A screech of wrenching steel pierced the night as the cleat and part of the transom wall behind the outboard motors began peeling away from the hull's mainframe.

"Christ, it's tearing my vessel apart!" The captain grabbed the radio. "Mayday, Mayday, this is the Wiley! Mayday… "

Clansman Wharf
12:57 A.M.

Having made it to the Nessie III's berth, I hid behind a piling to listen. I could hear voices belowdecks, but they were muffled.

Seeking a better vantage, I climbed over the rail, creeping forward into the pilothouse.

The tiny cabin was crammed with aluminum equipment cases, stacked high along the back wall, partially covered by a gray tarp. Curious, I pulled back the covering, reading one of the invoice tags in the dim light.

UHF Master Radio Link. Property of NIST.

It was equipment for the sonar arrays' master analysis station.

"…David, stop!"

Hearing Brandy's voice, I dropped to my knees and pressed my ear to the deck.

* * *

"What's wrong?" David cooed.

"Slow down a wee bit, I'm no' yer whore!"

"Whore? Brandy, you and me, we're a team, partners on a great adventure. When viewers see me, they'll see you. That's the association I'm going for… unless you aren't up to it? I mean, if that's the case, tell me now, because there must've been a hundred applicants dying to be my partner on this gig, but I picked you."

"Why? So ye could get intae my knickers?"

"Of course not. You and me, we have a chemistry. I know you feel it, too, don't you, babe?"

I clenched my fists, ready to storm her cabin.

"Maybe if ye'd slow down a bit, I'd feel it more, yeah?"

"Okay, I'll slow down, but this is the fast track to stardom. You and me, we're gonna be famous. We'll be Hollywood's next power couple. You, uh, do want that, don't you?"

My veins burned as I heard them moaning and kissing.

And then I heard something else—a mob of people, running down the pier.

It was the captains and crew of the three research vessels, all hurrying to make way. A dozen more civilians were heading for the Nessie III, led by the Highland provost.

I was trapped.

Wedging myself into the far back corner of the pilothouse, I dragged the metal cases around me to form a blind, then draped the gray tarp over the top of the stacks.

"Dr. Caldwell! Dr. Caldwell, are ye aboard?"

I heard David stumble up the stairs. "This really isn't a good time, Owen."

"We jist received a Mayday call from a local cruise ship. They claim they've hooked Nessie!"

From a slit between the stacks I saw Brandy dart inside the pilothouse, her shapely legs exposed clear up to the tail of David's dress shirt, which barely covered her buttocks.