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

is smart. Very smart, but a coward. I tell you that many times, my friend. Maybe it’s true, but it’s no good for me. I fight wars man to man.”

James had mulled over Ratko’s message. Sinclair had eventually called him to ask some questions, but the phone kept going to voicemail. It didn’t matter much now. That was the only information they had to go on, and it still didn’t give him an opening to slay Plemenac.

“After this, I want you to ask him about it. He made it quite clear he didn’t want to talk to me the last time we met. Could you do that for me, Kemal?”

“Of course, my friend. Anything, eh?”

Potholes littered the road. Every thirty seconds the car would rumble into a hole hidden by rainwater and throw them into the air. Kemal swore each time he smacked his head on the roof. Red marks had already started to colour the crown of his skull.

James switched off the pistol’s safety. They arrived at a long hill. A couple of stray dogs started to bark at the car. He didn't pay them any mind. If Addy planned an ambush, it would come in the next couple of minutes.

"You armed?" asked James.

"Yes. Addy is a coward. He wouldn't attack us."

"He might be a coward, but he's not a friend. I wouldn't put your trust in that man."

Kemal’s face fell; James had wounded him. "I don't, I don't. He is a bad man, but he would never betray us. Never."

He rolled his eyes as they came to the end of the road. Ahead of him, he saw the figure of a man lying on the freezing ground. He looked up at the approaching car and raised a desperate hand.  James couldn't quite believe his eyes. It was Addy.

Kemal brought the car to a halt. James didn't even glance at Addy as he carefully exited the car and scanned the trees and the beginnings of the luge track for any movements. All was quiet. The trees overlooked a desolate area with nothing more than crumbling concrete and overgrown foliage.

Kemal joined him and when he saw Addy up close, he let off a long cackle.

James glanced back at Addy. The man was as naked as the day he was born. Whomever he'd encountered had left him his phone and nothing more, then tied his ankles to a rusted metal loop protruding from a lump of concrete. He couldn't help but snicker.

Addy gave them a pitiful glance. "Help me, my friends. Help me."

James and Kemal couldn't contain their laughter. In the sub-zero temperatures, Addy couldn't have been here long. He shivered, but he had no tell-tale signs of frostbite. James took out his pocketknife and cut the ropes free.

"Thank you, my friend. Thank you, my friend." Addy almost cried his profuse gratitude. He flexed his legs but remained on the ground. “Plemenac, that son of a whore, put me here. I called him, like you said. I asked questions, and he made me meet him here last night. Then he…”

"Left you here like this," said James, ignoring the peals of laughter coming from Kemal.

Addy pouted. "That is for you. Look over there."

James followed Addy’s finger. Next to the concrete stone, a white envelope held down by a chunk of stone threatened to blow away in the wind. He hoped the money he’d spent on Addy hadn’t gone completely to waste.

"Find me some clothes,” Addy called. “You owe me for this. I want more money. This was not supposed to happen."

James ignored him and picked up the envelope. He pulled it open. The piece of paper read:

Winchester,

 

I warned you. Take my advice and return home. Whatever you do now will not bring a halt to my plans. This is just a taste of what will happen if you continue to defy me.

 

Before you return home, I recommend you pay a visit to Ratko Avdić.

The letter had no signature, but James didn't need Sinclair to reveal the sender. It was a warning, a final warning for him to turn back. James ran his tongue around his mouth. He wouldn't be deterred by Plemenac's warnings. If anything, he saw it as a challenge, and he wouldn't turn down a professional challenge like this. But why would Plemenac want him to visit Ratko?

"Kemal, look at this." James showed him the letter. "What do you think?"

"My son?" Kemal screwed his face up. "Why?"

"I suspect he's enjoying this. Maybe he gave Ratko some information to lead us on."

"Do we go?"

"You go," said James. "If there was anything useful, you can call and tell me. I'm still trying to find a way to get to Plemenac. I know he’s trying to delay me. Also, have you heard anything from Nazifa?"

Kemal shrugged. "Nothing. She is fine. Don't worry. She likes you."

James gritted his teeth. "Maybe."

"No maybe." He patted him on the shoulder. "I see it in her eyes. She likes you. You work with her and you get what you want," he let out a little chuckle. "She is good, eh?"

James cleared his throat and motioned to the car, eager to change the subject. "Let's go. We don't want to waste any time. The more breathing space we give him the more he's in control of the situation."

"Hey, what about me?" Addy hugged himself as he shivered.

Everyone averted their gazes from the below-average manhood flopping around, like the remains from a butcher's chopping board.

"You walk. Is not so far," said Kemal.

"What?"

"No naked men in my car. Is not possible, eh?"

James and Kemal got back into the car trying not to erupt into debilitating belly laughs. As they watched the naked man paw at the car and then fade into the distance, the city came into view again.