Uncle Paul´s Cain 07 Page

By Paul Cummings

VIP Protection 27/01/00

Brigadier Sir John Wallace, Director of Special Forces for the British Army, sat in his chair behind his big oak desk and read the report again. It still said the same: The Det, the nickname for the 14^th Army Intelligence Unit operating in Northern Ireland, had come across information that a PIRA assassination attempt would be made on Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan during his forthcoming private visit to England. The Japanese Embassy had been informed of the information in the expectation that the visit was cancelled. Instead, the Japanese had responded a week later by confirming the visit and requesting that the SAS were assigned to protect Naruhito. Not even that the Japanese provide guards. In world political terms, the visit was now vital to Anglo-Japanese relations. Japan had placed its future emperor into the hands of the British security forces. Wallace was not happy. He was a pragmatic Scot. He knew that if determined enough and provided with information, a one off hit was not too difficult. Now he had to prevent that at all costs. Briefly he thought it over whilst he finished the last half of his cup of coffee. Finally he picked up the telephone.

"Wendy, get me Colonel Lawrence at Lines"

Lawrence was another Scot, but very different to Wallace. Where as Wallace was brought up in the darker side of Glasgow and had joined the army at sixteen to escape the life there, Lawrence came from an old family. He’d been commissioned into the Scots Guards after Oxford and risen from there. Lawrence didn’t take the news any better than Wallace, although his language was much milder. He certainly didn’t like the fact that Wallace had basically told him who to assign to the job. Logically, it made sense; Cain was a highly decorated combat officer who also had the advantage of being half Japanese and speaking the language fluently, but there was something about Cain that Lawrence never quite trusted. Maybe he was just too young for his position, maybe it was because Wallace obviously knew and respected Cain, and maybe it was even because he’d been to Cambridge. Lawrence dismissed the idea that it was because Cain was not from a traditional officer family.

Thirty minutes later, Lawrence had explained the operation to Cain. Cain asked a number of questions and they discussed it in more detail before they came to the decision that two troops, half of A squadron would be needed. Lawrence was more than a little disappointed when Cain revealed that Air Troop and Boat Troop were both unavailable due to other missions, leaving just Mountain and Mobility.

"Well, MacDonald’s okay I suppose. Pity Toby’s out of the country."

"I’m sure both Bob MacDonald and Brian Perez will do an excellent job, sir." replied Cain.

"Yes, well, I’ll leave the details to you, Ben. Make sure you keep me up to date on this one. Keep in touch with the Det too. They may come up with more information on the threat." Cain took the obvious advice for what it was; Lawrence was frightened by the political risk of the operation and knew his career would depend on Cain neutralising any assassination attempt.

Mobility Troop were out on an exercise in the Brecons, so Cain dispatched Bob MacDonald with half of Mountain Troop immediately. The rest of Mountain Troop immediately began preparing the kit. Being an official protection operation, they prepared standard green kit with both SAS Regiment and Scots Guards Regiment insignia.

More than thirty men can not be put up in a small space. Some adjustments were hurriedly made by the castle’s staff so that Cain had all of his men camped close by, within the castle itself. By the time Cain arrived the next day, things were nearly sorted out. MacDonald had sent out several patrols to scout the grounds. Reports back were detailed and exactly what Cain did not want. If someone, or even a few someones, wanted to approach the castle, they could. The news from inside the castle was not much better. If someone got into the castle, there were many places they could hide up and many passages to move around in. On top of that, the Master of the Royal Household, Sir Malcolm James was not happy.

"Major, I realise that you have a job to do, but I really must insist that your men be more discrete." Cain looked up at the grey haired functionary. He was not amused but, as usual, he kept his features neutral as he dealt with the latest problem.

"Sir Malcolm, let me assure you that the activity we are conducting is not for fun. We are having to gather a lot of information very quickly. By the time that the prince and his imperial guest arrive we will be much more discrete. Alternatively, we could be less visible now, then I may have to cancel the visit entirely."

"You can’t do that!" spluttered James, terrified that the pinnacle of his career in royal service could be taken away from him.

