The Manila Deception
THE MANILA DECEPTION
A JAMES ACTON THRILLER
J. ROBERT KENNEDY
About the James Acton Thrillers
"James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"
Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without reading the other installments.
What readers are saying about the James Acton Thrillers Series:
“A great blend of history and current headlines.”
“You stop breathing from the first page.”
“If you like Indiana Jones then you will love these stories.”
“The Acton series is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable series I have read.”
“Non-stop action that is impossible to put down.”
GET 5 FREE eBOOKS!
Award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has sold over one million books, and is now giving some away for free! Join The Insider’s Club to be notified when new books are released, and as a thank you, get his 5 book Starter Library for free along with other bonus materials available nowhere else!
Find out more at www.jrobertkennedy.com.
Follow Robert on Facebook, BookBub, GoodReads and Twitter.
BOOKS BY J. ROBERT KENNEDY
* Also available in audio
The Templar Detective Thrillers
The Templar Detective
The Templar Detective and the Parisian Adulteress
The Templar Detective and the Sergeant's Secret
The Templar Detective and the Unholy Exorcist
The Templar Detective and the Code Breaker
The James Acton Thrillers
The Protocol *
Brass Monkey
Broken Dove
The Templar’s Relic
Flags of Sin
The Arab Fall
The Circle of Eight
The Venice Code
Pompeii’s Ghosts
Amazon Burning
The Riddle
Blood Relics
Sins of the Titanic
Saint Peter’s Soldiers
The Thirteenth Legion
Raging Sun
Wages of Sin
Wrath of the Gods
The Templar’s Revenge
The Nazi’s Engineer
Atlantis Lost
The Cylon Curse
The Viking Deception
Keepers of the Lost Ark
The Tomb of Genghis Khan
The Manila Deception
The Fourth Bible
The Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers
Rogue Operator
Containment Failure
Cold Warriors
Death to America
Black Widow
The Agenda
Retribution
State Sanctioned
Extraordinary Rendition
The Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers
Payback
Infidels
The Lazarus Moment
Kill Chain
Forgotten
The Detective Shakespeare Mysteries
Depraved Difference
Tick Tock
The Redeemer
The Kriminalinspektor Wolfgang Vogel Mysteries
The Colonel’s Wife
Zander Varga, Vampire Detective Series
The Turned
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
The Novel
Preface
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Acknowledgments
Sample of Next Book
Don't Miss Out!
Thank You!
About the Author
Also by the Author
For the over half-million civilians and military personnel who died in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
“People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples. We have come dedicated and committed to the task of destroying every vestige of enemy control over your daily lives, and of restoring upon a foundation of indestructible strength, the liberties of your people.”
General Douglas MacArthur upon landing in Leyte, The Philippines October 20th, 1944
“I pray for the Emperor’s long life and prosperity forever.”
The last words of Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita February 23, 1946
PREFACE
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army systematically looted the conquered territories in Southeast Asia. This included government and bank holdings, museums and galleries, as well as private holdings. The scale of the theft was massive, totaling by some estimates in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
This substantial hoard was consolidated in Singapore, with plans to move it back to Japan to finance the war effort. When the war turned against the Japanese, plans changed, and the stolen valuables were believed to have been transferred to the Philippines where one of the men largely responsible for their looting had been transferred to stop MacArthur.
General Tomoyuki Yamashita.
There is no disputing the hoard exists, as the looting is documented. There is also no disputing that the vast majority was never returned after the war, meaning it is either still out there, or has been found and that fact hidden.
There is one claim that the treasure had been f
ound in the Philippines by a man named Rogelio Roxas, then stolen by President Ferdinand Marcos. This led to a court case filed in Hawaii that led to, at the time, the largest judgment in history, amounting to $40.5 billion with interest. The Appeals Court summarized the original judgment with these words:
“The Yamashita Treasure was found by Roxas and stolen from Roxas by Marcos’ men.”
Yet even that alleged discovery couldn’t account for all that was stolen.
Leaving an unanswered question.
Where is the rest of Yamashita’s Gold?
1 |
Mindanao, The Philippines Present Day
“Everybody down!”
Archaeology Professor James Acton extended his arms and herded everyone toward the rockface, the large stones from an earlier collapse providing some cover. He was desperate for a weapon, yet if any of them were armed, they would likely be killed.
Their only hope of survival was to stay out of the line of fire.
Shouts erupted from their private security, their Tagalog a language he didn’t understand, yet they sounded professional and calm.
Something he certainly didn’t feel, his heart slamming, his ears pounding. He draped himself over his wife Laura, Tommy doing the same with his girlfriend Mai, and a surge of pride in the young man rushed through him.
He too was willing to take a bullet for the woman he loved.
Gunfire erupted from the jungle and he spun his head to see what was going on. The three members that remained of their security detail returned fire as they took cover, though judging from the muzzle flashes from the thick trees and the night sky, they were vastly outnumbered.
Somebody cried out and one of the defensive positions fell dark. Mai was sobbing now, Tommy was shaking, and the man that had brought them here, the man that had assured them they’d be safe, was curled up in a ball on the ground, muttering to himself.
And their chief of security was headed away from their camp and to safety.
Another cry, then only one gun remained, and it fell silent moments later. The steady fire from the jungle stopped and the sound of their attackers advancing echoed through the now silent jungle, even the creatures that filled it quiet.
“Everybody just stay calm. No threatening moves. You know what they said. We’ll be taken hostage if we just remain calm.”
Acton stood, raising his hands, then turned to face their new captors.
“We surrender.”
2 |
14th Area Army—Shobu Group Headquarters Baguio, The Philippines October 25, 1944
“Well?”
