Chapter 7 — The City Behind the Mist

The next morning, Khanh Linh decided to go to the town's Planning and Construction Management department, citing the need to refer to old planning documents for the current beautification project - a completely reasonable professional reason, but hidden inside was the real purpose: to find a way to access the official drainage drawings that were being stored, to compare with the original drawings that Mr. Thinh had given her.

She was led by a young employee named Ha into the old document archive, where stacks of records covered in dust over time were arranged by year on iron shelves reaching up to the ceiling. "Records from fifteen, twenty years ago are stored in this area, ma'am," Ha said, pointing toward a row of shelves in the far corner of the room. "What specific type of document do you need to find?"

"I need to refer to the planning documents and technical drawings of the ancient market area, from about fifteen years ago," Khanh Linh replied, trying to keep a professional tone, not revealing the nervousness rising in her heart.

Ha helped her find the right box of documents needed, then let her work alone in the small reading room adjacent to the archive. Khanh Linh opened the file box with slightly shaking hands, flipping through the pages of documents until she found the official drainage system drawing that was being stored.

She placed the copy she had taken of Mr. Thinh's drawing next to her, comparing every detail meticulously. Immediately, she noticed obvious differences — the pipe diameter in the official archive drawing was significantly smaller than the revised drawing her father had requested, and more importantly, there was a complete absence of a handwritten note in red ink requesting urgent remediation.

But what caught Khanh Linh's attention the most was the notary seal in the lower right corner of the archived drawing. When she looked closely in the light from the window, she noticed that the ink of the seal was somewhat lighter, subtly different from the other seals in the same set, as if it had been stamped at a different time, not at the same time as the rest of the document.

She quietly took photos of all these details with her phone, carefully ensuring the lighting and angle were clear enough for thorough analysis later. While continuing to review, she heard footsteps approaching the reading room, causing her to quickly put her phone in her pocket, pretending to be attentively reading the documents normally.

"Miss Linh, I heard you were consulting old files," a familiar voice rang out from the door. That was Mr. Bui Quoc Bao, his eyes were somewhat searching as he looked at the documents spread on the table.

"Yes, Mr. Chairman," Khanh Linh replied, trying to maintain a calm and professional look. "I need to refer back to the old planning of the area to ensure the new design is consistent with the historical context of the old town."

Mr. Bao nodded, but his eyes still lingered on the drainage drawing that Khanh Linh was reviewing longer than usual. "Is this a file related to the landslide in the past?" he asked bluntly, his voice low.

Khanh Linh hesitated for a moment before deciding not to completely hide the truth, only revealing a sufficient part. "Yes, sir. As the daughter of the former chief architect, I think it is my responsibility to understand the entire historical context of this area, especially the potential geological risks."

Mr. Bao was silent for a long time, his eyes complicated and difficult to predict. "Miss Linh, I know you're trying to find out the truth about your father," he said finally, his voice suddenly more sincere. "I've had my own doubts over the years, but never had the courage to pursue them."

That statement made Khanh Linh stunned. "Do you have any doubts, Mr. Chairman?" she asked, her voice filled with unexpected hope.

Mr. Bao glanced around, lowered his voice as if he was worried someone would hear. "I was then vice president in charge of construction, a direct subordinate of my predecessor," he said. "I remember, right after the disaster, there was a closed-door meeting that I was not invited to attend, between my predecessor and a few important figures in the construction industry, including Ho Xuan Truong. After that meeting, the official investigation conclusion was made very quickly, so quickly that I always felt something was wrong."

"Why have you never spoken up about this?" Khanh Linh asked, her voice was both surprised and a bit reproachful.

"Because I don't have specific evidence, just a hunch and a few unofficial things I heard," Mr. Bao replied, his voice full of regret. "And because, frankly, I also feared for my own political career if I dared to challenge those who had such power at the time."

This unexpected confession opens up a new possibility that Khanh Linh had never thought of — that, perhaps, she is not the only person in this town with doubts about the hidden truth, and perhaps, with enough evidence, she can find more allies within the local government itself.

"If I can gather enough concrete evidence, would you be willing to testify, or at least assist in reopening the official investigation?" Khanh Linh asked directly, her eyes full of determination.

Mr. Bao was silent for a long time, his face showing a fierce inner conflict between moral responsibility and pragmatic political calculations. "I need to think about it more," he replied finally, his voice cautious. "But I promise, I won't hinder you in your journey to find the truth, Ms. Linh."

When Mr. Bao left the reading room, Khanh Linh sat silently for a long time, feeling that her investigation was gradually expanding beyond the scope she had imagined, bringing in unexpected pieces from the town's power apparatus.

She quickly rearranged all the files and returned them to their original positions in the archive before leaving the office. On the way out, she immediately called Viet Hoang to share the important findings she had just collected.

"The notary seal showed signs of being faked, and even Mr. Bao had his own suspicions many years ago," she said over the phone, her voice still filled with excitement. "I think we're gradually building a more comprehensive picture of what really happened."

"That's great news," Viet Hoang replied, his voice unable to hide his excitement. "But I think we need an independent document examiner to officially confirm the difference in the seal you discovered. Just relying on visual observation will be difficult to convince the official investigation agency."

"I will contact an old colleague in Saigon who used to work in the field of legal document appraisal," Khanh Linh said, her mind already starting to plan her next step. "I believe he can help us carefully analyze the photos I just took."

That afternoon, when Khanh Linh sent the captured photos to her former colleague, she received a response within just a few hours, roughly confirming her suspicions — there was a high possibility that the seal had been affixed at a different time than the rest of the document, based on the difference in density and spread of the ink. However, to have an official conclusion, experts recommend that the original be directly examined with specialized inspection equipment.

"We need to find a way to access the original, not just stop at photos," Khanh Linh told Viet Hoang when they met in the evening to update progress. "But that also means we will have to make part of this investigation public, which may make those who are hiding the truth more wary."

"It's a risk we need to consider carefully," Viet Hoang replied, his face pensive. "But I believe, with what we've gathered so far — witness statements, original drawings, unusual signs in archival documents, and now even tacit support from the Chairman himself — we are very close to having enough grounds to officially request a reopening of the investigation."

They sat in silence for a moment, both feeling the weight of what lay ahead. "Are you scared," Viet Hoang asked softly, "when thinking about having to face Mr. Truong face to face again, this time with all the evidence in hand?"

Khanh Linh thought for a moment before answering, her voice was slow but sure. "I'm scared, but that fear is no longer greater than my desire to see justice for my father," she said. "For the past fifteen years, I have lived in the shadow of doubt and humiliation. Now, when the light at the end of the tunnel is gradually appearing, I cannot allow myself to retreat, no matter what I face."

Viet Hoang looked at her with eyes full of admiration and a deeper feeling that he had never dared to admit publicly. “I will always be by your side, throughout this journey,” he said, his voice sincere. "No matter what happens."