Chapter 7 — Unclosed Profile

The official meeting with Ms. Cao Thi Yen was arranged at Yen Phat Group headquarters, a modern office building located in the heart of the city. Thao Vy and Bao Nam entered the luxurious main lobby, where light reflected sparklingly on the marble walls.

Mrs. Yen received them in her private office on the top floor, looking noble and calm in a perfectly tailored ash gray suit. "Hello, brothers and sisters," she said, her voice gentle but authoritative. "I heard, you guys are investigating a case related to my company."

"That's right, ma'am," Bao Nam replied, maintaining a polite yet professional look. "We need to ask you a few questions regarding the Green River project, which was implemented twelve years ago."

Mrs. Yen's eyes flashed briefly with something difficult to grasp before she regained her usual composure. "That project was completed a long time ago. What do you guys need to worry about?"

"We discovered some irregularities in the project's land compensation documents," Thao Vy said, carefully observing every smallest expression on Ms. Yen's face. "And all three victims in the recent string of murders are directly related to this project."

"I don't understand, what are you guys implying?" Mrs. Yen asked, her voice still surprisingly calm, but Thao Vy noticed a slight tension in her hand resting on the desk.

"We haven't hinted at anything," Bao Nam replied, his voice cautious but full of meaning. "We're just gathering information from all the people involved, and you, as the project's investor, are one of the most important people to ask."

Mrs. Yen was silent for a moment, her eyes glanced over both of them before responding, her voice now a little colder. "I am willing to fully cooperate with your investigation. My company always operates transparently and in accordance with the law. If there are any errors in old records, I believe, it is just an unintentional administrative error."

"We will take note of that," Thao Vy said, "and may need to contact you again in the near future as the investigation progresses further."

When leaving the building, Bao Nam turned to Thao Vy, his eyes seriously analyzing. "Did you notice anything?"

"She controls her emotions very well," Thao Vy replied, "but when I mentioned the three victims, there was a very brief moment when she clenched her hands. That could be a sign of suppressed anxiety."

"I also noticed the same thing," Bao Nam nodded. "She is a very brave person who does not easily reveal loopholes. We need to continue to apply pressure wisely, while focusing deeper investigation on Pham Anh Tuan."

In the afternoon, when returning to headquarters, Minh Duc announced new news. "I have found out some interesting information about Pham Anh Tuan. Fifteen years ago, before working for Ms. Yen, he was accused of being involved in a case of misuse of medical chemicals at a hospital, but the case was settled amicably, without any official prosecution records being kept. It seems that Ms. Yen helped him get out of that trouble, in return for absolute loyalty."

"This is leverage," Bao Nam said, his eyes lighting up. "If Mrs. Yen holds this secret of Mr. Tuan, she absolutely does can use it to force him to carry out any order, including the most serious illegal acts."

"Can we approach Mr. Tuan, show him we know about this past?" Thao Vy asked, her eyes full of hope.

"Need to be careful," Bao Nam replied, his voice thoughtful and thoughtful. "If he is indeed the direct perpetrator, approaching too soon could cause him to panic, endangering ourselves or anyone else involved. We need more concrete evidence before taking action."

Meanwhile, at the office building that she had just left, Ms. Cao Thi Yen stood silently by the office window, looking down at the busy traffic below, her face no longer remaining as calm as when receiving guests. She pulled out her phone and called a familiar number.

“They came, and they know more than I thought,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, a trembling that was rare in a woman who was always in control of every situation. "Things are getting out of control."

On the other end of the line, Pham Anh Tuan's voice rang out, deep and calm, chilling. "You just let me take care of it. I won't let anything threaten you."

"No," Mrs. Yen said, her voice suddenly becoming harsh, "too many people have died, Tuan. I… I'm not sure I can continue like this anymore.”

"Have you forgotten?" Anh Tuan's voice turned cold, "If the truth is exposed, not only your reputation, but also your freedom will be lost. You've gone too far to turn back now."

Ms. Yen was silent for a long time, her hand tightening on the phone, her eyes looking away at the city with a deep torment that no one in the investigation team could see at this time. Twelve years ago, a single wrong decision — hiding the compensation gap to save the project from bankruptcy — pulled her into a cycle of crime from which she now no longer knows how to escape.

“Okay,” she finally said, her voice tired, resigned. "But this time, be very careful. I don't want any more innocent people to be implicated."

Hanging up the phone, Mrs. Yen sat down on the chair, her hands covering her head, a rare moment of weakness that no one in the company had ever witnessed from this woman who always appeared strong and decisive.

That evening, at the investigation team headquarters, Bao Nam and Thao Vy continued to review the entire strategy for approaching Pham Anh Tuan. "I think we should apply for a legal surveillance order for both Ms. Yen and Mr. Tuan," Bao Nam proposed, "to monitor all calls and movements within the allowable scope of the law. If there are any unusual moves, we will have direct evidence."

"I agree," Thao Vy said, "but I'm worried, if they are alert after today's meeting, maybe they will suspend all actions, making it difficult for us to collect new evidence."

"That's the risk we have to take," Bao Nam replied, his voice thoughtful. "But at least their vigilance could prevent further murders in the near future, giving us more time to consolidate the case."

Minh Duc, after completing the procedure for applying for a supervision order, turned to the two with a rare smile of relief amid the tense atmosphere. "Don't worry too much, you two. We went one It's been a long road. From a tiny wooden bead, we now have a whole network of suspects, motives, and evidence. The truth is very close."

That simple word of encouragement made both Thao Vy and Bao Nam smile with relief, even though they knew clearly that the road ahead still had many thorns and dangers awaiting.

Before leaving, Thao Vy stopped by the laboratory one last time to re-check the chemical sample collected from Ms. Kim Chi's crime scene. The results of in-depth analysis have just been completed, confirming that this is the same rare chemical used in Mr. Son's case - another link that firmly confirms that all three cases were committed by the same perpetrator, or the same group of people.

She carefully noted the results in the report, preparing to send it to Bao Nam the next morning. Looking at the clock, which was almost eleven o'clock at night, she sighed, clearly feeling the fatigue that was gradually accumulating after many days of continuous work without stopping. But every time she thinks of her father's face in the old photo, of the promise she made to herself from the first night she discovered that fateful wooden necklace, she finds more strength to continue moving forward, not allowing herself to fall in the face of any difficulties.

Leaving the laboratory, she walked through the quiet hallway of the headquarters, the fluorescent lights falling on the white walls created a quiet space different from the bustling atmosphere of the day. She stopped for a moment at the window at the end of the hallway, looking out at the city at night with sparkling lights, silently telling herself that, although the road ahead still had many challenges, she was no longer alone like before, and that, in itself, was a source of great and incomparable strength.