I made myself a quick reminder to meet with Jonas Taylor and convince him to incorporate airbags into his Manta sub blueprints. I thought about providing him with details about his main attraction’s pending escape and death, but preventing the monster’s demise didn’t seem like a good thing.

Finally, I made a quick list of people not to trust: Ming, Ben, Colonel Vacendak, Susan McWhite.

Susan…

Was she really a Nordic, or was she just a member of the JASON Society who had learned how to thought-communicate? Either way, she was the Colonel’s pet and needed to be avoided.

I saved the file just as Brandy abruptly entered the restaurant—alone.

“Zachary, you could have teld me ye were expecting guests. A sexy Asian woman and her entourage are waiting outside the restaurant. I’m leaving with William tae visit my—”

Brandy was startled as I swept her up in my arms, planting kiss after kiss. “You’re the only sexy woman I want. I’m sorry for everything that’s happened. You and William come first, but you’re absolutely right; I need to do more to help the Highlanders. I have an idea for an invention, something that can spawn a new industry right here in the Great Glen.”

“Whit kind of invention?”

“I can’t say, but—”

The restaurant door opened and Ming entered. “Excuse me, Dr. Wallace? I’m sorry to interrupt you and your wife, but my associates and I have traveled a long way to meet with you. My name is Dr. Ming Liao and—”

“I’m not interested.”

Brandy grinned as Ming’s cheeks flushed red. “I haven’t even told you why we’re here.”

“I don’t care. Now you and your companions have two minutes to get out of my hotel before I have my brother-in-law feed you to the croc—er, to Nessie.”

“I thought you killed Nessie?” Ben Hintzmann said as he entered the restaurant.

“I did, but it had babies. In fact, I spotted one of them in Urquhart Bay just before you arrived. Big one, too. The kind that eats deer.”

Before I could say another word, Brandy’s lips were pressed against mine.

Ming was far from through. “Whatever this new invention is, you’ll need start-up money. Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing.”

Brandy pulled back. “Perhaps ye should listen.”

“Nah. I know a guy; he’ll be rich real soon.”

Ming Liao began again, “Dr. Wallace—”

Brandy turned to Ming with fire in her eyes. “Ye heard my man. Fuck off!”

The restaurant door opened again, and Dr. Stewart entered, followed by Susan McWhite. The memory of Colonel Vacendak putting a bullet in her brain flashed across my mind’s eye, causing the blood to drain from my face.

Different multiverse, different probabilities. Play it cool, Wallace.

The twenty-seven-year-old grad student was dressed conservatively, but nothing could conceal that figure. Her eyes seemed to look straight through me.