David pointed to the Nessie III and the Nothosaur, both vessels now positioned inside the perimeter of the arcing pontoon bridge. "The first phase of our plan was to ready the pen while using our active sonar to keep Nessie within her lair. Lives saved, mission accomplished. Now it's time for phase two, actually capturing the monster. Now that she's good and hungry, we'll set our trap. Once it gets dark, we'll be lowering one more buoy into the water—only this one will be located in the middle of Urquhart Bay, well inside the pen. Attached to it will be loads of juicy bait. Once the monster enters, the crew of the Nothosaur will net the creature while our construction team lowers the remaining fence into position, sealing off the pen."

I stood near the back of the grandstand and listened as dozens of reporters yelled out their questions over one another, David focusing on the few he hoped he could answer.

"Dr. Caldwell, assuming you do capture the monster, what's going to prevent it from simply escaping by land?"

"Eventually we'll be adding perimeter fencing. For now, we're in the process of lining the shoreline with underwater speakers. I've discovered Nessie avoids loud sounds. Once the monster's captured, we'll turn up the volume along the shoreline's speakers and that'll be that."

"Won't that aggravate the creature?"

"Nah. We'll play Mozart or something mellow, like "Auld Lang Syne.'"

The crowd laughed, David basking in their adoration.

"Dr. Caldwell, once she's inside, how long will it take to seal off the pen?"

"According to the crane operator and his team, they'll be able to complete the job in less than fifteen minutes."

"What happens after you capture her?"

"First we'll make sure her pen's good and tight, then we'll use remotely operated submersibles to get a good look at her. Once she gets used to her new habitat, we'll open it up to the public."

"Don't you mean the paying public?"

"Hey, you pay to get into the zoo, don't you? That's what this'll be, only like no other zoo in the world."

There were a hundred questions I wanted to shout, but what was the point? Besides, I had no stomach for it; the revelation of my father's crime eating me up inside.

Mentally, I felt fried, and if I hadn't sent True on an errand to his oil rig in the North Sea, I'd have probably been on the next flight back to Miami.

But before I could leave with a clear conscience, there was one last thing I had to do.