Failed State (A James Winchester Thriller Book 1) (James Winchester Series) by James Samuel

Author:James Samuel [Samuel, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wanderer Publishing
Published: 2021-03-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico

Blake liked to patronize the fanciest restaurants in any town he visited. Today, Blake had forced Sinclair to sit at a restaurant in the middle of Plaza Teatro Juarez. Mariachi bands played notes of love as visitors clapped along. Waiters dressed in pristine white shirts and bow ties rushed between tables to change the ashtrays, deliver the food, and take the requests of their customers at a speed which baffled the locals.

“Isn’t it ten times the price of a normal restaurant here?” asked Sinclair. “These are tourist restaurants.”

Blake stared at him through his aviator sunglasses. They’d just polished off the remains of their meals and had leaned back in their chairs to enjoy post-meal cognacs, their elbows propped up on the arms of their chairs. A waiter delivered yet another round of drinks to their table.

“Where is Winchester now?” asked Blake.

“He’s in Pátzcuaro. Holding Vargas’ mother hostage to draw him into the open. Expect him to respond quickly.”

“Good.” Blake took a drag of his cigarette. “Very good. If he can take Vargas alive he should give him the location of Jessi Montoya.”

“And remove one of Quezada’s most ruthless lieutenants.”

“Precisely, it will be a big blow to the cartel.”

Sinclair took a sip of his cognac. It went down smooth, warming his throat just enough to smack his lips. “And if he doesn’t take him alive – which is a strong possibility – should I lead him to Lake Yuriria? Time is running out. We don’t know how far along Quezada is. She might be ready to break already.”

Blake rolled his eyes at that. “Do you really think we would allow that union to take place? We will simply have her or him assassinated at the ceremony should it come to that. Quezada will never succeed.”

“Then why all this? Just kill her now and save all the trouble.”

“No,” Blake hissed. “The plan must proceed as directed. That means Winchester must follow the path chosen for him.”

“But why?”

“The cartels will rip each other apart.” Blake tapped the side of his nose. “Winchester must do it this way because that’s what the client wants. You know I can’t say anything more than that. This is what must be done, even if it puts Winchester’s life at greater risk.”

Sinclair sighed. He felt like James had become something of a sacrificial lamb in all this. Whomever the client was wanted total war among the cartels. He couldn’t allow Quezada’s plan to succeed through either absorbing La Familia or destroying them. Gallagher was using James like a tool, forcing him to do things he never wanted to do. How many thousands would die over this episode?

“And if Vargas doesn’t say anything about Jessi?” asked Sinclair.

“Then what?”

“Can I lead him to Yuriria?”

“No, then he should target Parejo. Those are Quezada’s two top lieutenants. Part of me hopes Vargas says nothing just so we send Winchester after Parejo as well. Those two are the eyes and ears of Quezada. Without them, he will have to take greater risks.

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