"Actually, I can. The Japanese Embassy will seek an approval from my commanding officer that His Imperial Highness can be protected here. If I supply a written report that we can not do that, do you think that the Japanese will allow their crown prince to come here?" James deflated slightly. He had, of course, not been briefed on the threat to Naruhito, so was concerned at this unwarranted interruption by over thirty members of the Scots Guards being given free reign over his domain. He could also not understand why the soldiers had taken over the west wing of the castle, rather than stay at an army base and be brought in every day by bus, which was the norm for royal visits.

After three days, Cain had all the information he needed. The scouting patrols were cut back to a minimum and a number of covert observation posts set up to monitor likely routes into the castle. James was mollified by this and became much more amenable, except for when he was refused access to the operations room Cain had set up in the west wing. This had led to another long bout of diplomacy on Cain’s part, eventually resolved into an uneasy truce.

A week before the imperial arrival, the defence attaché from the Japanese embassy was due to make a security inspection. Cain ordered the switch from Scots Guards badges back to the Regiment’s winged dagger. It was not often that the Regiment used their own badges, even on Green missions (meaning that they wore normal army kit, rather than Black – the black assault kit normally associated with the Regiment). Nobody at the castle noticed, or if they did, they had sense not to mention the change. Just after lunch the defence attaché arrived with Brigadier Wallace and some people from the Foreign Office. The defence attaché was tall for a Japanese at around five foot nine, he appeared to be in his mid forties but with jet black hair and a upright bearing that spoke of his military service. He acknowledged James greeting with a barely perceptible nod of his head before turning to Wallace.

"Brigadier Wallace, I would like to speak with the man in charge here." James puffed himself, but was beaten to a reply by Wallace.

"Major Cain is the officer in charge of security here." Wallace waved his hand towards Cain, who was standing off to one side. Wallace instantly noticed the sand beret that Cain wore. Again he was pleased that Cain had been the obvious choice for this mission. He had come to know the defence attaché well enough to guess that he would be expecting the winged dagger and would be disappointed if it were not visible. Cain stepped forward and bowed to the defence attaché as an equal. The security officer from the embassy standing next to the defence attaché was offended that an iteki soldier would consider himself the equal of his superior. He was stunned, barely able to maintain his calm face, when the defence attaché replied with a subservient bow.

"Welcome to Scotland" said Cain in Japanese. Ieyasa Tokugawa, the defence attaché, smiled slightly.

"Thank you." As Tokugawa continued speaking to Cain, one of the FO staff stepped up to Wallace and whispered into his ear.

"Tokugawa is thanking the major for providing the security here. He’s also asking how safe things are. The major is replying that he will ensure that Naruhito will be perfectly safe here." Wallace smiled; he could see for himself that Tokugawa appeared to be satisfied by Cain’s reply. The FO man ignored as unimportant the fact that Tokugawa spoke to Cain as if Cain were a superior.

Cain offered to show them around the castle and Tokugawa readily accepted. For the next hour, Cain showed everyone round giving a commentary in English and Japanese, fielding questions in both languages. The FO man that spoke Japanese was impressed; not only with the grasp of both languages Cain had, but the way he changed body language with each language spoke of the true bilingual. He noticed that Cain and Wallace were the only ones that Tokugawa really showed much respect too. Probably due to his military background.

Two days later, the Prince of Wales arrived at the castle. Cain made sure that the Regiment soldiers were kept very much in the background and he himself was noticeably absent, leaving Bob MacDonald to be the main officer face around the prince.

That evening Cain received some bad news: the PIRA threat was more real now; they had hired someone to assassinate the Prince Naruhito. The worst news was the identity of the assassin: Mike Rice. Rice had been a Sergeant in the Regiment, leaving six years before to go freelance. Nine years in the Regiment made him very dangerous, without his speciality as a sniper on the Counter Terrorist team. Cain was not pleased.

Worse news was to follow. On the morning the plane was due, Cain received information from the Det that PIRA had discovered that the SAS were guarding the castle. Cain sat in the ops room with Mick Hill and Steve Johnson, both of who had known Rice.

