Shirtless Men in Kilts
"We've played that wretched recording so many times, they're going to start thinking we're the Loch Ness monster." Tom shut his camera off. "There's nothing out there. Not tonight."
Flynn stretched from sitting in the back passenger seat for so long. The recording was getting to him as well, playing tricks on his mind. He'd heard the wailing call so many times, he couldn't tell what came from them and what came from the water. By the drowsy look on Gail's face, he doubted anything had come from the water.
"Any response, Gail?"
She shook her head and clicked the sonar echoes off. Silence fell.
Flynn battled with the urge to stay out there all night and conjure the beast up from sheer will. The research team had worked long hours already and they were lucky enough to have found the tooth. He needed to call it quits before Gail decided to pack up and fly back to Boston. The last thing he wanted to do was drive her away. "Okay, let's head home."
He dragged his feet to the controls and revved the engine. Once the motor started, he knew any chance of finding Nessie that night was gone. His clunky engine could scare the beetles right off the trees on shore.
As Flynn steered the boat home, the pressing tick of time breathed down his throat. He didn't know how long he still had, how long Tabitha could hold on.
We'll find it. I just have to keep believing.
His dad frowned upon his illogical pursuits. The old man would have been much prouder had Flynn chosen law or medicine instead of starting his own Loch Ness monster touring business. Flynn's mom urged him to follow his dreams.
Her words echoed in his head. "Your father chose the logical path, and look at him. Sitting at a desk job he hates, complaining about work every day. You have a special love for that lake, Flynn. Take your dream and make it happen."
Flynn ran his hands along the controls. He'd taken the money he'd saved for college and used all of it to buy the Nessie. At the time he'd thought the ship was totally worth it, but these days he questioned his decision more and more.
When they reached the dock, Flynn shut off the motor and approached the team as Gail packed up her equipment and Tom reviewed his images. "I know the weekend's coming and I have tours to do, but I was wondering if we could meet tomorrow morning and review our findings thus far?"
"No can do." Tom hoisted his equipment over his shoulder. "I've got plans. I'm outta here." He jumped over the rail to the dock. "See ye Monday, guys."
Gail watched him leave, suspicion brewing in her mind. Why did his accent constantly change? Where was he from, really?
Without Tom, they'd have to wait. He owned all the video equipment. Gail's drop camera, as cool as the device was, mostly took pictures of murky smudges. It was designed as an oceanic tool, not something for the clogged congestion of Loch Ness. If they wanted a clear shot, it would have to be above water.
Flynn leaned on the railing and crossed his arms, trying not to feel too disappointed. "Got any plans?"
Gail snapped the case shut. "I'm planning on visiting the local library and searching through their records."
"That won't take all weekend. I've scoured everything about Loch Ness and come up empty a million times."
She arched an eyebrow. "Maybe I'll find something you missed."
"Tell you what…" He grabbed both her hands as she wrapped her fingers around the handle, stopping her in her tracks. "I have an extra seat on Sunday evening's six p.m. tour — the last tour of the day. Want to come? We can discuss your findings at the library afterward. By the way, I've got this case."
Gail shifted uncomfortably, as if when he gazed at her he saw too much. "I don't know. I have a lot of work to do."
"It's the weekend! You've got to have some fun. Besides, the customers would love to meet a real marine biologist. It would be good for my business." Flynn flashed his charming smile for good measure. "Pretty please, with Loch Ness sludge on top?"
"All right." Gail pulled her hands away from his. "As long as you don't make me talk about the Loch Ness monster."
"Not necessary." Excitement rushed through him. She'd just said yes to a date! Well, sort of a date. Maybe he'd melt her icy façade after all. He hoisted her suitcases and gave her a wicked grin. "That's my job."
****
Gail collapsed on her bed in the cabin, wondering how she'd ever agreed to seeing Flynn outside of work.
Was it a date?
It couldn't be if Flynn had a hon he talked to all the time on the phone. Unless he was a two-timer? No. Gail refused to think of the open-faced charmer as a Scottish Don Juan, romancing all the women like the shirtless highlander men wearing kilts on those historical romance covers. He seemed too open, too genuine to keep two women at once.
It was his obsession with the Loch Ness monster. Asking her out was another way to continue their research without Tom.
That idea was safe and disappointing at the same time. It had been a long time since she'd felt anything romantic for anyone. She had to remind herself love was something she didn't believe in, along with the Loch Ness monster. She shouldn't be traveling down a path she couldn't finish.
So, research it was.
Gail slipped off her sludge-stained pants and sweater and put on an old T-shirt her father bought her years ago that read "Questioning is the door of knowledge."
Boy, had she been questioning a lot lately. Settling under the covers, she thought her father would be proud.
Sleep came easily and for once, she had no dreams.
When the alarm woke her at nine, it felt like the night had gone by in the blink of a yellow-orbed eye. Gail showered and went downstairs to raid the kitchen. Flynn had left her a plate of chocolate frosted doughnuts with a message that read, "Touring all day today. Won't be in tonight. See you tomorrow at 6 p.m."
Hmmm… not coming back tonight. Hadn't he said on the phone he was going to try to try to stop by and visit his hon this weekend? Gail pushed the jealous thought from her mind. It really was none of her business. At least he'd been thoughtful enough to leave a note along with breakfast.
Gail called a cab company and asked for a ride to the Inverness Library. When she'd first signed up for this research grant, she'd decided she'd leave driving on the opposite side of the road to the natives.
Taking her laptop, the pad Flynn had scribbled on, and the doughnut with the most frosting, she left the cabin. With all this hiking in the woods, one doughnut wasn't going to do much. Eating the whole plate might…
Gail stumbled down the hillside and met the cab at the same place where she'd been dropped off. Looking in the driver's window, she recognized the familiar puff of cigar smoke.
Great. What I need is a translator.
"Guid morning! Hou ar ye, lass?"
Gail slipped onto the passenger seat, surprised she understood him. All this time in the Scottish highlands was rubbing off on her. "A little tired but doing well. Getting work done."
He put his blinker on and turned onto the road. "Found yer monster yet, hae ya?"
Gail stared at the ceiling and took a deep breath. Had he even been listening last time? "I told you, I'm not looking for a monster. I'm looking for the truth."
He grinned as though he knew all along she'd say that and was teasing her. "Guess ye hae ta keep lookin' then."
They rode the twenty-minute drive in silence. When he turned away from Loch Ness, relief calmed Gail. She breathed deeply, relishing every second as if the hushed atmosphere of the lake had constricted her lungs. Even though the thought was ridiculous, she felt as though Loch Ness watched her every move.
The bustle of Inverness brought some form of normal to her world. At fifty-six thousand people, the city reminded her a little of a Boston suburb. The familiar smells of food mingled with car exhaust. The sounds of traffic were ingrained in Gail ever since she'd gone to college in the big city. For a moment, she forgot the eerie stillness of Loch Ness, along with its intermittent bird calls and hushed breaths of wind.
Man, if they drove on the right side of the road, I'd just stay at a hotel here. She'd be farther from Flynn.
Stop thinking about him and get to work.
Gail paid the driver with another hefty tip and stepped onto the curb before the Inverness Library. Designed with thick Romanesque columns, the library loomed like a giant against the street. Surely the large conglomeration of books would have some information she could use in her work.
Gail found an empty table, plugged her laptop in, and dug into the numerous files. So many sightings had happened over the years, it was hard not to consider something real underlying their stories. The more Gail read, the more she battled with her urge to believe.