Loch: A Dane Maddock Adventure

by David Wood

  “I think we need a new plan,” Grizzly said.

  Isla clenched her fists and clamped her jaws shut until she was certain she could reply without a trace of sarcasm. The breeze coming in off the water calmed her, and she breathed deeply. “What do you suggest?” she finally asked.

  “Let’s try the chapel.” He pointed in the direction of the ruin. “There’s not much left of it, but there’s no harm in taking a look.”

  “It’s worth a shot, I suppose.” Isla doubted they’d find anything, considering how little remained of the house of worship, but no harm in looking.

  As they walked, Grizzly launched into an impromptu and fully unnecessary lecture about the history of the Catholic Church in Europe, specifically its practice of absorbing pagan traditions as a means of linking its faith to that of the local populace and bringing new worshipers into the fold.

  “The Bible actually forbids bringing a tree inside and decorating it, but that, along with gift-giving and other traditions, were absorbed into Christmas celebrations. Heck, Yuletide has connections to Odin, the wild hunt, and other pagan traditions. Christmas celebrations were actually low-key and kind of boring until the church started melding its practices with those of the pagan.”

  Isla squeezed her eyes closed and tried to tune him out. Of course, she immediately stumbled over a rock hidden beneath the lush grass. Grizzly caught her before she fell, which made matters worse.

  “Try to watch where you’re going,” he said. “We’ll probably cross rougher terrain than this before this is all over.” Without missing a beat, he launched back into his lecture. “Did you know that Easter is linked to a pagan fertility goddess, which is why bunnies and eggs are part of the celebration? Birth, reproduction…”

  “Grizzly,” she said through gritted teeth, “I think we need to go back up to the parapet.”

  He stopped short. “Why is that?”

  “So I can push you off.”

  Hurt flashed over his countenance, but only for a second, to be replaced by his trademark dimwitted grin. “I do talk a lot, don’t I?”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  “Sorry,” he said as they resumed their trek to the chapel. “When I do a cryptid video, I’m expected to keep talking pretty much the whole time. I never know what I might say that’s actually worthwhile, so I say whatever comes to mind and we sort it out in editing.”

  Isla giggled, covering it immediately with a cough.

  “Anyway,” Grizzly continued, “all of my girlfriends complain about my lecturing. I guess it makes them feel embarrassed about all the things they don’t know.”

  Isla felt her face turn scarlet. She thrust her hands into her pockets to keep from slapping him.

  “Just try to keep it under control,” she said.

  “Will do.”

  The chapel proved to be a dead end. So little of it remained that, if there had ever been any Tuatha symbology included in the architecture, it was long gone. The ruins sat directly on the earth, what was once the floor now covered in a layer of gravel. Disheartened, Isla peered through one of the arched windows, back in the direction of the castle. What to do next?

  As she gazed out, something caught her eye. But it couldn’t be?

  “What’s wrong?” Grizzly asked.

  “Those guys over there. I’ve seen them before.” She pointed at two men, one tall with long, dark hair, the other a few inches shorter, with short blond hair. “They were entering the museum just as we were leaving.”

  “How can you be sure?”

  “The big guy is a Native American. He’s about six and a half feet tall, so he sticks out in a crowd. The blond man also stands out in his own way.”

  “Ah,” Grizzly said. “Maybe they’re just tourists?”

  “Dunstaffnage is literally on the other side of the country from Edinburgh. That’s an odd itinerary for someone who’s sightseeing.”

  “You’re right. I think we should shadow them and see what they’re up to. If they’re after the treasure, maybe they know something we don’t.”

  Isla swallowed hard. She had no idea if the men were dangerous. They were both powerfully built and walked with an air of self-assurance, but she swore she’d seen a playfulness, almost impishness, in the bigger man’s eyes when he’d looked her way.

  “All right. Just keep your distance. I’ll take the hot one.”

  “Which one would that be?” Annoyance rang in Grizzly’s voice.

  “The Indian is cute; the blond guy is hot.”

  “Fine,” Grizzly sighed. “Just be careful.”

  Chapter 13

  Dunstaffnage Castle

  Bones couldn’t help but feel a little bit disappointed in Dunstaffnage Castle. He’d expected something more expansive, and perhaps a bit more unattended. The castle was, however, impressive in its own way. He could imagine its stout walls standing up to attacks, its bulk casting an imposing shadow on enemy ships that tried to slip past. None the less, the old fortress looked as though any secrets it might have hidden had long ago been discovered.

  “Not too promising, is it?” he asked.

  “Too early to say,” Maddock replied.

