Interdiction (A James Winchester Thriller Book 3) (James Winchester Series), James Samuel [book recommendations TXT] 📗

contract we signed with the client, Miran Heranda, contains a number of performance bonuses. Highly irregular, of course, but these performance bonuses stipulate a significant cash benefit."

"Performance bonuses? Like what?"

"Time taken, how clean the kill is, and so forth."

Sinclair's head spun. Contracts with specific rules were commonplace, but performance-based bonuses for the men in the field? It was exceedingly rare. Miran Heranda must be desperate to see Kadrić die the right way.

"What is he looking for?"

"Again, this is in the strictest confidence and should not be shared with anyone, including Winchester. In approximately thirty-one days, a number of European diplomats will visit Bosnia. They will begin preliminary discussions for the potential future accession of Bosnia to the European Union. Heranda does not want this process to be disturbed. Kadrić, naturally, is highly likely to consider it a target."

Sinclair scratched the side of his greying ginger hair. Bosnia had always wanted to join the European Union. It would guarantee them protections from future conflicts, including with Serbia and Russia. Crucially, it would guarantee them billions of Euros in development money. Plenty for government officials to skim the cream off the top.

"This is part of the European Union's expansion into the Balkans. It would isolate Serbia and rollback Russia's influence in the region. For men like Kadrić, it would represent a catastrophe. Now you know why we were employed in the first place."

"So, we have thirty-one days to kill Kadrić?"

"Precisely. I estimate your bonus would be about half-a-million in Euros."

Sinclair's voice caught in his throat. "Half-a-million?"

"Not including your usual payment for the assignment, of course."

He could barely speak. Mercenaries were paid extremely well, but that was stupid money. If he wanted, he would likely have enough to retire and never put himself in harm's way again. He could travel the world at his pleasure, rather than at someone else's command.

"It would be an excellent addon before you take up a more convenient in-house position in our intelligence department, I'm sure," said Gallagher.

"Yes... yes... thank you, sir."

"Once again, I expect your strictest confidence regarding this matter. We do not want to risk Winchester becoming more reckless than usual. It could jeopardise the entire project."

"Of course, but what about the girl?"

"With your permission, I can have someone deal with that."

"My permission? Sir?"

"It is down to your judgement. If you believe this Nazifa Aleksi is set to become an obstacle, we can have her quietly taken care of. She would disappear from your lives and you can get on with your work."

"I will not make that decision, sir. I cannot. I leave that to you."

"Very well, Wood. I will speak to you again soon."

Sinclair lowered the phone. His mind was a mess, cluttered and disordered. He thought of the things he could do with his life if everything went well. Would he even continue working for Blackwind, or would he quietly go into a retirement in some tiny village in the English countryside? Gallagher had given him an opportunity he never thought he would get.

All that stood in the way was Sadik Kadrić and thirty-one days.

 

Chapter Twenty-Four

Mostar, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina

James and Sinclair arrived in Mostar two days later. A classic stop on any Balkan backpacking trail, the city acquired its fame from its bridge. During the summer, visitors liked to dive off the top into the fast-flowing River Neretva below. The oppressive gloom hanging over Sarajevo had followed them all the way to Mostar and now enveloped the town.

"It would have been easier to rent a car," said James as they ventured down the street towards the old town. "We are hampering ourselves by using public transport."

"I agree," Sinclair conceded. "But it was Gallagher's order. He wanted us to blend in as tourists. We are trying to avoid anything that makes people raise their eyes. That's also why Kemal is just an ordinary person. A friend, you see?"

"Not really."

"Well, that's how it is. If we really need a car for an operation, we know where to get one."

The main street leading through Mostar stood at the top of a slope leading down towards the river below. James could already hear the rush of the river as they passed a collection of shops selling everything from groceries to trashy tourist trinkets. Higher up the hill, grey, socialist apartment blocks stared out over the small city.

"The restaurant overlooks the bridge itself. We have two hours. I suppose we should get some lunch and wait for them there."

James scrutinized Sinclair's rotund figure. "Cultural reasons, I assume?"

Sinclair rolled his eyes. "Something like that."

James checked his phone. They'd arrived far too early, and he hated waiting around for something to happen. It made him feel vulnerable. Meeting Jakov without Kemal made him jittery. He trusted Kemal, but only up to a point. This could end in any number of ways.

"I want to scope out the area first. I don't like surprises."

“Fine.”

Sinclair appeared to know the layout of the town already as he led James down into the old town of Mostar below them. The hill was steep but gentle, with lots of switchbacks to take the stress from their knees. One and two-storey white-faced buildings with their overhanging terracotta roof tiles stared out over the cypress trees and the minaret of the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque.

"You've been here before, haven't you?" said James as they emerged onto the bank of the Neretva.

"Yes. When I was young, I visited Bosnia and Mostar. Not much has changed, but you can tell a lot of it has been reconstructed. During the war, a lot of things were destroyed. The bridge, for a start. That was blown up in 1993. The layout is practically the same, though."

James scanned the area. The main streets consisted of wider boulevards, but