Overthrow (A James Winchester Thriller Book 2) (James Winchester Series) by James Samuel (psychology books to read txt) 📗

“You chose Sen over General Narith, and you abandoned your former allies. That’s why we brought you here today,” said Qiu. “We want you to tell us everything you know about Sen.”

“Will you let me go?”

“No,” Qiu said matter-of-factly. “But if you give us the information we want, we’ll let you die quickly. Let me give you a demonstration.”

Shao took that as his cue to alter the voltage on the rheostat. He chose a moderate level, a warning shot. Peou would understand how much worse this could get if he didn’t cooperate.

Qiu prodded the picana into his chest. Peou screamed. The single momentary touch left an angry mark erupting on his thin chest. It would get so much worse. Shao had barely even started.

“How close are you to Sen?” asked Qiu.

“I’m not close to Sen. I just work for him. I’m a member of the army.”

“How many times did you meet?”

“Not often. I met him twice.”

Qiu paused for a moment, before using his spare hand to gesture at Shao to increase the voltage. Peou had lied.

The voltage went up. Qiu poked him in the deltoids. The electrical pulse drew agony from Peou. He gave him another couple of pokes in the same place for good measure. His eyes widened and his eyeballs threatened to pop out of their sockets with each contact.

“How many times?”

“Once per month. Once per month. That’s enough. I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

Qiu’s face didn’t flicker. They always said that.

“What does Sen know about General Narith?” Shao said from the rheostat.

“They don’t have a good relationship. Not a good relationship.” Peou still cast glances of fear at the vicious bronze tip only a couple of feet from his flesh. “Sen knows he can’t fire him. It could cause a mutiny. Narith is too strong.”

“Yes, we know that.” Shao increased the voltage without an indicator from Qiu. “We know you know more.”

Qiu looked down at the picana and attacked Peou’s leg with it. The higher voltages burned the skin. The sizzling meat on his thigh gave off a smell akin to charcoal as the electric jolts ripped their way through his body.

Peou moaned in pain as he struggled to catch his breath. He couldn’t even raise his hands to cradle his injuries.

“Sen is paranoid,” said Peou at last. “Sen thinks Narith is planning to overthrow him. That he wants to use the army to take control of the country. That’s why Sen created his own bodyguard from Brigade 70.”

The two men nodded.

Shao, of course, knew all this. They’d done their research and asked him these pointless questions so they could gauge how truthful Peou would be. Without already knowing the validity of the information he gave, how could they ensure he wouldn’t lie to escape this situation?

“What else?” Qiu waved the picana with menace.

Shao had already turned the voltage up again.

Peou hesitated.

Qiu didn’t wait for him to formulate an answer. He pressed the picana towards his genitals.

This time Shao had to close his eyes. Each scream, each squeal like a stuck pig, made his heart race. No matter how tightly he shut his eyes to the torture in front of him, the sounds wouldn’t leave him alone. He couldn’t pretend he didn’t smell the sulphurous odour of frazzled hair. He couldn’t ignore the distinctive smell of searing human meat.

“The average human can survive for days under picana if we allow it. Tell us what Sen really thinks. What is he really planning?” said Qiu.

Peou gritted his teeth. Tears cascaded down his bloody cheeks. “Sen knows that Narith is planning a coup. He’s using Commander Chan Chhaya to find out about his plans, and to kill him if he can.”

Shao raised his eyebrows at that. Finally, Peou had told them something of real use.

“That’s all I know. I have nothing to do with Sen’s bodyguard unit. Please… just kill me.”

Qiu narrowed his eyes at Peou like he wanted to continue torturing him just for the fun of it. Instead, he lowered the picana back onto the trolley.

Shao turned off the rheostat, closing the current and bringing an end to the torture session.

“Thank you,” Peou said in a soft voice. “Thank you.”

Qiu picked at a fingernail. “Our men will deal with you. I prefer not to get my hands dirtier than they already are.”

Shao and Qiu left the building, leaving the tortured man to contemplate his life in the few minutes he had remaining. They both squinted as they re-emerged into the cool light of the shipyards again.

Shao blinked the spots out of his eyes. “Peou had some use after all. This is grave news. Very serious. We never suspected that Sen knew so much about our activities.” He motioned at his waiting men to go inside and finish the job.

“General Narith must know. We must move our plans forward. If we give him too much time to prepare, it could make our position unstable.”

“No. I will investigate Chhaya. If the opportunity arises, I can kill him before he has a chance to organise Sen’s defences. Without their commander, Sen’s bodyguard will be weakened.”

Qiu’s shoulders moved up and down like he wanted to argue, but he finally nodded at Shao to take command. This time, the patient hunter would catch the prey.

Chapter Sixteen

Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh Province, Cambodia

Sinclair didn’t think he would find himself back at Phnom Penh’s airport so soon. This time the tuk-tuk drivers who saw them arrive didn’t bother them for a fare. Nhek did a fine job at yelling at any stragglers to stay away.

“Who are we meeting?” asked James.

“Gallagher never said who he would send,” said Sinclair. “He never does. It’s not as if we have a say in it anyway. We’ll have