Chapter 2 — The Secret in the Basement B2

I stayed up almost all night. At 7:10 a.m., the constant sound of notifications from my phone woke me up. The company group jumped dozens of messages. People asked why they had to go to basement B2. He said he was still on his way. There are also people who grumble that the administrative department is creating more work. Mieu Tue only answered one question correctly:

"The boss personally arranged it."

I stared at the word "boss". Our company is not big, the owner's name is Thieu Chan Hai. Normally he rarely appears. But once they speak up directly, no one dares to be absent. 7:20 a.m. Khuong San, the company's accountant, called me. As soon as she picked up the phone, she lowered her voice:

"Nam Tu, are you here yet?"

"Don't come down here."

I immediately sat up.

"Where are you?"

"Basement B2."

Her voice trembled.

"They forced us to hand over all our phones, saying the registration system would block the signal."

I glanced at the clock. 7 hours 23 minutes.

"Who arrested?"

"Mieu Tue... and boss Thieu's driver."

Khuong San took a sharp breath.

"I hid in the bathroom to call you. Nam Tu... I felt something was wrong."

I stood up and walked to the window. It was dawn outside. The rain hasn't stopped yet.

"What's wrong?"

"Today, half of basement B2 is blocked, and covered with black cloth."

"And... the smell of disinfectant is very strong."

My heart suddenly tightened.

"Is Uncle Ma there?"

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds. Khuong San's voice became even smaller.

"But I saw the duty book in the security room. Last night, Mr. Ma signed to confirm the end of shift at 1:40."

1 hour 40 minutes... That was when he got off my car. I tightened my grip on the phone.

"You go up now."

"Can't get up."

Khuong San almost burst into tears.

"The elevator stopped at B2 and refused to go up. There were also people standing guard on the stairs."

I won't say more. Immediately rushed to the bathroom, washed my face, changed clothes, took the car keys and went out. When we arrived at the company building, it was 7:46 a.m. Rainwater washes the road surface, reflecting sparkling light. There is no security guard in front of the building. The duty hut is also empty. I parked my car on the side of the road, not driving down to the basement entrance. Lowering the window a crack, I looked intently at the exit to B2. 7 hours 52 minutes. Mieu Tue walked out of the lobby. She held a black umbrella and walked next to boss Thieu's driver. His last name is Cao, he has a muscular body, and is normally in charge of picking up and dropping off his boss. In his hand he was also carrying a blue plastic bucket. Mieu Tue looked around and dialed a phone call. A few seconds later... My phone rang. I didn't pick up the phone. She called again. I still ignore it. Not long after, a message appeared in the company group.

"Nguyen Nam Tu, go to basement B2 now."

I stared at that text. No reply. Immediately after that, Mieu Tue sent a recording. I click open. Her voice was cold.

"Nguyen Nam Tu, everyone is here, only you are missing."

"If you don't want to do it anymore, just say so."

I was about to turn off the phone when Khuong San sent a private message. Just four words: Don't come down here. Right after that was a photo. Photo is very blurry. Probably taken secretly through the crack of the bathroom door. Behind the black cloth revealed half of the stroller. There is a hand. It's a man's hand. The back of my hand is full of age spots. There was still a bunch of keys on his wrist lock. The blood in my body seemed to freeze. I raised my head and looked towards the basement entrance. Driver Cao stepped close to the ramp. He did not use an umbrella. The rain kept pounding down on my shoulders. He raised his head and looked straight at me. Even though there was a thick curtain of rain... I still saw him smiling slightly. He recognized my car. I immediately put it in gear, preparing to drive away. But before the car could roll off the road... A white van suddenly blocked the front. Right after that, there was another car blocking the rear. My car was stuck in the middle. Driver Cao slowly walked over and knocked on the window.

"Miss Nguyen, boss Thieu is waiting for you."

I pressed the door lock. Don't lower the windows. He knocked again.

"Don't make it difficult for us."

I picked up the phone, intending to call 110. Before I could press the button... Mieu Tue's message popped up first. It's a photo. In the photo, Khuong San is pressed against the wall by two people. His face was so pale it was scary. Right after that, Mieu Tue sent another sentence.

"If you dare to call the police, she will be the first person to get hurt."

I clenched my teeth. Driver Cao was still standing outside the window, quietly looking at me. His hand slowly moved behind his belt. I couldn't see clearly what he was touching. The phone vibrated again. This time it's a strange number. I picked up the phone. On the other end of the line, Thieu Chan Hai's voice rang out. Bring a faint smile.

"Nam Tu, don't be afraid."

"I just want to ask you a few questions."

I stared at the yellow light at the entrance to the basement.

"Where is Uncle Ma?"

The other end of the line was silent for a moment. The smile in Thieu Chan Hai's voice also disappeared.

"As expected..."

"You met him."

He spoke slowly.

"That piece of paper... is with you, right?"

I don't answer. Outside the window, driver Cao was still standing and staring at me. Thieu Chan Hai's voice rang close to his ear.

"Bring this piece of paper down here. Don't force me to have someone break the car."

I glanced at the storage compartment next to the passenger seat. The wet piece of paper was still there. Seeing it dirty last night, I was too lazy to throw it in the trash. It's like a burning ember in your hand.

"General Thieu."

I tried to keep my voice calm.

"What do you guys want to do?"

"Just asking you a few questions."

"If you ask a few questions, you have to lock someone in basement B2?"

There was a soft laugh on the other end of the line.

"Nam Tu, you're just a project assistant."

"Knowing too much... won't do you any good."

But hearing that, my heart felt strangely calm. He's afraid I know the truth. That proves... The piece of paper Uncle Ma left behind is absolutely not a delusion. I turned on speakerphone and placed the phone on my lap. The other hand quietly opens the recording function. Turn the screen face down. It was the only right thing I did after waking up last night. I recorded Uncle Ma's last call. I continued to record Thieu Chan Hai's voice.

"I can come down."

I said slowly.

"But we have to let Khuong San go first."

Thieu Chan Hai's voice immediately turned cold.

"Are you bargaining with me?"

"It's not a bargain."

I looked at driver Cao.

"I'm just... afraid of death."

The other end of the line fell silent. I continue:

"Let Khuong San come up here, I will give you the piece of paper."