Sweat trickled down Captain Takuma Kijima’s back, even more than usual, the heat and humidity today oppressive to say the least. Normally temperate at this time of year, Baguio City was experiencing a heatwave, and they were all paying for it. He had grown up near the foothills of Mount Fuji, the son of a distinguished local official, allowing him the luxury of a university education. And that had meant a commission when the war broke out.
Though none of that had prepared him for the heat of the Philippines.
And now his commanding officer, the man he served as his aide, was expecting good news.
And he had none to give.
“I’m afraid we lost them all.”
General Tomoyuki Yamashita paled slightly, his mouth agape at the unexpected news. “All?”
“Yes, sir. An American submarine intercepted the convoy and all the cargo ships were sunk.”
General Yamashita’s shoulders sagged as he dropped into his chair, gripping the arms. “How much did we lose overall?”
“Almost twenty percent.”
Yamashita shook his head. “We can’t risk the rest. We need it to finance the counterattack.”
“Will there be a counterattack?” Kijima immediately regretted the question as Yamashita bristled, his knuckles turning white as his fingernails dug into the arms of his chair.
“You doubt the Imperial Army’s ability to defeat the Americans?”
Kijima snapped to attention, his shoulders thrust back, his chin high. “Never, General!”
Yamashita sighed. “Then you are alone in this room.”
Kijima’s eyes widened, though he remained at attention.
And silent.
Yamashita gestured toward the door. “Close the door then sit. We must come up with a plan.”
Kijima closed the door, but remained standing, instead walking over to a large map of the Philippines tacked to the wall, the latest troop positions indicated, including the Americans who had just landed in Leyte, led by that devil MacArthur.
They were losing the war, though no one wanted to publicly admit it lest they be executed. Yet the general himself had just suggested he too had his doubts.
It was shocking.
Yamashita had defeated the British in Malay and Singapore in only 70 days, earning the nickname The Tiger of Malaya. During his tenure there, he and others had organized the systematic looting of the newly conquered territories of Southeast Asia, amassing an incredible fortune and collecting it in Singapore for transport back to the homeland.
Yet everything had changed when supremacy on the seas had been lost to the Americans. When Yamashita had been reassigned to the Philippines to halt the American advance, a series of daring missions were undertaken to sail the treasure to his new command, with the intention of leapfrogging it back home through Taiwan or China.
It was a plan that had run out of time.
The Americans commanded the sea and the air, and the test run they had just attempted had failed miserably, an American submarine taking out the ships with ease.
There was no way they were getting the gold off these islands.
And there was no way they could leave it for the Americans to find once the Imperial Army was inevitably defeated. The vast amount of gold and riches would finance the American war effort, and could lead to the ultimate defeat of Japan itself.
He shuddered at the thought.
“What are you thinking?”
Kijima turned to his commander. “We must hide it.”
The general joined him in front of the map. “Agreed. But where?”
Kijima pointed to the port in the south where the gold was currently held. “The confiscated items are here, in Cotabato, on Mindanao. Two ships are still loaded, ready for the next run should the first have proven successful. Rather than unload them, I suggest we move them here.” He pointed at the nearest port to their current location, San Fernando. “That way, in the highly unlikely event we do retreat, we can take it with us, and the gods willing, we will succeed in at least bringing a portion home with us.”
Yamashita frowned. “And the rest?”
“The bulk is still offloaded, stored in a warehouse.” He pointed at the map, deep in the interior of Mindanao. “There are a lot of caves in the mountains. I saw them when I was first assigned here.”
Yamashita leaned closer to the map. “It seems remote. Difficult terrain to transport that much property.”
“Yes, but that’s the advantage of it.” He moved his finger slightly. “There is a small village here, perhaps a couple of hundred people. Other than that, there’s nobody in the area to see our ultimate destination. Anyone else along the route would simply assume we’re another convoy, moving troops or supplies. No one would ever know we were storing the gold in the caves.”
Yamashita tapped the map. “Except the villagers.”
“We could…eliminate them.”
The general regarded him for a moment. “You are an unforgiving soul, Captain.”
Kijima bowed crisply. “I serve the Emperor.”
“And you do it without question.” Yamashita shook his head. “No, a massacre leaves too many questions unanswered, including the all-important one.”
“Which is?”
“Why.”
Kijima sighed. “You are correct, of course, sir. What would you recommend?”
“A massacred village will force people t
o ask why we killed them? What were we trying to hide? An empty village forces people to ask where did they go? Why did they go? It forces people to look elsewhere, as opposed to where they already are.”
“Forgive me, General, but I don’t understand.”
Yamashita pressed his finger on the map, the knuckle turning white. “You put them here.”
Kijima’s eyes narrowed for a moment then flared, his mouth agape as he finally understood. “I will execute your orders personally.”
3 |
The Lotus Yakuza Owned Establishment Tokyo, Japan Present Day, Three days before the surrender
Takashi trembled with fear. There was no other way to describe it, for he was more terrified at this very moment than he had ever been. When he had initially borrowed the money—something he now would freely admit was the stupidest decision of his life—he had been scared. The implications of borrowing money from the Yakuza, what Westerners might describe as the Japanese mafia, were severe. Not paying them back was an option one didn’t dare contemplate, and at the time, he hadn’t.
For he had been certain he would succeed, and pay the loan off with time to spare, despite the onerous interest.
“You’re late again.”
Takashi nodded, feeling faint, his skin clammy and cold as he battled his bladder’s desire to free itself of its contents. “Y-yes, I know, and I’m sorry, but—”
“But what? You made a commitment, and you’ve failed to live up to it. ‘But’ suggests you have an excuse. I’m not interested in excuses. I want my money.”
“But—”
“Again with the buts.” Akira, the eldest son of the Yakuza oyabun for the district, shook his head, looking around the room at his entourage, all standing around the walls, all packing. “I’m a nice guy, right?”