I stared out my window, a lump in my throat, as we flew over the snow-covered peaks of the Grampian Mountains. Through wisps of clouds I could see evergreen patches of pine and the dark waters of Loch Ness, an ominous highway of water running northeast through the Great Glen before narrowing at Tor Point into the River Ness.

Ten minutes later, we landed at Inverness Airport.

Located at the mouth of the Ness river (Inver meaning "mouth of," thus the name) the capital of the Highlands is a city of sixty-five thousand, its architecture steeped in Scottish tradition, its land filled with history. Inverness began as an ancient fortress on Craig Phadrig, a hill fort with huge ramparts, which served as the capital of the Pictish Kingdom as far back as A.D. 400. It was here that St. Columba embarked on his quest to convert the Picts to Christianity… and, in so doing, discovered a water creature that would be turned into a legend.

I walked through the terminal, dead on my feet, not having slept for the last twenty-eight hours. Max led us to the baggage carousel, and twenty minutes later we were in his car, motoring south along Old Military Road, the sounds of The Cure's synthesizers and guitar blaring from the radio speakers.

"Max, I need to get some sleep. Just drop me off at my hotel, I'll see Angus later."

"Sorry, but Angus was quite insistent on seeing you now."

"It's been seventeen years since I've seen him, he can wait another twelve hours."

"Actually, he can't. We go to trial tomorrow" He handed me a copy of the Inverness Courier. The article covered most of Thursday's front page.

INVERNESS PROSECUTORS SEEK DEATH PENALTY IN CIALINO MURDER CASE

Lord Neil Hannam and the High Court of Justiciary have agreed to consider the death penalty in the murder trial of Angus Wallace of Drumnadrochit. Wallace is accused of killing John Cialino, Jr., CEO of Cialino Ventures, one of Great Britain's wealthiest and most influential businessmen. Witnesses report seeing Cialino fall into Loch Ness after being stricken by Wallace on the banks of Urquhart Castle. Police are still dredging Loch Ness, searching for the victim's remains. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Friday.

"First calling was months ago," Max explained. "Judge decided to keep the old man locked up, afraid he'd skip bail. We entered a plea of not guilty back in March, been waiting ever since."

We passed Castle Stuart, heading for the A96, my pulse quickening as I took in the deep blue waters of the Moray Firth. Beaches and cliff tops lined its shoreline; dolphins, porpoises, and killer whales inhabited its North Sea waters.