Overthrow (A James Winchester Thriller Book 2) (James Winchester Series) by James Samuel (the gingerbread man read aloud .TXT) 📕

“Let’s never do this again,” said Sinclair.

James grinned. “Alright, alright, where’s Thom?”

“I don’t know, let’s just wait for him here.”

As they waited, James sat on a wall overlooking the gardens below. He couldn’t help but notice he saw no signs of any monks outside, just tourists. Most of them were flushed tomato red when they got to the top.

“Sinclair.” Thom emerged from the temple. “Good of you to have made it. Thank you for your good work in the mountains.”

“No problem.” James clutched Thom‘s hand without any warmth. “I wanted to speak to you about some new information.”

Thom nodded. “As you wish. Let’s move over here. Just in case.”

The three of them walked across to the side of the pagoda. Most visitors seemed more interested in taking selfies than exploring the complex. A collection of temple buildings appeared in a state of dilapidation. Through the doors of one such building, James glimpsed men in orange robes praying in front of a life-sized golden statue of the Buddha.

“Very well, Mr. Winchester,” said Thom. “What did you want to discuss?”

“Have you heard of a man named Shao Fen?”

He shrugged. “Yes. He’s a businessman from China. He owns many casinos in Sihanoukville, and he’s investing in expanding the shipyards there.”

James took a deep breath. “Prak and his friend Preap told me that they’re working with him. That he’s the real power behind General Narith.”

Thom’s mouth fell open as he digested the words.

“This could be bigger than the Cambodian army,” James continued. “It’s almost a state-sponsored coup against Sen.”

“That... that would be frightening if it were true. But Mr. Fen has invested a lot of money in Cambodia.”

“Wasn’t there a dispute over the expansion of those shipyards?” asked Sinclair.

“There was. The entire deal with China to let them place their navy in Cambodia. The prime minister changed his mind and, naturally, Mr. Fen didn’t support that decision.”

“So, there’s a motive,” said James.

Thom shifted from one leg to the other in discomfort. “I understand, but we need proof. To assassinate a prominent Chinese citizen on Cambodian soil could create an international incident. It could even mean war.”

James nodded. He knew that China didn’t need much of an excuse to expand its influence. As recently as 1979 China and Vietnam had fought a brutal war. China wouldn’t hesitate to repeat that action if it felt it could use its military might to get what it wanted.

“Find proof first,” said Thom. “I can’t authorise you to add Mr. Fen to the list without evidence. It would destroy Cambodia.”

“I agree,” said Sinclair.

James fought back the growing bitterness in his mouth. If Prak had admitted it, he already knew the truth. Prak had no reason to lie when he had him in his power.

“To the other matter.” Thom ran a hand over his head. “Do you have the identity of the traitor?”

“I do,” said Sinclair. “Vang Kravaan.”

Thom nodded. “We had our suspicions. He was hailed as a hero after the incident at the Palace. How sure are you?”

“One-hundred percent.”

“Very well. You have my permission to eliminate him. The information I provided you in those files should be sufficient.”

“But what about Fen?” James piped up.

“Mr. Winchester, I’ve made my position clear. Without proof, we can do nothing.”

James bit his tongue as Thom abruptly departed. He despised this ridiculous bureaucracy. Did Thom fear the truth that the plot to overthrow Sen extended further than his nation’s borders?

Chapter Forty-Eight

Sinclair sighed as they contemplated the hit. “We don’t have time to plan this out like we normally would.”

Vang Kravaan appeared to the public like any ordinary Khmer. He had a family, he kept his chin clean-cut, and his face had nothing discerning about it. Nobody would ever know he was a trained killer.

“This is going to have to be a hit and run.”

Back inside Sinclair’s rented hovel at the Riverside Guesthouse, the smell of Doritos and the crackle of empty Coke bottles kicked out of the way signalled work. James had been in the dark room for what felt like hours.

“The longer we leave it, the greater the risk. Kravaan is now a commander in Sen’s bodyguard. So, who do you think is going to take Hun Sen into custody? That’s why he’s there.”

“Because of Thom trying to buy time with that stupid false flag operation.”

“Well, we have to do something quickly.” Sinclair turned his chair around. “Narith has everything he needs to launch this coup. Losing Prak and the Khmer Rouge won’t set them back that badly. He was just a loose end we had to get rid of.”

“Then what’s the best way of doing this?”

Sinclair clicked his tongue. “Just find him and shoot him.”

“That’s your plan?”

“That’s the plan. It’s the best we have at short notice.”

James had to stop himself from cursing. He didn’t like going in unaware like this. Then again, every strategy they’d come up with so far had ended in disaster.

“Look.” James leaned forwards. “I need something else to go on. We’re professionals, not a gang. What about the police? Thom isn’t going to get me released, is he?”

“Then don’t get caught,” Sinclair shrugged.

“If I’m even noticed, it won’t be difficult to find a white British man in Cambodia. We don’t really blend in, do we?”

“Then be careful.”

“Are you taking the piss?”

Sinclair snatched at a piece of printer paper next to his keyboard. He folded it and tossed it to James, perched on the bed.

James unfurled it and read Sinclair’s elegant cursive but saw nothing more than an address.

“Alright, fine, if that’s really where we’re at.”

“It is. This is a simple assignment. Kravaan doesn’t know we’re coming or who we are.”

James