Overthrow (A James Winchester Thriller Book 2) (James Winchester Series) James Samuel (reading tree TXT) 📖

When Shao called General Narith to meet him, the general seemed perturbed at being summoned like a common soldier. Shao didn’t care as he sat in the back of his long black car at the isolated beach twenty miles from the centre of town. China ruled here now. If Cambodia wanted investment, they would kowtow.

Shao opened the blacked-out window a crack, letting in the salty sea air. The waves lapped gently against the white sands of the Cambodian coast. He revelled in peace and tranquillity. For a moment, he closed his eyes and took it all in, resetting his mind.

A powerful engine shattered the calm. Another black car, similar to his, pulled up alongside him. The two large cars barely managed to fit at the end of the little dirt road. Narith climbed out of the driver’s seat dressed in a uniform of dark grey and a peaked cap trimmed with gold. His large sunglasses obscured most of the hard lines cut into his face.

“Get in,” said Shao through his window. “We wouldn’t want anyone to know about this meeting.”

Narith got into the car without saying a word. His paunch stuck out like a beer barrel as he dropped onto the leather seat beside him.

“We could have met in a restaurant or somewhere nicer. It’s a long drive out here,” Narith spoke in broken Chinese as he smoothed down his uniform over his girth. “I couldn’t take a convoy, so I had to sit in the traffic.”

Shao stiffened. He hated idle complaining.

“One of my associates was murdered in Phnom Penh. A man who goes by the name of Mr. Chea.”

Shao shook his head. He’d never heard of a Mr. Chea before.

“Part of my business interests,” Narith explained. “I have many businesses, and he was found dead in his office in Phnom Penh. The Palace, a brothel, you heard of it?”

“I’m afraid I don’t partake in whores. So, why does the death of one of your brothel keepers impact me?”

“I can replace him, just like that.” Narith threw a dismissive hand forward. “I don’t care much about him, but it’s the way it was done. My men tell me he was killed professionally. It wasn’t quick and it was a target. Not just some drunk from the streets.”

“Professionally done. If we assume it was a targeted assassination, then the person clearly has business with you.”

Narith nodded. “I’ve got a lot of enemies, Shao. A lot of enemies. But this must have something to do with all of us.”

“Were there any cameras in the establishment?”

“Yes. It’s impossible to reach Mr. Chea’s office without being seen by a dozen cameras. There are cameras in the office as well. We checked them. Two hours of video was deleted. Whoever it was must have been a professional. This I know.”

Shao stared at Narith for a moment. This had grave consequences; unexpected consequences. Perhaps their attempt at removing Sen wouldn’t go as smoothly as he’d intended? Shao had to give his opponent credit. He hadn’t become complacent over his many years in power.

“The prime minister must have people working for him. He has become aware of your bid to remove him.”

Narith sneered at the idea, little flecks of spittle making their way onto his lips. “Sen knows what I think of him and where I’d like to put a bullet. But he knows he can’t get rid of me. It’s been like the Cold War. He wouldn’t dare move against me. I’m the only reason why the army hasn’t hung him.”

Shao maintained his steady look in the face of Narith’s outburst. “You are well aware that I have a foreign mercenary group working for me, Xiphos, aren’t you?”

“For all the good they’ve done. Foreigners have never done any good for Cambodia. Never.”

“Well, there are other mercenaries in the world. If Sen were intelligent – and I’m confident that he is – he would have never had Mr. Chea assassinated using a Cambodian. Cambodians are traceable, foreigners aren’t.”

Narith’s bulky shoulders rose and fell as he took the information in. “I see.”

“A Xiphos agent mentioned to me that the Blackwind group are a threat to their organisation and often come into conflict with them. I would assume that Blackwind is working for Sen. Look for the white faces and you’ll find the agents targeting your interests, General.”

Narith propped his elbow up on the bottom of the window. “White faces. This country is crawling with white faces. I will have this matter investigated. The Royal Cambodian Army will find them. They will suffer before they die. I’ll kill them personally.”

Shao inclined his head. “If there is nothing else, General.”

Narith opened the door and shuffled out, once again straightening his uniform as he stalked back to his car.

Shao watched him go, watching his animalistic movements. He’d never liked Narith. Like most commanders in the army, he’d risen from the ranks of the Khmer Rouge. When the cause started to cannibalise itself, he’d turned tail and run.

He rapped his knuckles on the glass partition separating him from his driver. The driver pressed a button and the partition whirred as it retracted. The sound of the air conditioning softened.

“Sir?” said the driver.

“Send a message to Qiu. I want to hear about the progress of Narith’s investigation alongside our own.”

“Of course, sir.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Kampot, Kampot Province, Cambodia

The Khmer Rouge could be compared in many ways to the Russian revolutionaries who had deposed and executed Tsar Nicholas II. Led by middle-class academics who spoke foreign languages, the peasantry revolted in a mad frenzy of killing. Centuries of crushing serfdom made it easy for their leaders to transform them into fanatics. Like many of the current leadership of the Khmer Rouge remnants, Prahn Sambath’s family still worked the land.

Blake had the good sense not