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

“He was a good man, or he seemed that way anyway.” James tossed aside the remains of his cigarette. “You knew him better than I did. I’m sure you’d know what he would say.”

“He would tell me to finish the job.”

James raised his eyebrows. “Maybe. On the other hand, you’re your own man. You have to decide what’s right for you. I’m telling you now, though, General Narith and Shao Fen are going to die with your help or without it because it’s the right thing to do.”

Dylan steadied himself by leaning against the river wall. A couple of merry drunks sauntered past them. One of them swigged from a huge bottle of the type of whisky that comes with no branding.

“General Narith won’t do anything without authorisation from Shao first. He’s in complete control. Song Wen will be used as the puppet leader when Sen is dead.”

“Yes, yes, I know that already.”

“Wen was chosen by the Communist Party in Beijing to control Cambodia on their behalf. Shao won’t have anything to do with rebuilding the country after the coup, at least not as far as I know.”

“What’s Wen like?”

“Just a politician.” Dylan shrugged. “He doesn’t speak English, so I don’t know anything about him. I’m just a bodyguard to him. I don’t talk.”

“Is he brave?”

Dylan shook his head. “A coward at heart. He’s a manager and nothing more. Whatever Cambodian they choose to sit in the office will answer to him, but on his own he’s nothing.”

“I see.”

“That’s all I can tell you.”

“Does Shao trust you?”

“Only about as much as anyone else who works for him. He doesn’t tell me anything more than what I need to know. Right now, he wants you.”

James lit another cigarette. A plan had already formed in his mind, but he needed to get to General Narith first. Song Wen was the weakness within Shao’s strategy. If James could target China’s puppet, the general would strike back. He would have no choice.

“I want to lure the general out into the open.”

“I can do that,” Dylan brightened. “You see, Shao’s already warned me to be careful. Said that the Kravaan story was you and that I need to protect Wen with my life. If I told him where you were, Narith would be the one to hunt you down.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I just know he would. He sees you as a real threat now. You went into the mountains and killed Tep Prak, returning without even a scratch. You’re invincible, in his eyes. You’re also the only reason why he hasn’t launched the coup. He wants you out of the way first, so you don’t ruin everything.”

James gave Dylan a warm smile. The insight into Shao’s state of mind was priceless. If he could eliminate the general and then take possession of Wen, it would force Shao out into the open, thus proving the connection. Thom and Gallagher would have no choice but to accept his killing.

“That’s as much as I know, James,” said Dylan. “Sorry I couldn’t have been more helpful.”

“Oh no, Dylan, you’ve done this perfectly. What I want you to do now is tell him where I am. We need to choose the right place.”

“Like where?”

“Somewhere where I can use the terrain to my advantage. I’ll be completely outnumbered and outgunned. If I fight him in the middle of an open field, I wouldn’t last more than five minutes.”

Dylan snickered as he stretched his legs. “I know about as much about Cambodia as you do. Maybe ask Sinclair. You make it sound like you’re looking for an Angkor Wat.”

“Angkor Wat?”

“Sure, it’s a temple complex next to Siem Reap up north. You never heard of it?”

“Course I’ve heard about it. It’s the biggest temple complex in the country.”

“Angkor Wat. That’s the place.”

James noted the flicker in the eyes of Dylan like a soft candle had been blown by a sudden gust of wind. He had to press the attack. Angkor Wat would serve as the battleground against General Narith and his forces.

“Angkor Wat,” Dylan repeated.

“Set it up, as soon as you can. Tell Shao I’m on my way there to meet a contact in three days. Make it clear to him I won’t be alone, so he’ll definitely send Narith himself and not just two of his little men like the last time. You get on back to Wen before someone notices you’re gone.”

James patted Dylan on the shoulder and walked away. He didn’t want to give himself a chance to reconsider. Sinclair would blow a gasket when he found out where they were going.

Chapter Fifty-Five

Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

Sinclair shook his head yet again as their bus whizzed north to Siem Reap through the Cambodian countryside. The journey took them nearly the whole day, with a stop at a dodgy roadside restaurant infested with clouds of black flies aiming for a free meal.

“Angkor fucking Wat…” Sinclair grumbled under his breath just loud enough for James to hear. “This is stupidity incarnate.”

“Do you have a problem with visiting Angkor Wat?” James said as sweetly as possible. “I thought you would love the chance to see all this historical stuff. One of the wonders of the world.”

“You know perfectly well what I’m upset about. This is reckless and wild. An unnecessary risk.”

James shrugged and smiled to himself as he nestled back into his seat. Of course, Sinclair’s assessment was correct, but they were in a race against time. James couldn’t figure out another way of getting to Narith. Trying it in the capital, the seat of Cambodian power, didn’t seem like the best idea.

James and Sinclair passed along one of the