"Will Rice still try to hit the prince here?" Cain asked. Both men looked at each other before Hill spoke.

"If he can, he’ll avoid here. He must guess that we know he’s on the job, so he’ll try to make the hit when we’re not in control." Cain thought for a moment.

"How good a shot was he?" He knew the answer from the files, but speaking the question allowed his mind to focus on his idea. Johnson confirmed that he was superb, even by Regiment standards. "The airfield, it has to be. Once on his way, he’ll be in an armoured car or in a helicopter. Even we don’t know which."

"That’s right," added Hill, "We only know where he is at the airfield."

"Okay. Mick, please get the area map out. Steve, please ask Brian, Bob and Dai to join us."

Fifteen minutes later, Captain Bob MacDonald and twelve men from Mountain Troop, including the Troop Sergeant, Dai Williams, were on their way to RAF Lossiemouth where the very special flight was due to land. After they were on their way, Cain picked up a phone and dialled a number. He spoke briefly in Japanese into it. After the call, he had another dozen men rounded up, this time from Mobility Troop.

Mick Hill waited until they were underway before he asked where they were going.

"We’re going to RAF Kinloss," answered Cain. Cain saw the look of surprise on Hill’s face, so he elaborated. "Mountain Troop will be very visible at Lossiemouth, but the plane is not going to land there. It will land about twelve miles away at Kinloss. If Rice is at Lossiemouth, he’ll be reassured by the presence of Mountain Troop. That should give us the time to get the plane landed and away from Kinloss. Now I need to call Chief Inspector Graham to set up a couple of road blocks for us to make sure that Rice doesn’t get away quickly to catch us if he works out what is going on." Hill didn’t ask how Cain was able to divert a royal flight, but was confident that Cain could do it. It was a good plan. The biggest risk was Rice shooting his way through a police roadblock, which Cain knew would not be able to stop him, even if armed. That would give Rice’s position away though and maybe even cancel the whole visit, so Rice would probably slip by the roadblock, even if it meant he had to try again at the castle.

Standing in the control tower of RAF Lossiemouth, Tokugawa turned to his assistant, Tsuko Sato.

"You see, that is why I treated the major with respect. That is why His Imperial Highness personally asked for the SAS to provide the security." Inwardly he thought: Did you recognise me Benji-san? Of course you did. Even if it’s been over twenty years.

"I see that Tokugawa-san, but should we not move to the other airfield to greet His Imperial Highness?"

"Do you want to draw the assassin after us? If we stay here, this killer will remain here. What better reassurance could the killer have then having the Japanese security party here? Let us go and speak with the gajin captain again and make sure we are seen."

In a well-concealed observation post just outside the base, Mike Rice lay motionless watching the airfield through his powerful binoculars. He’d noticed the arrival of extra soldiers recently. These were not RAF Regiment. Despite their Scots Guards markings, Rice knew who they were. It was reassuring, although it made his task harder. Luckily there seemed to be too few SAS men to patrol the outer areas. They might spot his hide. The RAF security personnel hadn’t, even though they’d come within twenty metres of him once. Adjusting the binoculars he saw the two Japs again talking to the SAS captain. They obviously had some military background and were probably from the embassy and concerned with security arrangements. Rice checked the time: Under an hour to go. The Accuracy International PM sniper’s rifle, known as the L96 within the SAS, lay beside him. Very slowly he inserted the ten 7.62mm rounds into the magazine. There was no need to worry about straining the springs of the magazine now.

At RAF Kinloss, Cain’s group soon gained entrance and were given an operations room. The station commander was less than impressed that he had been told to provide every assistance to this army major and to expect a VIP flight within the hour. The chain of command had been rapidly skipped over when Naruhito’s personal secretary made the request to switch airfields, whilst the plane was actually in the air. Although a private visit, the Foreign Office Minister had been informed. He had gone to the Foreign Secretary, who had gone to the Prime Minister who directed the Defence Secretary and Home Secretary to provide full support. Privately the Prime Minister would rather have called the whole thing off, but Naruhito had chosen to ignore advice and continue with his visit. Now everything hinged on the SAS being able to stop an ex-member of their select group from assassinating a visiting royal heir of a major western power, who had explicitly put his safety fully in the hands of Britain.

