried forever."

Mr. Thinh held Khanh Linh's hand tightly, his eyes full of affection like a father for his daughter. "You have done something that not everyone is brave enough to do, Khanh Linh," he said. "You faced a powerful force, willing to risk your own safety, just to regain your father's honor. That is the most admirable filial piety I have ever witnessed."

Those sincere compliments made Khanh Linh emotional, feeling that, although the journey ahead still had many challenges, she was not alone, and what she was doing truly had profound meaning for not only her family, but also for the entire community that had endured pain and injustice for so long.

Before leaving, Khanh Linh called her mother to share the good news about the official assessment results. Ms. Diep's voice trembled with emotion when she heard the news. Tears of joy and sadness could not be suppressed over the phone. "I've been waiting for this day for fifteen long years, Khanh Linh," she said. "I can't believe it, it's finally here."

"Mom, we are about to see true justice," Khanh Linh replied, her voice equally choked. "I promise, I will take mom back to Van Son, so she can witness the moment when dad is completely vindicated in front of the entire town, in front of everyone who ever doubted dad."

The conversation with her mother made Khanh Linh even more determined to complete this journey, not only for herself, but also for the mother who had silently endured the pain and humiliation for so many years, always believing in her husband's innocence even though the whole world around seemed to have turned its back on their family for so many years.