The star of the show was propped up in bed in his T-shirt. An IV dripped into his left arm, a cardiac monitor hooked to his right. At his side was a doting nurse, an Asian woman with dark brown wavy hair and infatuation in her eyes, though she was no more than half his age.

"Ah, there's my laddie! Zachary, say hello to Nurse Kosa."

"Kasa. Francesca Kasa."

"Whit's the diff'rence? Me Kasa is su Kasa, eh, son."

"And why do you need a private nurse?"

"Your father had heart problems earlier this afternoon."

"Heart problems?"

"Aye, son. Had trouble breathin'. Felt like an elephant wis squat- tin' on my chest. Barely dodged the Grim Reaper, I did. Imagine Johnny C. wis lookin' doon at me an' smilin'. But I pulled through, so no tears, lad."

"I'll try not to get too emotional. By the way, nurse, what's his EKG say?"

"It's normal now, but we're still doing blood tests. The guard found him slumped over, unconscious."

"Uh-huh. So why isn't he in a hospital?"

Angus winked. "Since it wis jist a mild attack, the judge, bein' the wise man that he is, felt it better I stay here, oot o' sight of the media, though I think Maxie might have accidentally invited them a' in."

"Right. Well, I've got work to do. Try not to die on us while I'm gone."

"Wait, lad. Guard, I need tae talk in private wi' my son. Wid ye mind escortin' everyone oot?" He turned to his nurse, patting her lightly on her derriere. "You too, darlin'. Jist make sure yer back here in an hour for my sponge bath."

She blushed, checked his IV drip, then followed the others out, the guard locking Angus's cell door behind her.

We were alone.

"Son, wid ye mind fetchin' me another pillow?"

"Fetch it yourself. You pulled that old heart attack stunt on mom when I was seven."

He grinned sheepishly. "Did I? Lord knows, it still gets them every time."

"Where'd all this food come from?"

"Local hotels sent it ower. Business is soarin', an' they're grateful, as they should be. Even got yer room comp'ed. Order whatever ye like, rent some dirty movies, it's a' on yer auld man." He took a deep breath, then made a face. "Whit's that foul stench? Smells worse than an anchovy's twat."

"They're specimens, collected from around the Loch. A few dead birds and a squirrel."

"Birds an' squirrels? Christ, lad, why dae they no' jist hang me now an' get it ower wi'." He tore the IV drip from his arm. "Listen, Nature Boy, I need ye oot on the water, no' strollin' the woods like some pixie."

"That's what scientists do, Angus. We look for real clues, not the ones published in the World Weekly News. The animal that bit me is obviously a predator, and it's overcome its fear of man, assuming it ever had one."