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

with the logic. It had been over a year since he’d left European soil. Still, James didn’t like the continent. Too many bad memories from operations in and around Europe. Places like Mexico felt exotic, far away from everything and everyone who knew him.

“I just want to know one thing.” James puffed away from his prone position. “Where did those explosions come from?”

“Nothing to do with me.”

“Must be God, then.”

“If you believe in those things, you can call it God. Those were drones carrying explosions. There aren’t many people who have that sort of hardware. Someone was watching this play out the entire time and they decided to help you.”

“Okay, then it was God. He works in mysterious ways.”

Sinclair didn’t laugh. “Stop joking about it. This is serious. Those explosions allowed you to incinerate Romero and probably saved your life. You would have never made it out if that drone hadn’t hit the building.”

“Maybe it was Gallagher, or maybe even Blake?”

Sinclair shrugged. “Maybe. Sometimes it’s best to leave well enough alone. Take the help and move on. Leave it as one of life’s little mysteries.”

James had wondered who could have helped him that night. Blackwind did have the hardware, but he doubted Gallagher would have helped him like that. He sat up as the sun continued to set and the wind blew in from across the Atlantic. “We should go. It’s not that warm up here.”

Sinclair looked up at him as James looked to beat a hasty retreat.

He trudged away with his cigarette hanging out of the side of his mouth, “Come on, Sinclair.”

“Wait,” Sinclair called after him. “We need to talk about what happens next.”

But James paid no attention to him. He didn’t want to contemplate where they would wind up next. He wasn’t sure he even wanted to know who had detonated those explosions. Sinclair was right. Sometimes, it was best to leave well enough alone.

End of Book One

 

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Overthrow Chapter One

Sihanoukville, Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia

Dark plots stalked the streets of Sihanoukville. The sleepy town of Sihanoukville on Cambodia’s south coast once welcomed Western backpackers looking to discover pristine beaches and a relaxed way of life. Sihanoukville had changed.

Glaring neon signs shined from Chinese casinos dominating the town. Enormous Edens of gambling, hotels, and restaurants stamped upon the dreams and ambitions of the local Khmer.

The streets swarmed with Chinese tourists and the Khmer soldiers protecting their interests. The Khmer, who had lived in Sihanoukville for generations, now worked for their overlords, living only to serve. Those who resisted the incursion ate not even the scraps from their banquet tables.

In the back room of the Lucky Dragon Casino, Shao Fen sat cross-legged on a silk cushion. He curled his toes as he straightened his back. Oolong tea was served by deferential Chinese waiters in a room hung with red silks. Shao bit into a piece of dried beef. The salty taste splashed across his tongue. He made no outward signs of pleasure.

“Mr. Howser,” said Shao in perfect English. “I appreciate your organisation’s help with this matter. Our work with the Central Committee can no longer be kept private. This has caused us grave problems with Prime Minister Hun Sen.”

Hun Sen ruled Cambodia with an iron fist. He had ruled the country for years and had always been a friend to China, until recently. The prime minister appeared determined to support the Cambodian nationalists in their anti-Chinese views. It had come as a great shock to his masters in Beijing.

American Dylan Howser sat awkwardly on another cushion opposite, with only the gongfu tea table separating them. “Thank you, Mr. Fen. But I came here to tell you that we have a problem. A big problem.”

Shao sipped at his tea, maintaining a vacant expression. He hated Westerners. Westerners only wanted to tell people about problems. Such negative people.

“Xiphos Security will continue to support you and your business interests in Cambodia, but the problem is Sen has called in Blackwind to protect him. It’s going to be tough to pull this off.”

“Are they a problem?” asked Shao.

“Sure, they’re a problem. Blackwind is one of our major competitors. If they’re working for the other side, that’s a big problem. Right now, I don’t know whether they’re protecting Sen or whether they’re planning to go on the offensive. The naval base here isn’t ready to start accepting Chinese battleships, is it?”

Shao popped a couple of nuts into his mouth and chewed on them thoughtfully. It was true that the Ream Naval Base near Sihanoukville hadn’t yet carried out the necessary work to accommodate Chinese warships into the region. The base would be vulnerable, but he didn’t believe for a second Sen would risk open conflict with Beijing by acting on its weaknesses.

“Mr. Howser, you worry too much. Our operations in Sihanoukville and the wider region are assured. Your only obligation is to protect the military and ensure the coup moves as planned.”

“But if Blackwind sends their field agents here, it could ruin everything. Plus, we have General Somnang to think about. We thought he was working for Sen, and our intelligence has proven that.”

Shao remained unmoved by the problems Dylan had outlined. He’d spent the last six months working out every possible kink in his plan. Sen would fall. It was only a matter of when.

“Mr. Howser, General Somnang is a Khmer nationalist and extremely loyal to Hun Sen. It is