Cain briefed the RAF Regiment contingent responsible for base security then introduced his men to them. The SAS must be able to move about quickly without hindrance. Soon Kinloss was shut tight. Nobody had been allowed off of the base since Cain had arrived, and nobody would until an hour after the VIPs had left. Unlike at Lossiemouth, Cain sent out mixed patrols with one SAS man with every RAF Regiment patrol. Captain Perez went up to the control tower to keep Cain informed of the plane’s ETA, whilst Cain, Hill and the last four SAS men remained ready to shadow the plane as soon as it arrived. In the brief lull, Cain quickly changed into his dress uniform and handed his G36 rifle to Hill and prepared himself. The airfield switch made the official welcome by the Prince of Wales at Lossiemouth impossible; Cain’s plan had caused many ripples within diplomatic arena. This was solved by Naruhito’s private secretary asking to be met solely by the SAS men, who would then take him to the castle safely for the official welcome.

Eventually, Brian Perez reported that the plane was on its final approach. Mick Hill watched through his binoculars the approach of the big Boeing. It touched down gently on the end of the runway and began to brake. Steve Johnson rode the stairs up to the side of the plane. Once in position he turned facing outwards, made a final check then knocked sharply on the fuselage door. The door was cracked and two Special Branch officers appeared at the entrance. They nodded to Johnson, quickly looked around and then descended the steps.

Cain watched the caution of the police officers from the Royal Protection Squad. He was impressed with their calmness and professionalism. At the bottom of the steps, Cain took out his identification card and presented it. The two men checked it then one of them spoke into the throat microphone he was wearing. The prince’s personal bodyguard appeared at the top of the steps, just in front of the heir to the chrysanthemum throne. From the top of the steps Naruhito looked down: Instead of the usual crowded reception party there stood a single officer in full dress uniform. A few paces behind him stood a huge soldier carrying two assault rifles. Naruhito smiled slightly. As fast as his bodyguard allowed him, he descended the steps.

Cain watched as Naruhito descended the steps, when the prince stopped a couple of paces in front of him, Cain bowed low.

"Welcome to Scotland, Your Highness." The prince responded with a bow of his own, a little lower than was strictly necessary.

"Thank you, Benji-san. Masanari-san said that you would be assigned, but it is reassuring to see you here."

Cain quickly escorted the prince to the Regiment Range Rovers. Within minutes, everything was loaded and the three Range Rovers headed out, trailed by a lorry requisitioned from the base and carrying ten of the soldiers who had lost their places in the Range Rovers to their guests. Once they were onto the A940 heading south, Perez called MacDonald to arrange the pull out from Lossiemouth.

Lying in his OP, Rice glanced at his watch. Fifteen minutes late. Briefly he wondered if there had been a change of plan. Slowly and methodically he reviewed the information he had and the information that the SAS would have. They would want to change airfields if they knew who he was. The problem would be how would they manage it? There wouldn’t be time to go through the channels to get the change. That’s what he had relied upon. Carefully, Rice checked the site again through his binoculars. Everything was still as it should be. Except, the SAS men were no longer patrolling. That meant either they were now searching for him, or they were gone. Either way, it was time to get out of there. Back to the original plan of making the hit at the castle.

