"You say if it wis an animal. What else might it be?"

"I don't know." I covered my nose, looking around. "It's possible this entire gruesome scene could've simply been staged to make it look like an animal attack."

"Aye, we considered that. Perhaps, say, an ally of yer father's?"

Suddenly I felt relieved at having spent the night locked up in a cell.

The police officer who drove me to Invermoriston approached. "Sir, two film crews jist showed up. We're keepin' them back by the road, but it willnae be long before they work their way 'round on foot tae see intae the lay-by. The judge specifically said he disnae want the media knowin' Dr. Wallace wis here."

"Sorry, Doctor, that means your time's up."

"Officer, you brought me here, at least give me a few minutes to walk around the area and search for clues. If this was an animal, maybe it left behind some tracks."

"We've a'ready checked, didnae find a thing."

"How would you know what you're looking for?"

"I think we'd recognize an animal track if we saw one. Besides, nothin' as big as ye described inhabits these glens. Personally, Dr. Wallace, I think we've got us a madman on the loose."

I had just pointed out Urquhart Castle to the children when one of them asked, "Is that a rock out there?" Glancing across the water, I saw something a third of the way out and knew it was no rock. Unable to see it clearly, we hurried down to the water's edge, but by that time, it had gone. Still, it had left a terrific wash which hit the shoreline with such violence it caused one of the children to run back in horror.

—LADY MAUD BAILLE, C.B.E. COMMANDER OF THE A.T.S., 19 APRIL 1950

It was midday and I was driving north on the A82 out of Fort Augustus. As I passed Cherry Island, I saw a great disturbance in the water, maybe 150 meters from shore. About two meters of a black object appeared along the surface, disappeared, then reappeared about 100 meters closer to shore. The speed of the movement was incredible.

—COL. PATRICK GRANT, 13 NOVEMBER 1951

Chapter 16

Inverness, Scottish Highlands

I was back in the Mercedes, heading north on the A82, the chief constable's words echoing in my brain. Personally, Dr. Wallace, I think we've got a madman on the loose. A madman with a sword? Or a murderer with an accomplice, blaming his escapades on a fictitious dragon?

The thought made me ill.

Instead of being returned to Inverness Castle, I was taken to Town House for an emergency session of the Highland Council. By the time we arrived, rumors of a "new Nessie attack" were already circulating across the British airwaves.