Saigon

By Jeffery Martin Botzenhart

Saigon was like a dangerous flower. Few men could resist its poisonous beauty.

Cezanne Laurent’s assignment to the French Embassy in Saigon is coming to a dangerous end. With her desire to leave South Vietnam, her intentions to do so have met unexpected obstacles. One man’s obsession with her threatens her ability to leave. Yet a chance meeting with another man stirs feelings of desire for him to further delay her departure.

Hayden Cross’ arrival in Saigon is driven by his need to find his missing brother, Harrison, an American correspondent. As a young blind man, his task could not be more complicated as he can only hear the dangers surrounding him.

Set against a backdrop of political turmoil plaguing the last days of South Vietnam’s emperor, Cezanne faces the growing dangers Saigon offers, leading to murder and possibly kidnapping. As the hours turn desperate, when her moment of escape arrives, Saigon’s deceptive beauty reminds her of how poisonous and unforgiving the city can be.

PUBLISHER NOTE: Historical Romance. M/F. 27,113 words. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luminosity Publishing LLP
• Release date: Aug 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215441275

Jeffery Martin Botzenhart

I was born on November 9, 1967 in Warren, Ohio and grew up in a country trailer park in Southington Ohio with my two brothers and parents.I currently live in Girard, Ohio with my wife and sons. After graduating from Chalker High School in 1986, I went on to attend Kent State University.Originally, I sought to pursue a degree in education, but changed degrees after a few years in school. After working my way through college for eight years, I graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations.Aside from writing, I also draw and paint. My other passion is soccer. I have proudly been a coach of a soccer team for autistic and special needs players.

Book preview

SAIGON

Whispers of Vietnam – Book Two

JEFFERY MARTIN BOTZENHART

Saigon was like a dangerous flower. Few men could resist its poisonous beauty.

Cezanne Laurent’s assignment to the French Embassy in Saigon is coming to a dangerous end. With her desire to leave South Vietnam, her intentions to do so have met unexpected obstacles. One man’s obsession with her threatens her ability to leave. Yet a chance meeting with another man stirs feelings of desire for him to further delay her departure.

Hayden Cross' arrival in Saigon is driven by his need to find his missing brother, Harrison, an American correspondent. As a young blind man, his task could not be more complicated as he can only hear the dangers surrounding him.

Set against a backdrop of political turmoil plaguing the last days of South Vietnam’s emperor, Cezanne faces the growing dangers Saigon offers, leading to murder and possibly kidnapping. As the hours turn desperate, when her moment of escape arrives, Saigon’s deceptive beauty reminds her of how poisonous and unforgiving the city can be.

PUBLISHER NOTE: Historical Romance. M/F. 27,113 words. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

SAIGON

Whispers of Vietnam – Book Two

JEFFERY MARTIN BOTZENHART

LUMINOSITY PUBLISHING LLP

SAIGON

Whispers of Vietnam – Book Two

Copyright © AUGUST 2023 JEFFERY MARTIN BOTZENHART

Cover Art by Poppy Designs

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this literary work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To honor the foreign correspondents who risked their lives to expose the truth in a time when deception posed as great a danger as open warfare.

CHAPTER 1

October 5, 1955

Saigon, South Vietnam

Having arrived on a morning flight from Singapore, Cezanne Laurent looked on in curiosity at something she never thought she would witness in Saigon. The intrigue of watching a handsome European or possibly American young man navigate his way through the airport crowds compelled her to offer her assistance as his blindness was most evident by his cane and dark sunglasses. He appeared in need of a taxi, though he faced the wrong way to achieve stopping one.

"Puis-je vous aider? she asked in her native French language. When the young man failed to react, she again asked, this time in English. May I help you?"

I’m in need of a taxi, the young man responded and smiled. As if his short dark hair and lean muscular frame hadn’t captured her attention, his charming smile enhanced his attractiveness.