Quickly Rice gathered up his few pieces of equipment and left the shelter of his hide. There was no point taking the waste and spare food with him, it didn’t matter if it was found now. He crept back through the trees towards the road and his car, which was two miles away. His mind raced with options. Where had the plane landed? It must have been Kinloss. Leuchars was a better location, being far from Lossiemouth, but the runway was not long enough for big jets, being purely a fighter base. If he could get ahead of them he might be able to make the hit on the way, assuming that they had gone by car. Concentrating on his options, Rice nearly stepped out of the woods into a police roadblock. There were two armed police officers wearing kevlar vests manning it. It would have been easy enough for him to shoot them and get away, but he’d been hired to shoot a Jap, not British police officers. Besides, that would have given his position away. He did not know how soon they would be expected to report. Cursing silently, Rice backtracked and skirted around the roadblock. Rice knew he could not get to his car quick enough to make the hit on route now. It would have to be back at the castle, as originally planned, except for the fact that the bloody Regiment were there now, and obviously expecting him. Still, the money he was being paid for this made the risk worthwhile.

At the castle, the procession of Range Rovers arrived. Cain had been in contact with the remaining SAS men at the Castle so that when they arrived, a discrete defensive perimeter was already established. Cain stepped out of the middle Range Rover first, followed by Naruhito’s bodyguard and finally Naruhito himself. Cain stood off to one side as the Prince of Wales walked out to greet his guest. After a brief formal greeting, Charles led Naruhito into the castle.

Cain quickly gathered his men around him. The men just back from Kinloss would begin patrols around the grounds whilst the men who had remained at the castle took up positions around the actual castle. Cain led Perez and the two senior NCOs back to the Operations Room. Whilst they awaited the Mountain Troop team from Lossiemouth, Cain quickly changed back into his DPMs. Thirty minutes later, Cain was back to his full compliment of thirty-five men.

Rice got back into his car, a ten-year-old Ford Escort that he had paid cash for a couple of weeks before. He drove along country roads to the B9103 then headed south-east. If there were further roadblocks, they would be on the A96 or the A941. He crossed the A96 and carried on south east, eventually joining the A96 at Keith. From there he made his way south, joining the A93 at Loch Kinord. Rice drove a few miles west towards the castle then hid the car out of obvious sight. He took up his bergen, tightened the straps, picked up his gun case and strode off into the gathering gloom. He had six miles of very rough country to cross. Although thirty-eight years old, Rice kept his six foot two frame in good shape. He took his time approaching, so that it was near dark by the time he approached the castle. Normal Regiment procedure would have been to try to arrive during daylight, find a concealed observation post and settle down to watch the area. After a day or two, they would have a good picture of the life of the target and then be ready for action. Rice hoped to avoid the Regiment’s preparations with a quick strike this same night.

Cain ate dinner with some of his men in their make shift mess. After dinner, Cain retired to his room. He wasn’t tired, but he needed some time alone to think of what could possibly have been missed. Again Cain read Rice’s file. Despite an intensive search, they had found no evidence of a forward observation post anywhere close to the castle. Why? Rice had been a good Regiment soldier; he should have been watching the castle for some time now. It didn’t make sense. He’d need to build up a detailed profile of the castle to give him the best chance to attack and escape. Unless? Cain reached over to the black canvas bag he had put beside his bed when they arrived and had not touched. Quickly he undressed then dressed again in clothing that had nothing to do with the British army, but was ideally suited to his mission now. He was the ninja on a mission. Nobody saw him leave the castle.

Brian Perez burst into the Ops Room. Mick Hill was there as ever, as reassuring as a castle in any storm.

"Mick, where’s the boss?"

"In his room."

"Come on. We need to talk to him." Quickly they hurried over to Cain’s room. After knocking and receiving no answer, then entered. "Shit. Where is he?"

"Is his dress uniform in the wardrobe?" asked Hill without looking up from the DPMs left neatly on the bottom of Cain’s bed.

"What?" asked Perez, but he checked anyway. "Yes. It’s here."

"Then don’t worry about it. The boss is dealing with the situation."

"But I know why Rice hasn’t set up an OP here. He doesn’t need to. He’s getting his information from here. Someone inside the castle is giving Rice info."

"Fuck." Hill thought for a moment. "Right, you get a couple of lads to stand outside bravo one’s door. I’ve got to speak to bravo two." In any other regiment it would have been unthinkable for a Warrant Officer to issue orders to a Captain, but the SAS had never been strong on protocol and Perez was only a year into his tour where as Hill had been in the Regiment for sixteen years. Perez was not stupid, he acted quickly to carry out Hill’s request, whilst Hill went to find Tokugawa and wondered what he was going to say.