  “It’s just that this place kind of reminds me of Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde, if you know what I mean.” That particular set of cliff dwellings had been taken apart and rebuilt by archaeologists, giving tourists an accurate depiction of what the site had once looked like, but destroying the feeling of authenticity that came with a mostly untouched ruin.

  Maddock nodded. “I do. This is great for tourists, but it definitely has the feel of a place that’s been thoroughly scoured before being opened to the public. Then again, you and I haven’t explored it yet. Got your mojo working today?”

  “Too early to tell. I’ll see how much I can muster.”

  “Worst case, we wander around killing time until Jimmy comes up with something.”

  They moved through the old fortress, keeping an eye out for anything that might be a clue to the lost Stone of Destiny. They had just completed a circuit of the inner ward when a sudden movement caught Bones’ eye. Someone had hastily moved around the corner of the gatehouse, much more quickly than someone merely strolling along. As he and Maddock continued on, he kept watch. Sure enough, a few seconds later, a face peered around the corner. He recognized her immediately.

  “That’s weird,” he said.

  Maddock quirked an eyebrow. “What is?”

  “We’re being followed.”

  As always, Maddock kept his cool. He didn’t turn to look, or even break stride, trusting in Bones to tell him what he needed to know. “Description?”

  “Remember that hot chick from the museum?”

  “Can’t say I do.”

  “Of course not.” Bones flashed a rueful grin. “I know you’re engaged to my sister, but you are allowed to look.”

  “Whatever. You’re sure it’s the same girl, and she’s following us? I know you’re charming, but to drive all the way across the country just to stalk you? That’s a bit much.”

  “Laugh it up, bro. It’s her, and I’m one hundred percent certain she’s watching us. What’s more, she’s trying and failing to keep from being seen.”

  Maddock ran a hand through his close-cropped hair, jaw set, eyes narrowed in concentration. “Let’s split up. She’ll follow one of us…”

  “Me, of course,” Bones said, enjoying the affronted look on Maddock’s face.

  “It’s possible she could have a thing for me.”

  “Yeah, and it’s also possible that frozen crap from an airplane toilet could land on your head, but the odds are pretty freaking slim. I will, however, keep my hopes up.”

  “About the toilet or the girl?”

  Bones pointed up at the sky.

  Maddock smirked. “Anyway, as I was saying, how about we split up? She follows one of us, the other follows her, try to get an idea of what she’s up to before we confront her.”

  “Let me do the confro
nting. If she’s into me, I don’t want to blow my chances.”

  Shaking his head, Maddock turned and wandered over to check out the well, while Bones made a show of casting a baleful look around at the castle. He gave a shake of his head and then headed out to inspect the exterior walls. He tried to act naturally, but the sensation of having a target painted on his back was like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

  He moved along the wall in the direction of the steep embankment that ran down to the water. He came to a corner tower and, as he rounded, glanced back. Sure enough, the woman was following him. He reached the next tower and glanced back again. Still trailing along behind him. He decided to have a bit of fun. Once he was out of sight, he took off at a run, rounding the next corner at a breakneck pace.

  It wasn’t long until he’d almost made a complete circuit of the old fortress, and he spotted something odd. A sturdily-built man with wavy brown hair was creeping along in a series of comical attempts at concealment. As Bones watched, the fellow dashed twenty paces to a stray boulder, flattened himself on the grass, then rose up to peer over it. A few seconds later he repeated the maneuver. He never actually looked back, so Bones was able to tag along behind him. The fellow reached the corner tower. When he peered around, Bones got a good look at his face.

  “He was with the hot chick,” Bones whispered. “What’s he doing?”

  He had his answer a moment later when he saw the fellow hit the dirt as, in the distance, a blond man glanced back his way.

  “Holy freaking crap.” Bones had to roll his eyes. “I’m following this dude. He’s following Maddock, who’s following the hot chick. Which means she’s somewhere behind me.” He turned on his heel and strode back in the direction of the greenspace that separated the castle from the parking area. It was time to find out just what the hell was going on here. He was considering his approach when he heard a shrill scream.

  “That can’t be her.”

  He took off at a sprint and burst out onto the green lawn seconds later. At the edge of his peripheral vision, he spied Maddock running toward him. Maddock pointed in the direction of the parking lot. Bones turned and immediately saw what his friend had spotted.

  The attractive young woman who’d been spying on him minutes before was being dragged away by a man in a suit.

  Bones swore as he poured on the speed, his long legs eating up the distance between them. He had no idea what sort of danger he might be running toward. What was more, he was doing it on behalf of a complete stranger—one who had just been stalking him.

  “This,” he muttered, “is un-be-freaking-lievable.”

