I felt exhausted. "A taste for flesh? Hypothetically, yes I suppose, but only if, (a) this creature or creatures of yours was a predator and not a vegetarian, and, (b) only if the species' diet had been substantially altered by some unusual break in the food chain, both of which, might I add, are highly implausible."

"And why is that?"

"Because Loch Ness has an abundance of prey. There'd have to be an unnatural ecological disaster to create such obtuse behavior. As to my unpublished theory about dynamite agitating a large predator, while the majority of sightings have occurred since the A82 went up, there have never been any documented reports of an attack on humans."

Max strolled around the witness box, preparing his next attack on my mental armor. "A personal question, Doctor, if you don't mind. If hard evidence justified your father's claims, would you then be interested in pursuing a search of the Loch?"

"No."

"No? And why not" Max turned, playing to his audience. "Surely, you're not afraid of hypothetical theories, are you now?"

A purple flash of light blurred the vision in my left eye, the warning sign increasing my pulse. "I've no interest in Loch Ness."

"Seems like you once had great interest."

"Not anymore."

"Not even if an investigation could save your own father's life?"

I stared at Angus, meeting the intensity of his gaze with my own. "My father's never needed me before, Mr. Rael. Let him fight his own dragons."

God, that felt good.

Max only grinned.

"Let's get back to John Cialino. You state, correctly, that no attacks on humans, save back to Saint Columba, have ever been documented. However, from a practical sense, if an attack had led to a human being's demise, then would there really be any evidence, any documentation?"

"There'd be a missing person's report."

"Yes, but with no evidence, no body to collect, the report'd most likely record a drowning, yeah?"

"I… suppose."

"We've heard from the water bailiff. He says drownings 'aye been unusually high since construction began on—"

"'Tis the monster for sure!" cried out an old man seated close to True. "Same thing happened back in '33. For the next three years, we had dozens o' drownings! My ain cousin—"

The judge banged his gavel as two officers of the court escorted the old man out. "On the next public outburst, I will clear this courtroom, is that understood?" He turned back to Max, realizing the defense counsel had led him to step in dogshit. "I'm losing patience, Mr. Rael."

"My apologies, my lord. The subject is a sensitive one to many a Highlander, but Dr. Wallace's testimony is vital in determining what really killed John Cialino."

"Wrap it up."

Max looked over at Angus, who nodded.

"Dr. Wallace, please tell the court what happened to you on the evening of your ninth birthday."

"What?" The reference sent stabbing pains behind both eyes. "Dr. Wallace?"