The defence attaché slid out of the main dining room, where the two princes were having a formal dinner. Tokugawa recognised Hill and nodded to him.

"Sergeant Major, what can I do for you?"

"I’d like you to request your prince’s room is changed tonight. But please do it after he has retired." Tokugawa looked up at the giant soldier in front of him. There was definitely intelligence in his granite face.

"I think you’d better explain some more to me." Hill took a couple of minutes to explain Perez’s logic and his idea to protect the prince. Tokugawa was impressed, although he didn’t show it. "And what does the major say about this?" Hill hesitated.

"He’s rearranging the search patrols right now. He asked me to bring this to you." Tokugawa smiled.

"Thank you. It will be done as you suggest." Hill turned to go. "Oh, one more thing," Tokugawa paused to allow Hill to turn back to him. "When you last went to the major’s room, were his uniforms all there?" Hill was shocked. It showed in his face. Hill had shown intelligence and discretion in his approach, so Tokugawa allowed him to regain some face. "I know who, or rather what, he is. Now he is out hunting, I shall sleep sounder tonight. Thank you again." With that Tokugawa turned and re-entered the dinning room.

Outside Rice lay under a hedge and watched the castle. At eight thirty he took out his mobile phone and dialled his messaging service. The information was all there. He worked out the where the room was. He was in luck tonight; he had a good view into the Jap’s bedroom. The ground was wet, so Rice was glad he’d brought his quilted suit and Gore-Tex over-suit. With that he could stay warm and dry for hours.

Not more than four hundred metres away, hidden in the shadows, crouched Cain. He had been looking around for an hour now. Even knowing the room that Naruhito was going to sleep in did not really help. There was still too much ground and too many possible places to hide. From inside his jacket, Cain pulled out a small mobile phone. He dialled a number and dictated his requirements quickly. In the dining room, Tokugawa put his mobile phone away and went over to James to arrange a swap of rooms for his prince.

It was nearly midnight when Rice’s mobile phone vibrated. Rice pressed the button at his throat and spoke quietly into the microphone. After a few seconds he ended the call and smiled. Whoever was leading the SAS contingent was very clever. They had switched the Jap’s room at the last moment. He’d now have to move to a new OP, but he knew the target was in his room now. He took out the M72 he intended to use. The M72 is a single shot throwaway anti-tank rocket, but in the close confines of a bedroom, it should be more than enough to kill a man, even without a direct hit. Carefully he made his way through the grounds towards a new site.

Rice found a secluded site some seven hundred metres or so from the castle. By the time he was in position, most of the castle lights were off, but he was able to work out which window he needed. He extended the M72 out to its ready to fire position and hoisted it into position. Suddenly there was an explosion of light and sound just in front of him. Then his right arm lost feeling, just as he was spun over. A shadow passed over his face, but there was no mistaking the feel of a sharp steel blade pressed up against his throat. Rice stilled himself, conscious that the slightest movement may end his life. He tried to focus on the shadow in front of him, but the effect of the flash-bang had disorientated him and temporarily partially blinded him. Rice felt a drip of blood run from his throat round his neck. The knife was held absolutely still, with just enough pressure to puncture the skin. Rice’s training took over. Calmly he analysed the situation; he realised that the knife must be very sharp for so little pressure to draw blood. Soon his eyes began to focus on the shadow above him.

The shadow withdrew into the outline of a hooded man’s face. Rice could see the man’s lips moving, but he couldn’t hear any sound. Gradually, he was able to focus on the man’s words.

"Good. You can hear me now. You have to choose whether to live or die now. I will ask questions. You will answer truthfully." Rice’s nightsight had come back well enough to see the look in his captor’s eyes. He saw that this man would kill him without hesitation. Was he Regiment? If he was, where were the others? If there were more of them it would be more difficult for them to kill him. Could he stall long enough?

