“And so ye’ve come tae me for help because ye heard the lad listens tae his auld man like I was Jesus climbed down from the cross.”

“Well, no. But if that is true—”

“Lassy, butts are fer crappin’. Ye came here tae bribe me, so start yer bribing.”

She reached into her bag and removed an envelope. “This is a letter of commitment. When your son signs it and arrives at our new station in East Antarctica you will receive a sum equaling five thousand U.S. dollars.”

Angus snorted a laugh. “Lass, who do ye think yer dealing wit’? A Highland pig farmer? The plane fare to Antarctica for you and the other eggheads alone costs more than five thou. No, ye’ll pay me that sum tonight jist for acceptin’ the job. Then you’ll pay me another fifty thousand when he signs. That fee will be wired intae my bank account before Zachary leaves Inverness.”

“Out of the question. I can go as high as ten, provided the contract is signed within the next twenty-four hours.”

“Tells ye whit, I’ll accept five tonight and twenty when the signed contract is faxed. Go on and discuss it at the bar with yer friends, but be quick; there’s been another kill and I’m needed—ach, there I go, blabbin’ again like a schoolgirl. Dinnae listen tae me, lass, it’s those three haufs of whiskey talkin’.”

“Has there been… a murder?”

“Shh!” Angus grabbed her by the arm while his eyes took inventory of the room. “Can I trust ye with a secret, lassy?”

“Of course.”

He leaned in close enough for Liao to catch the scent of booze on his breath. “We have another creature loose in Loch Ness—a big one. Killed three deer in the past two weeks. Last night an elk. She dinnae come ashore like her mama; she’s water-bound. Feeds on ’em as they cross the loch at night, and we collect the remains in the morning.”

Liao’s eyes lit up as she swallowed the bait. “You said like her mother? Are you saying the Loch Ness Monster gave birth to an offspring before your son—”

“Aye, but let’s be clear; it’s not the same species. Nessie must’ve bred with somethin’ else. Dinnae ask me whit.”

“But how do you know this?”

“Bite radius on the dead deer, an occasional sighting… Plus there’s the tooth.”

“You found a tooth?”