Chapter 17 — Unclosed Profile

Two days before the official raid was planned, Thao Vy decided to go to the city records storage center to search for more old documents related to the Song Xanh project, in order to consolidate more evidence for the upcoming trial. Even though she has an escort according to the new regulations, she still feels somewhat free when she can go out to work, instead of just hanging around the headquarters.

The archives center is located in an old, little-trafficked building, with rows of towering file shelves filled with documents from decades past. The escort, a young soldier named Hung, waited outside the reading room while Thao Vy went inside to search for documents with the archivist.

After nearly an hour of searching, Thao Vy discovered another important file, confirming more details about the planning approval of the Song Xanh project. While engrossed in taking notes, she suddenly felt a vague sense of insecurity, as if someone was watching her from afar.

She looked up, looked around the row of empty file shelves, saw nothing unusual, but her premonition of danger still did not disappear. She quickly packed up the documents and intended to turn around to look for Hung, but when she reached the reading room door, she couldn't see any sign of him.

"Hero?" she called, her voice shaking slightly.

There was no reply. Thao Vy felt her heart beat faster and her alertness instinct arose strongly. She pulled out her phone, intending to call Bao Nam, but at that moment, a strange figure appeared at the end of the hallway, wearing a tight mask, cold eyes looking straight at her.

"Miss Dang Thao Vy," that person's voice rang out, deep and threatening, "you should stop investigating now, before it's too late."

Thao Vy took a step back, trying to stay calm even though her whole body was shaking with fear. "Who are you? What did you do with my escort?"

"He was just temporarily taken somewhere else, there's nothing to worry about," that person replied, his voice carrying a terrifying confidence. "We just want to send you a warning. Please stop investigating our organization, otherwise, the consequences will not just stop at an empty warning like this."

As soon as he finished speaking, an alarm sounded from the end of the hallway - Hung, despite being temporarily restrained, was able to activate the emergency signal before being taken away. The stranger was startled and threw Thao Vy one last warning look before turning and running towards the emergency exit.

"Stop!" Thao Vy screamed instinctively, but immediately realized the danger of chasing alone, she stopped, her trembling hands dialed Bao Nam's number.

"Bao Nam! Someone just threatened me at the storage center! Hung is under control but the alarm has been activated!" she said, her voice still shaking with fear.

"I'll be right there!" Bao Nam replied, his voice filled with a rare panic. "You stay in the reading room, lock the door, don't come out until I come!"

Thao Vy followed suit, her trembling hands locked the reading room door, her back leaned against the wall, trying to calm her rapid breathing. Just ten minutes later, police sirens rang out outside, along with the sound of footsteps approaching. Bao Nam was the first person to run over, knocking on the door and calling her name with worry.

"Thao Vy! Are you okay?" he asked, his voice shaking with fear as she opened the door, immediately pulling her into a tight hug, as if to make sure. Surely she is still intact and safe.

"I'm fine," Thao Vy replied, her voice still shaking but starting to regain her composure in his arms. "He only threatened me, did not harm me. But Mr. Hung..."

"We found him," Bao Nam said, his voice somewhat relieved. "He was tied up and had a towel stuffed into his mouth in the back storage room, but was not seriously injured. He was very brave to activate the alarm before being completely controlled."

The technical team quickly sealed off the scene and collected remaining traces, although the stranger was able to escape before reinforcements arrived. Thao Vy was taken back to the headquarters to give an official testimony, while Bao Nam did not leave her side, his eyes were still full of unrelieved worry.

"I'm sorry that this happened," he said, his tone heavy with self-reproach. "I should have sent more escorts. I shouldn't have let you go out during such a sensitive period."

"This is not your fault," Thao Vy replied, holding his hand tightly to reassure him. "No one can foresee every situation. The important thing is that I remain safe, and now we have more evidence that this organization is truly panicked by our investigation."

In the testimony room, Thao Vy described in detail the appearance and voice of the threat to a portrait artist, even though that person was wearing a tight mask, not revealing many obvious identifying characteristics. "He had a small scar near his left temple, which I saw when his mask was slightly askew as he turned to run," she recalled, trying to provide every detail she could.

Minh Duc immediately compared this detail with the records collected by Hoang Anh Kiet and those under his command. "There is a name that matches this description," he reported after a few minutes of searching, "Dang Quoc Cuong, known as Hoang Anh Kiet's most trusted right-hand man, has a criminal record for intentionally causing injury."

"This is important evidence," Bao Nam said, his voice serious. "We can use this information to further support the witness intimidation allegations, and further confirm the organizational structure of this gang."

Lieutenant Colonel Trung, after hearing a full report on the incident, decided to speed up the raid. “We can't wait any longer,” he said, his voice final. "The battle plan will be carried out tomorrow night, when the task force is fully ready."

That evening, after all testimony procedures were completed, Bao Nam was determined not to let Thao Vy go home alone. "I want you to stay at the unit's guesthouse tonight, with security guards on duty all night," he said, his tone tolerant of any objections. "After what happened today, I can't rest assured if you come home like this."

"What about my mother?" Thao Vy asked, worried about her mother's safety.

"I sent someone to protect your house as soon as I heard about the incident," Bao Nam reassured. "Your mother will be safe, but I think you should stay here tonight, so we can ensure your absolute safety during this most sensitive period."

Thao Vy nodded in agreement, understanding that this was not the time to be stubborn because of personal pride. That night, in the small room at the unit's guest house, she lay tossing and turning Unable to sleep because he was bald, the image of the stranger wearing a mask kept appearing in his mind, mixed with a feeling of deep gratitude for the protection and dedicated care of Bao Nam and the whole team.

Near midnight, there was a light knock on the door. Opening the door, she saw Bao Nam standing there, holding a glass of warm milk. “I thought, you might need this to sleep better,” he said, his voice gentle. "I'll also be on duty in the room next door all night long, if you need anything, just call me."

"Thank you," Thao Vy said, accepting the glass of milk, feeling a warm, reassuring feeling spreading throughout her body at the thoughtful care. "With you nearby, I feel much safer."

Bao Nam stood there for a moment longer, his eyes never leaving her, filled with a gentleness and protection that he had never shown so clearly before. "I was really scared today," he admitted, his voice quiet. "When I heard that you were in danger, I had never felt so panicked in my entire career."

"I'm scared too," Thao Vy replied, her voice soft. "But I know, you will arrive in time. I trust you absolutely."

Bao Nam smiled, a warm smile that dispelled some of the remaining tension from a long and eventful day. "Good night, Thao Vy," he said, gently kissing her forehead before leaving, a gentle, respectful gesture that made her heart pound even in an insecure situation.

Closing the door, Thao Vy stood still for a moment, her hand gently touching the forehead where he had just kissed, a gentle smile blooming on her lips amid lingering worries. She took a sip of warm milk, feeling the peace gradually spread, and finally, sleep came, bringing with it the warm image of Bao Nam instead of the fear of the stranger in the afternoon.