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

General Narith’s bodyguard always managed his comings and goings. They were less like bodyguards and more like friends. Shao had heard the rumours. Narith wouldn’t allow anyone to join his inner circle who hadn’t fled to Vietnam alongside him during the waning days of Kampuchea.

A Chinese aide entered the room. Shao didn’t recall his name. The general had a revolving door of aides that worked for him.

The aide bowed. “General Narith has arrived.”

“Good. Bring tea. Green tea, I think. I am sure the general is tired after his long journey from Phnom Penh.”

“Yes.” The aide bowed again. “In one moment.”

Shao used the final minutes of solitude to mentally prepare himself for another meeting with the general. Narith had an ego and he couldn’t control his own emotions. He always looked down upon people who ranted and raved to get their point across. It demonstrated weakness in Shao’s world.

The door opened and Shao snapped to his feet. General Narith entered the room alone. The hard lines seemed all the harder since their last meeting. His belly bulged against his shirt. They shook hands as friends but without any warmth.

“How was your journey?” Shao asked politely.

Narith sat on the hard chair in front of Shao’s desk. It creaked under his weight. “Long. There were no flights.”

“No flights?” Shao raised an eyebrow. “The army is unable to commandeer a plane when it wants?”

“It doesn’t work like that. If no plane is available, no plane is available.”

Shao nodded as his aide returned with the usual array of tea paraphernalia. He noted that Narith didn’t remove his gaze from him for a moment, even with his aide busying himself with the tea at his shoulder.

“What of this business in the capital?” asked Shao. “An attack on the palace. Is this part of the plan?”

“Not from our side.”

“My sources say this was a false flag attack. The prime minister’s own personal bodyguard. I know you have decided to tell the newspapers that the royal guard put Commander Chhaya down, but we both know that isn’t true.”

Narith inclined his head and waited for the aide to depart. The rich green tea released tendrils of steam from the rims of the cups. Their essence offered a mild massage for the nostrils.

“Tea?” Shao gestured to the cups.

“Enough of this, Shao. I didn’t come here to talk about tea or drink it. You’re right. The royal guard was useless. Most of them had been put to sleep by Chhaya and his men. It was a Lieutenant Kravaan who shot Chhaya, or I should say Commander Kravaan now.”

“Interesting.” Shao took a mug of tea between his hands. “Commander Kravaan…”

“Sen had no choice. I forced him into it. Kravaan stopped a traitor who tried to attack the king. Not to promote him would have caused him more problems than allowing one of my allies into his inner circle.” Narith’s eyes appeared to shine. “Now we’ve got into his inner circle. He’s more vulnerable by the day.”

Shao lapped at the revitalizing tea, withdrawing his tongue when the liquid began to singe his tongue.

Narith shifted in irritation.

“A wounded lion remains dangerous,” said Shao. “We must not underestimate Sen. There will be a riposte. He knows as well as you do that you have an advantage now and he will not allow it to stand.”

“What can he do to me?” Narith spat. “His little game with the King was supposed to delay me. Now, look. When the public is calling for his head, I can move in and finish this.”

“Stay on your guard. This is what I’m saying. Never celebrate before the victory has been achieved. Then we will have all the time in the world to savour it.”

Narith grudgingly agreed with Shao. Not that he could tell without reading between the lines. He gnashed his teeth together like a spoiled child. Shao imagined the general didn’t put up with people speaking to him as an equal on a daily basis.

“I performed some research into the issue of the foreigners. Blackwind. It seems that they are active against us,” Shao confirmed. “I have already identified them through my sources.”

For the first time, Narith’s expression softened. “How are they involved?”

“They are working for Sen and they are working to undermine you. I am sure they were behind the deaths of both Saluk Chea and Prahn Sambath. It would not be an exaggeration to say that their next target will be Tep Prak. That would remove the Khmer Rouge from the board.”

Narith raked his top lip with his teeth. “You only found this out now?”

“These things take time.”

“You understand what this means? It will be a challenge to subdue the country without them. We were counting on their support. If Prak dies, it could cause a civil war that will tear this country apart.”

“You worry too much. They are more of a problem than a help.”

“They’re the only way we can control the countryside,” Narith bristled. “Are you Chinese going to replace them? You like interfering in other people’s business. Why can’t you interfere this time?”

Shao put his white cup back onto the tray with a smile. “The Khmer Rouge are fanatics… as you are perfectly aware from your own history with them. It is best that the last of that organisation is put to sleep, like a dog with rabies.” He pressed his palms together. “Sen has made a mistake here. If he loses public support, which he will, this will be no coup. The people will be begging you to remove him and take the office. There will be no war.”

Narith appeared to wrestle with his natural urges to scream with rage and his brain’s natural desire to spot the logic and notice the opening the false flag attack on the palace had given him.