Cezanne recalled a conversation she had with her mother years ago of when her mother had fallen in love with her father. Her mother claimed the attraction to him was instant the moment she saw him. Although her parents were the two people she thought of as being the most in love with each other, until now Cezanne believed such a notion of love at first sight would always be elusive to her. Is it possible I have been wrong? she thought as butterflies surged in her stomach.

I am heading into the city, she said to him. We could share a taxi, if you would like?

That would be great, he said. Oh, I should introduce myself. I’m Hayden Cross, he offered his name. He put down his small black suitcase and reached his hand out awkwardly. She touched his hand to let him know where she stood.

Cezanne Laurent, she introduced herself.

Is that a French accent? Hayden wondered.

Yes. I was born in Paris. Come this way, she urged him. After pressing through the crowd, keeping hold of his hand, Cezanne waved down a taxi and a few minutes later they were being driven away from the bustle of the airport terminal. Where are you going?

I guess the American Embassy.

"Dai su quan My," she instructed the driver in Vietnamese.

So you are American? She engaged him in conversation.

Yes. I’m from Latimer, Wyoming. It’s a small town outside of Cheyenne.

So far from home, she commented.

I could say the same about you.

Saigon has been my home for the last three years, she revealed.

What were you doing at the airport, if you don’t mind my asking?

I returned from a trip to Singapore. Why, may I ask, have you traveled here to Saigon?

My older brother has gone missing, Hayden answered. His demeanor turned serious as he continued, I know how crazy this must seem, me being a blind man coming all the way here to South Vietnam to find him. To be honest, I only know of one place to begin looking for him. That’s where I’m going. The American Embassy is the only place I can think of.

What was your brother doing here in Saigon?

He’s a correspondent. He’s been here for almost a year.

Why do you believe he is missing?

An American photographer he was with recently returned to San Francisco. He called my father and told him that my brother, Harrison, was missing. No one had heard from him for more than a month. The last time he was seen was here in Saigon when he was interviewing a government official. That’s what my father was told.

So you have taken it upon yourself to come find him.

My father died of cancer two weeks ago. Harrison is all I have left. I need to know where he is.

And what if he is dead? Cezanne speculated to herself. I regret your loss and hope that you find your brother.

Thank you.

With the traffic slow and the humid temperature near ninety, both were sweating as cars and trucks snarled several blocks away from the American Embassy. Wishing for some relief from the heat, she suggested, The street is tree lined with shade trees. We could walk the rest of the way, if you would like?

But you would lose your taxi.

No fears. I never have a problem waving down a taxi.

You must be really pretty then, he said, grinning shyly. She smiled at his compliment.

Cezanne paid the taxi fare, despite Hayden’s protest. They got out of the taxi and again pressed on through crowds on the sidewalks. She watched in amusement as children crowded around Hayden, who clearly enjoyed the attention. With his white shirt sleeves rolled up, they touched his arms and sweat soaked shirt. Enamored by the muscles revealed through the damp fabric, she entertained the thought of seeing him shirtless, as well as finding out the color of his eyes under his sunglasses. As if he had read her mind, he took them off to wipe his face with the back of his hand. His striking blue eyes again caused butterflies in her stomach to surge.

Part of her was happy that he could not witness the poverty of the children, or the desperation on the faces of many adults passing by. Recent political turmoil between the emperor and prime minister dominated whispered conversations throughout the city. As an assistant to the French ambassador, she was privileged to knowledge only speculated on the streets. The emperor, sympathetic to France, was at risk of losing his throne. Yet she and many others were suspicious of the alternative which could only worsen life in South Vietnam.

Both jumped when the exhaust from a truck passing by echoed like a bomb detonation. Though Cezanne had heard this many times before, she had never grown used to this sound. She could feel Hayden’s hand tremble with his first experience with this.

At the street corner, two Vietnamese prostitutes approached Hayden, touching him and playfully unbuttoning two buttons on his shirt. Both he and Cezanne brushed off their unwanted attention and continued on. Blending into the crowd, the closer they got to the American Embassy, the louder the