Cain’s hand left shot out and connected with the side of Rice’s body. A violent pain spasm shook Rice’s body at the attack on the nerve point.

"Who hired you?" Rice drew a long shuddering breath as Cain again found a nerve point. Rice weighed up his options. The knife had never left contact with his skin. This man obviously knew what he was doing. He had to give the man something, if only to keep himself alive long enough to escape.

"The IRA." Cain stuck again, this time just behind the ear. The pain was excruciating. "Farrell…Declan Farrell," gasped Rice.

"Well, Mr Rice, you have two minutes to convince me or you die. I want to know everything." Rice began talking. He thought several times about lying or stalling, but each time he received a wave of pain from a new area of his body.

When Cain was satisfied, he grasped Rice’s wrist, pulled and twisted slightly and Rice found himself jumping to his feet to try to get away from the pain. Abruptly Cain let the wrist go and turned to pick up the discarded rocket launcher. Rice saw his chance and lunged forward. Cain slipped to the side, as insubstantial as the wind, but there was nothing insubstantial about the knife hand strike that connected to Rice’s throat. The bigger man crashed to the floor choking, trying desperately to get air through his shattered windpipe. Before he’d even hit the floor, Cain had completed his turn and drawn a small blowpipe. Quickly he inserted a dart and fired it into Rice’s neck. Almost immediately Rice ceased struggling and lay still. Cain dropped to his knees, took a small thin dagger out and drove it into Rice’s throat just below where he’d smashed the windpipe. Quickly he replaced the dagger with the blowpipe, pressed into Rice’s throat. He partially lifted the unconscious man to administer a physical jolt to Rice’s diaphragm. It worked. Almost immediately, there was a rasping sound from the blowpipe and air was drawn into Rice’s lungs.

Cain drew out his mobile phone again and dialled the Ops Room in the castle. As he expected, Mick Hill was there. Cain reported his position to Hill and asked for a casualty evacuation for Rice, who was now stabilised, but needed urgent attention to repair his shattered windpipe. Five minutes later, the nearest two-man patrol arrived. They were both fairly old hands, with over five years service each, so they weren’t phased by Cain’s dress. Cain quickly handed control over to Corporal Jones and left quickly, the full mission not yet finished.

Cain ran swiftly back to the castle. Again he was unseen as he got back in. From his room he spoke to Mick Hill whilst he showered and changed back into his DPMs. By the time he got back into the Ops Room, Mick hand an answer for him, courtesy of Chief Inspector Graham, who had arrived after a call informing him of the arrest. With the information, Graham sent two constables away to make the arrest. Stiff and formal as he was, and quite put out by the army running around his patch, Graham smiled at Cain.

"For a soldier, you make a hell of a policeman. How did you work it all out?" Cain smiled.

"Rice was ex-SAS, so he would have planned this job professionally. We couldn’t find any hint that he’d been anywhere around here, so he had to have inside information to not need to study the location. I asked for the prince to be moved at short notice so that Rice’s informant would have to make a call within a narrow time span. Rice was also forced to move location, so I could find him. The informant was stupid enough to use their mobile phone to call Rice’s. That gave us our man, or in this case woman." They all turned to look at the two constables walked past escorting Jane Dowden, one of the chambermaids, away. "Good luck with sorting this one out. I guess we’ll be back for the trial."

"One more question, major," asked Graham, "why’d you leave him alive? You could have easily shot him. With the rocket launcher out, you wouldn’t have had any problems with it."

"My job was to prevent his imperial highness from being assassinated, not to kill Rice if I didn’t need to."

"Then why smash his windpipe?"

"I hit him a little harder than I really needed to. I guess I was a little angry that he could be so stupid."

"Stupid?" asked the inspector.

"That he thought he could escape me after we’d had a little chat."

"Major, from anyone else, even Sergeant Major Goliath here, I would think that a very arrogant boast, but I have a canny feeling that it’s the truth in your case. Anyway, that can wait for the morning. Goodnight gentlemen." With that Graham left. Cain turned to Hill.

"Right Mick, let’s go and see Tokugawa-san."

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