"When he drank, he became a bully. I know you can't relate to these things, but—"

"I can relate. More than you know. It still doesn't make things right."

"Zachary, I only slept with your father the one time. Back when John and I had briefly separated. I know what we did was wrong, but—"

"I'm not here to judge you."

"I love your father. His friendship… it got me through a difficult time."

"Great. Look, Angus said you had a boat you could lend me."

"Your father didn't kill Johnny. What happened out there was an accident."

"Tell it to the judge."

"Zachary, Angus is your father, and he loves you."

"Our definition of love probably differs. Angus tosses around the word to use people."

"You're wrong. Yes, he needed you in court, but there were other motives. He's been worried about you."

"He'd better worry about himself. Now can I borrow the boat or not?"

She shook her head, exasperated. "It's the Brooklyn-224, you'll find it docked at the Clansman Wharf. Keys are in the master suite, under the pillow. Take it, take whatever the hell you need, I don't care anymore."

It was the first thing she said we agreed on.

Inverness Castle

I was late getting back. Having missed Max's closing remarks, I managed to slip inside the courthouse, finding my seat next to Brandy just as Mitchell Obrecht was concluding his final speech to the jury.

"Remember, ladies and gentlemen, it is not the Loch Ness monster that is on trial here, but the man who used the monster as an excuse to commit premeditated murder… murder in the first degree. What is happening in Loch Ness today has no bearing on the heinous events that took place on February 15. More than a dozen eyewitnesses testified that Angus Wallace struck John Cialino, Jr. on the bluff overlooking Loch Ness. The defendant's own son testified that Angus Wallace was lying when he said a school of salmon lured a water creature to the surface.

"Facts, ladies and gentlemen, not folklore. There was no monster attacking John Cialino on February 15, there was only Angus Wallace and his lust for Theresa Cialino. Premeditated murder… murder in the first degree. Your verdict will do more than send this monster away, it will send a message throughout Great Britain and the world that Scotland will not accept such unscrupulous behavior in our society, that we are a nation of law, not an unwitting sideshow. Now is the time of reckoning. Now justice must be served."

The judge gave his final thanks and instructions to the jury, then they were led out of the courtroom.

I turned to Brandy. "I need to speak with my father."

"Go on. I'll meet ye back at the hotel.

* * *

By the time the guards let me pass, Angus had changed back into his prison uniform and was back in his cell.

"Ye missed yer brother's speech. It wis quite movin'."

"I met with Theresa."