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

“Are you going to tell me anything soon?” asked Dylan. “I want to know if this is just a bunch of garbage or not.”

Sor didn’t look up from the papers.

“Hey.” Dylan clicked his fingers. “Don’t ignore me.”

The Khmer shuddered like someone had woken him from a dreamless sleep. “Mr. Dylan?”

“Is there anything here worth reading, or should I throw these in the trash?”

“Trash, Mr. Dylan?”

Dylan’s brow creased in frustration. “The garbage.” He pointed at a trashcan in the corner of the room. “Is there anything valuable in here?”

Sor scratched the side of his head. “It’s strange. Very strange. Not something I expect to read this early in the morning. Where did you get these?”

“None of your business.”

“These documents are from China, Mr. Dylan. They’re… I don’t know how to describe it, Mr. Dylan.”

“Nhek,” Dylan called. “Can you come here for one minute?”

Nhek shook the hand of one man and clapped another on the shoulder. He was all smiles when he returned to the table.

“Can you ask him what these documents say?”

He shrugged and carried out Dylan’s request. The two men exchanged words in Khmer. Dylan couldn’t fathom what they were saying to each other, but when Nhek’s face became a mask of concern, he knew he’d hit the jackpot. Song’s papers meant something.

Nhek lowered himself into the plastic chair he’d left largely untouched since they’d entered the eatery. All the energy in the usually bubbly Nhek appeared to drain away like summer rain.

“Nhek, explain it to me slowly,” said Dylan. “I need to know.”

“Sor tells me that this is an official communication between a man called Song Wen, Shao Fen, and the Communist Party of China.”

“I knew it,” Dylan ejaculated, almost spilling his coffee. “What does it say?”

“Everything is about China’s plans for Cambodia. It says that Shao Fen will manage the transition after a military rebellion, and Song Wen will then take over control. This, Mr. Dylan, is what it says.”

“I haven’t even finished half of this,” Sor exclaimed. “This is scary. I am scared. Where did you get this?”

Dylan shook his head. “I can’t tell you but thank you.”

“Mr. Dylan, do you want me to read it all?” asked Sor.

He looked into the pleading eyes of Sor, and even Nhek looked like he wanted him to give his assent. The two Khmer became enthralled with the unfolding saga. Dylan finally nodded at Sor to keep reading.

Dylan left the table and went outside the eatery. He could barely contain his excitement at what he’d picked up. This was enough to implicate the entire Chinese state in a post-colonial takeover of Cambodia. It would send shockwaves across the world if it became public. He dialled Sinclair’s number. They would be delighted with what he’d uncovered.

The phone rang and rang. Each loop of the dial tone made Dylan’s pulse jump only to be disappointed again when it began its next round. He waited for two minutes straight before he gave up with a curse. Something must have happened. Sinclair used his phone more than the average teenage girl.

He clicked his tongue and went back inside to hear the full details of what China planned to do with Cambodia. Still, what had happened to Sinclair?

Chapter Sixty-Four

Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

The road was clear. The number of bodies James had left in his wake had broken the Cambodian military detachment. He found the path to the bottom of the small mountain clear of troops. Every so often he would find a tag from a soldier or a fallen cartridge. Yet not for one second did James believe his job had come to an end. General Narith wouldn’t give up that easily.

The sky turned blue as the sun lifted itself off the horizon. He felt the warmth of the morning sun tickle the back of his neck as he moved down the hill to ground level. The tourists would already be gathered outside Angkor Wat with their cameras trained on the towers and walls.

James decided to try his luck again by putting in a call to Sinclair. Once again, the phone rang through without an answer. He sighed and wondered where his friend could have got to. It was highly unusual for Sinclair to go off the grid for this long. Forcing his worst fears out of his mind, he advanced.

He reached the bottom of the hill and witnessed the assembled trucks General Narith had brought with him. A detachment of soldiers waited in position for him to emerge into the open. James picked a secluded spot and watched them through the gaps in the trees. The ragged remains of Narith’s detachment were mainly centred on an armoured car parked in the middle.

James knew time was running out. Part of him wished he hadn’t been so hasty in throwing away the RPG. One rocket and he could end this now. Nevertheless, he loaded his carbine and pistols and moved out from his hiding place. He aimed and fired before the soldiers did. Bullets pinged off the armoured cars and the trees.

He dove for cover as the remains of Narith’s guard came for him. James slipped on some wet leaves and fell onto the sodden ground in the brush. His enemies smelled his vulnerability and came for him.

Unable to get his carbine free and on his front, he pulled out his second M9 pistol and fired. Two careless men dropped, and the rest turned and fled. James gathered himself and unleashed another spray from the carbine. The M4A1 ripped through the poorly trained and terrified soldiers. More died and the rest shouted their fear. James kept pushing, expecting them to begin firing again. Only this time they didn’t.

He got out of cover in time to see the remaining soldiers fleeing