They started up the hill together, then broke into a footrace, Brandy taking the lead, giggling as True tackled her from behind. The sight of them wrestling in the grass brought a smile to my face, and I tried to recall the last time I'd actually laughed out loud.

For the life of me, I couldn't remember.

When I looked up. Brandy was standing over me, hands on hips like some Greek goddess. She motioned to my walking boot. "Looks like ye stuck yer foot in yer mouth one too many times."

"And it looks like you've got every camera in the Highlands focused on your ass."

"No' yet, but be sure I'm workin' on it. So Mr. Zachary Wallace, what is it then? Be brief, us lowlife whores need our rest."

"Look, I… I'm sorry if I insinuated anything."

"An' whit did ye insinuate?" demanded True, joining Brandy. "I hope for your sake ye didnae call my wee sister a whore?"

"No, I—"

"He claimed I was sleepin' wi' David Caldwell just so he'd rent my boat."

"An' are ye?"

"'Course not. I'm shaggin' David 'cause he's cute an' macho an' he's got a nice package."

"Well, that's a whole lot different then." Satisfied, True lay down in the grass, covering his head with a big, hairy forearm.

My blood pressure soared.

"So, Zachary Wallace, what was it ye wanted then?"

"Your sonar array… it won't find the monster."

"An' how dae ye know that?"

"There's a basic flaw in 'Mr. Big Package's' strategy. It's the same reason none of the other sonar expeditions ever found a thing. But I'll tell you what will work… in exchange for your sharing with me the array's password and security codes."

"Ye've got tae be jokin', Zack? Ye want me tae help ye hack into our sonar's central control station?"

"You have my word I won't touch the programming. My intentions are only to access certain information concerning the fish population and the Loch's geology. As soon as I'm finished, you can change the security codes."

"Forget it. If David ever found out, he'd fire me for sure."

"Come on, Brandy," said True. "Caldwell'll never ken anythin' aboot it. Ye've got his balls in the palm o' yer hand."

The image set my teeth to grinding. "Forget it then," I growled. "I wouldn't want you to compromise your position."

"Good."

"Good!"

"Was that it then, Mr. Wallace, 'cause I'm quite busy these days."

The right side of my brain urged me to say something, to tell her to leave David, to confess that I loved her, but instead I was only able to muster, "I guess that's it then."

Hydrophobia was not the only fear I'd yet to overcome.