Failed State (A James Winchester Thriller Book 1) (James Winchester Series) James Samuel (best book clubs txt) 📖

by one, the three bodies fell from the low-flying plane. Fernando watched them disappear into the night, imagining the splat as they came down from a few thousand feet.

“They’re away,” Alex called to the pilot above the roar of the engines.

The pilot closed the bomb bay doors and started his ascent as the two narcos wiped their brows, a job well done.

Chapter Fourteen

León, Guanajuato, Mexico

At a little gas station just outside of León, a fleet of four cars had gathered, Diego’s Land Rover among them. James had arrived with Diego to meet the friends he’d recruited for the kidnap of Rosher. The turnout impressed him. Only now did he see the real influence Diego wielded within Mexico.

James leaned against the car as Diego’s crew went to the bathroom, bought snacks from the gas station, and milled around smoking cigarettes. They didn’t seem like professionals, but they would have to do. The golden hour started to descend, speckling the milk chocolate-coloured mountains in gold leaf.

“You think this will be enough?” asked James.

“Sure. If anything, it’s too many people. Rosher is holding an event in downtown León, and he’ll need to take this road out of the city to make it back to Guanajuato. We’ll know when he’s coming because the police will start to slow down traffic and close a lane for him to get through.”

“And our plan?”

“They already know the plan. I told them already. I didn’t think you needed to hear the Spanish version.”

“I haven’t heard the English version yet.”

Diego batted a dismissive hand at him. “Nothing too complex. Nothing you haven’t done before.”

“Which is?”

“We have a convoy of four cars. Probably Rosher will have a couple of police cars escorting him at the front and the back. Maybe we’ll see some cops on bikes as well. We’ll perform a bastardised rolling roadblock manoeuvre to stop the convoy. Once Rosher is stopped, we throw him in our car.” Diego patted the front of his Land Rover. “Drive him to the safe location and that’s that.”

James knew the rolling roadblock manoeuvre well. Blackwind taught their agents how to avoid it if they were ever on the run from the police. Usually, three or four police cars would surround a fleeing vehicle on all sides and gradually slow down, forcing the driver to an unglamorous halt.

“And what’s your plan for the police?”

“If they have to be killed, they have to be killed. Expect a shootout. These men are going to cover our tracks while we get Rosher out of the way. The cops won’t follow us for long. The incompetence of the Mexican police force is famed across Latin America.”

James sucked on the end of his cigarette as he digested Diego’s words. It all made sense. The men he’d employed for this mission weren’t designed to get home safely. They were human shields, cannon fodder, whilst the professionals carried out the real work. James wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

Diego checked his watch. “Get everyone into the cars.”

A flurry of activity ensued as Diego’s men dragged their compatriots out of the store and scrambled for the cars.

“He’s left the building. They’ll take him straight onto the road, this road, and from there onto the highway. When we have him, we’ll take the free roads through the villages.”

James jumped into the Land Rover and strapped on his gear. He already had his body armour underneath his shirt. Now he threw on his gloves and his fire-resistant glasses. He loaded his Glock 19x and checked his ammunition.

“We’ll be the backup car. They’ll distract the cops and let us swoop in. Once they disable the car, it’s our job to get Rosher out.” Diego picked up a radio. “You there?”

James heard a crackly voice reply in the affirmative.

“Lead car, start moving along the road now. As soon as you see the police lights, slow down.” He waited for the reply. “Alright, they know to follow the lead car at regular intervals. We’re not moving until we see the convoy move past this gas station.”

Diego and James threw balaclavas over their heads. James adjusted his glasses underneath the mask.

“You trust these men?” asked James.

“As long as it’s not too complicated. They’re not really a step above narcos. If they weren’t working for me, they’d be working for them sooner or later.”

The second car left the gas station. A couple of minutes after that, they saw the first police car and a couple of police motorcycles pass them. Then came the big black car that could only be Rosher’s, with another police car taking up the rear. Their final car skidded out of the gas station to make up the ground.

Diego lingered for a count of five before he too pressed the accelerator. The burst of speed pressed James back into his seat.

When they emerged onto the road, they saw the rear police car ahead of them. Their man had managed to take the rear. Everyone was in position.

“Start slowing down,” Diego ordered over the radio.

James squinted to see up ahead. He couldn’t see the lead car, but he could see the whole convoy slowing down. One of the police motorcycles fanned into the inside lane to assess the situation.

“Second car, close him in on the side.” Diego paused for just a moment. “Now shut him off in the back. Force the police car and Rosher together.”

James watched as the entire rolling roadblock crammed the convoy together. The convoy couldn’t help but find itself being forced into the car of the governor. The rolling roadblock happened fast, with the whole convoy grinding to a halt in the middle of the highway.

Police officers left their cars with their guns primed. Shots popped across the highway as Diego’s men took cover.

“Alright, screw it.” Diego threw the radio to