Failed State (A James Winchester Thriller Book 1) (James Winchester Series) - James Samuel (top novels of all time .txt) 📗

“We have a problem, Scott.” Romero didn’t turn around. “A serious problem.”

“How can I help?”

“I’m not from this country. Your American ways are strange to me, but if I suddenly found more of my shipments intercepted, what would that mean?”

Scott inclined his head. He knew this day would come. Romero had made a deal with Senator Black to ensure that fewer shipments were caught up in legal entanglements. It could only mean Black had turned against them.

“Black thinks he’s clever,” said Romero. “He thinks that he can work against me when it suits him. But that’s where he’s wrong.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What would you say if I wanted to have him killed?”

Scott had nothing to say to that. He didn’t know what Romero wanted to hear.

“Say what you think. That’s an order.”

“I would say it’s the wrong decision, sir.”

“And why’s that?”

“Killing a senator would destroy you. It couldn’t be covered up and it would bring the US military down on your head.”

Romero finally spun around in his chair. His eyes locked on his butler like a rabid dog. “But we already killed a senator. Not just any senator but the majority leader. Why couldn’t we do it again?”

“Because it would look suspicious. Too suspicious. They’d wonder why politicians keep coming south and disappearing. The media are talking. They want action on drugs in Florida. I understand Congress is trying to declare a state of national emergency.”

Romero nodded along slowly. He never read the newspapers or followed current affairs online. That was just one of Scott’s many duties.

“What would a state of national emergency mean for us?”

“Well, sir, it frees up billions in Federal funding to go after whatever the emergency is. If it’s drugs, they’ll increase the number of customs officers and they may relocate some of their warships. That makes it difficult for you to make a profit.”

Romero drained the rest of his glass and slammed it onto the desk with a violent Spanish curse.

“This could ruin everything. Rasgado can force my people to stand aside. Santa Maria can control the land, but without more friends in your country, there’s nothing we can do to keep the fire away from us. Any suggestions? We still have time.”

Scott thought about it. He’d always appreciated Romero because he involved and trusted him in making decisions. Since he’d heard the rumours in the media, he’d wondered what it would mean for him and Romero. The tighter the noose got around their necks, the more Scott found himself in an awkward position.

“Find out why Black decided to turn against us. We saw it coming, but we don’t know how or why. He must have found someone who pays more. You see the way he looks at me. Like a rat.”

“Yes, sir. If we find who’s backing him now, we can get to them before they can do any serious damage.”

“Then, vamos, we don’t have any more time.”

Scott gave a little bow of his head and left the office. He, too, had a decision to make. Where did his loyalty lie? He could still get out of this yet.

Chapter Forty-Four

Yuriria, Guanajuato, Mexico

Blake clasped his hands behind his back upon the hill overlooking the hacienda. The fading light silhouetted him. One week had passed since he’d left James at the hacienda with Jessi. Still, Quezada hadn’t deigned to show up.

He stared down upon the courtyard through a pair of binoculars. Once again, James practised shooting with Jessi on his makeshift range. A loud crack of live ammo burst through the air on occasion. The birds in the distance left their perches squawking and screaming.

Blake lowered his binoculars and held them out for Sinclair to take.

Sinclair raised them to his eyes. “Do you see anything interesting?”

Blake’s lip curled upwards in disgust. “Winchester is wasting our time. Quezada must have learned to stay away.”

“We would have heard about that by now.” Sinclair clutched the binoculars in one hand. “He must be feeling the effects of Vargas’ death. Montoya has been stepping up his attacks.”

“God damn fool. That lady said he hadn’t visited her in a while. There must be something she’s not telling us.”

“You spoke to her?” asked Sinclair.

“I questioned her in accordance with protocol. I don’t trust Winchester. I don’t trust him at all. He’s training her how to use a gun, but I think she’s distracted him. He’s not paying attention to the contract.” He scratched his sideburn. “Last I checked, the contract involved killing Quezada, not hanging out with Montoya’s sister.”

Sinclair spied two figures in the courtyard. He didn’t want to believe James had fallen for her. Agents spent their free time seducing the local women, of course, but this was neither the time nor place.

Blake stamped his foot. “I’m going to pull him right out of there soon. That bitch and what she wants can go straight to hell. That’s what I get for having faith in Winchester.”

Sinclair gave Blake a sidelong glance. “Give it time. There’s no hurry.”

“Yes, there’s a hurry.” Blake removed his sunglasses. “Don’t you read the news?”

Sinclair shrugged. “Of course, but what does this have to do with us?”

“A big scandal is about to break in the US. Senate majority leader Phelps is dead. They found the body. They’re about to declare a state of emergency in Florida to stop the drugs and guns moving across the Gulf. They’re linking it partly to Senator George Black.”

Sinclair didn’t see the connection between assassinating Quezada and the machinations of US politics. Didn’t scandals break every so often in Congress anyway?

“This is all connected.”

“I don’t follow you, Blake.”

“The client is involved in this whole thing. Everything happening here is linked to everything happening in the US. If we