Chapter 17 — The Secret in the Basement B2

15 Khuong San's cry... Suddenly fell silent. I rushed in front of the wall of screens. His eyes were glued to the recording. Uncle Ma lies on the hospital bed. The oxygen mask was tilted to one side. The person pushing the bed was wearing a white blouse. Masks cover the face. The hem of his shirt was lifted by the wind... Revealing a section of black pant leg. He used his left hand to push the edge of the bed. Missing a segment. It's a man with the surname Luong. Appeared at the hospital again. The commander immediately contacted the scene. From the walkie-talkie came chaotic sounds.

"The third floor is blocked."

"Target is entering the east emergency staircase."

"Medical staff evacuating."

I immediately turned around and ran out. Manh Ky An held me tightly.

"You can't go."

"He aimed at you."

I looked at him.

"I can't let Uncle Ma be taken away by him again."

"He knows what happened three years ago."

"I know..."

"My mother's story."

At that moment... Han Lap Thanh spoke up.

"Can't keep up either."

I turned my head. He slowly raised his handcuffed hands. Point to the lower left corner of the screen wall. Shows a map of the city's old tunnel network. Nam Kieu Market. Abandoned warehouse. Connected together by red lines.

"The Luong family..."

"Will not go through the hospital's main gate."

"He will use the underground tunnel."

"Last point..."

"It's a warehouse."

Manh Ky An's eyes immediately darkened.

"You knew before?"

Han Lap Thanh coughed softly twice.

"The past three years..."

"I'm still hiding there."

"Not for living."

"Wait for someone..."

"You can turn over the whole notebook."

I stared at him.

"Why me?"

Han Lap Thanh's eyes suddenly flashed with pain.

"Because..."

"The last time On Kieu came to see me..."

"In her hand she held a photo."

"In the photo..."

"It's a girl about twelve years old."

"She said..."

"If I can't go back..."

"Tomorrow..."

"If someone exactly like the girl in the photo walks into the company..."

"So anyway..."

"Must help her too."

My throat was tight.

"Why didn't mom come find me?"

Han Lap Thanh was silent. That silence... Heavier than any answer. The commander did not hesitate any longer. Immediately drive the car to the abandoned warehouse. I asked to come along. He did not refuse. Just send two policemen on either side of me. On the way... The rain finally subsided a bit. But the sky... Still gloomy and heavy. Like the whole city... Sinking under a cold gray color. Manh Ky An drove right behind. Khuong San stays at the company. Coordinate to seal the entire financial system. Han Lap Thanh was also escorted to another car. Before the car door closed... He looked at me.

"In the warehouse..."

"There is a cold storage room."

"If you see..."

"The red iron door..."

"Never go in there alone."

He did not answer. The car door closed. Ten minutes later. The convoy arrived at the suburban warehouse area. Much more desolate than in the pictures. Rows of abandoned factories line one after another. Walls peeling. The glass door is broken. Rainwater from the eaves drips onto the iron barrels. Emits hollow echoes. The warehouse gate... No one was there. On the ground... There are very fresh tire tracks. The same stretch of water is dragged. The police immediately spread out and entered. I followed behind. Palm cold hands. Inside the warehouse... Filled with boxes of sealed documents. The outside of each box is labeled. Storage room. Finance department. Human resources department. These are all records from the old office building... From three years ago. Paper boxes are arranged in rows. Like unmarked graves. In the deepest corner... I saw... The red iron door. Under the door... A ray of cold white light leaked out. The commander gave the signal. Everything immediately stopped. He was just about to move forward. Then from inside... Suddenly, Uncle Ma's weak cough was heard.

"...Nam..."

My heart sank. No one responded. There was only the sound of tires rubbing against the floor. The commander immediately signaled to break down the door. The iron door burst open. A blast of cold air hit my face. Inside... Not an ordinary room. A low temperature storage. Next to the wall... It's a mobile hospital bed. Uncle Ma lies on it. Face pale. There is still an IV needle on the back of his hand. Still alive. Next to the hospital bed... There was no man named Luong. A laptop. The screen was facing straight at us. On the screen... The man surnamed Luong took off his mask. Sit in another dark room. The amputated little finger on the left hand... Clearly visible without any concealment. He smiled slightly.

"Nguyen Nam Tu..."

"You guys..."

"It's too late."

The commander shouted loudly:

"Where is he?"

The man named Luong seemed not to have heard. He just looked at me.

"Want to know..."

"How did On Kieu disappear?"

No reply. He raised his hand. Click play a video. On the screen... It's the old office building from three years ago. Fierce flames rolled out of the second-floor window. A woman clutches a file bag. Jump out into the rain. Just as she turned her head... The image immediately stopped. That face... resembles me in seven parts. My fingertips... The man surnamed Luong said softly.

"She can escape."

"She insisted on coming back..."

"To save a child."

The video continues to play. In front of the burning building. A little girl sat on the ground sobbing. The woman rushed forward. Hold the baby in your arms. The very next second... The frame shook violently. Someone from behind held up something. It landed heavily on the back of the woman's neck. My whole body... On the sleeve of the little girl being hugged... There was a very small name embroidered on it.