Isolation (also) is an important element in the modification of species through Natural Selection. All fresh water basins, taken together, make a small area compared with that of the sea or of the land. Consequently, the competition between fresh water productions will have been less severe than elsewhere; new forms will have been more slowly produced, and old forms more slowly exterminated. And it is in fresh water basins that we find seven genera of Ganoid fishes, remnants of a once preponderant order. These anomalous forms may be called living fossils; they have endured to the present day, from having inhabited a confined area, and from having been exposed to less varied, and therefore less severe, competition.

—CHARLES DARWIN, THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES, 1859

I had no doubt that there was something abnormal in the Loch and that it must be the monster or some unusually big living object which was making one of its rare appearances.

—MR. J.W. MCKILLOP , 4 APRIL 1947

Chapter 12

Inverness Castle, Scottish Highlands
Scotland

The high court of justiciary is now back in session, Lord Neil Hannam presiding."

The judge took his place behind his bench, wished his clerks a cheery good morning, then addressed Max. "Mr. Rael, is the defense prepared to make its case?"

"We are, my lord."

"Then you may call your first witness."

"Call to the stand, Mr. Angus William Wallace of Drumnadrochit."

Angus turned, gave me a wave, and was sworn in.

"Mr. Wallace, what is your relationship with the deceased?" He was a friend and one-time business associate."

"Describe your business dealings with Mr. Cialino for the High Court."

"Cialino Ventures wis interested in constructin' a five-star resort, hotel, an' holiday apartments on a parcel o' land my ancestors owned overlookin' Loch Ness. I selt him the land, which wis tae be paid in installments. He owed me for the last payment, but he'd been puttin' me off for weeks. So I went ower tae his site an' we went for a wee walk tae chat."

"And?"

"An' the lyin' bastard telt me he wis short o' cash, which wis crap, bein' that he'd jist bought his mistress a fancy new diamond necklace no' two days earlier."

I glanced at Theresa Cialino, who seemed unfazed about the mistress comment.

"Johnny didnae ken it, but I saw his tart wearin' it when they left the jewelers together. Quite a piece of ice for that piece o' ass. Ye willnae catch me payin' for—"

"Objection!" The prosecutor was standing. "My lord, the victim's personal life is not on trial here."

"Sustained," said the judge, his dour expression intended as a warning to Max.

Max signaled for Angus to ease up. "What happened after Mr. Cialino told you he was short of cash?"

"He claimed he'd pay me after the resort did some business, an' if I didnae like it, it wis too bad, that wis the price o' doin' business wi' the Cialinos. So I hit him."

"You struck Mr. Cialino?"