  Chapter 14

  Dunstaffnage Castle

  Isla struggled to shout for help but the man had one arm locked around her throat in a powerful chokehold, and her cry of desperation came out as a gurgled whimper. She dug in her heels, tearing furrows in the soft turf. He was impossibly strong and had no difficulty hauling her along. She fought and clawed, trying to break free. He let out a curse as her fingernails dug into the back of his hand.

  A series of images flickered, strobelike, across her vision as she thrashed: her captor's fair skin and brown hair, the gray sky, the green grass, the ruined castle, a man running. With the images came a flood of questions. Who was her captor? Why was he taking her? Was she going to die? How had she let this happen? She’d been so focused on watching the Indian that she hadn’t heard this man creeping up on her. What if he was working with the Indian and his partner?

  “Hurry up!” a voice shouted.

  “You want to help me?” her captor replied. “I think she’s had a few too many scones. She’s a heavy one.”

  Irrationally, Isla wanted to inform the man that she worked out regularly, but her more immediate concern was the fact he was dragging her toward a silver SUV that sat idling in the car park. What could she do?

  And then, the man released her. She fell hard to the ground, her breath leaving her in a rush.

  She looked up to see the Indian kneeling over her. His partner, the blond man, flashed past them and slammed into her fleeing abductor. They crashed to the ground, the blond man rolling and coming up to his feet in a fighting stance.

  “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” the Indian said.

  Isla scooted backward on her bottom, but the big man seized her by the upper arms and picked her up as if she were weightless. She knew in an instant that, compared to the man who had initially seized her, this was the far more dangerous of the two.

  “Calm down,” he said, releasing her and holding out his big hands, fingers splayed. “We don’t mean you any harm.”

  “Let her go!” Grizzly came running toward them. He skidded to a halt, ten paces away, and stood, fists clenched, elbows cocked. Had the situation not been so dire, Isla would have laughed at the absurdity of his posturing in the face of the much larger man. He looked like a bantam rooster facing down an eagle.

  “Bro, you need to chill. I’ve got to help my friend,” the big man said.

  In response, Grizzly picked up a small stone and flung it at him. It went wide, cracking the windscreen of a nearby jeep.

  “Dude, don’t piss me off. Just keep an eye on her.” With that, the man turned and ran toward his friend, who was now chasing the man who’d tried to seize Isla.

  “Let’s get out of here.” Grizzly took her by the wrist and tried to lead her to their car, but something kept her locked in place.

  The roar of an engine and the squeal of tires cut across the sounds of pursuit as her kidnapper’s accomplice—the man who’d been waiting in the idling SUV—peeled out. The vehicle shot across the car park, headed in the direction of the driver’s fleeing accomplice. As they watched, he stuck his arm out of the window.

  “He has a gun.” Isla gasped. “Look out!”

  A series of loud, sharp bangs rolled across the car park.

  The running men scattered. Moments later, the SUV skidded to a halt long enough for the failed kidnapper to jump in, and then they were away.

  “What just happened?” Grizzly asked. “Who the hell were those guys?”

  Isla slowly shook her head. “Which ones? The kidnappers or the guys who saved me?”

  Grizzly threw up his hands. “None of this makes sense. The men who saved you are the same ones who were stalking us?” He took a deep breath. “They’re headed back this way. Let’s just get the hell out of here.”

  “No.” Isla wasn’t completely sure why, but she sensed she could trust these men. Furthermore, she wanted answers.

  “Isla, are you crazy? Just because they saved you doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous. Maybe we’re dealing with two sets of kidnappers, and one pair chased the other away, and now they’re coming back for us.”

  “Or maybe they’re only following the same trail as us, in which case we have a common enemy.”

  Grizzly let out a scornful laugh. “I’ve worked in television long enough to know that the enemy of your enemy is not always your friend.”

  “This isn’t television,” she said, watching as her two rescuers strode purposefully toward them.

  “We’re searching for a lost treasure, you almost got kidnapped, but you got saved by a giant Indian. Sounds like Hollywood to me.”

  “You can run if you want to,” she said. “I’m going to find out who they are and what they want.”

  “Fine.” He scanned the ground until he found another rock.

  “Don’t do it,” Isla said. “You’ll just make them mad.”

  “Whatever you say.” He slipped the stone into his pocket and stood, hands on hips, waiting for the men.

  The two men stopped ten paces away, and they regarded one another for a few silent seconds before the blond man finally spoke.

  “So, are you two good guys or bad guys?”

  Chapter 15

  Dunstaffnage Castle

  Maddock couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the woman standing before him was. Long, wavy auburn hair framed a creamy complexion. Her
intense, hazel-eyed gaze caused his breath to catch in his throat. Realizing he was staring, he gave his head a quick shake. What was he thinking?

  The woman didn’t seem to notice. “Thank you for the rescue. I’m Isla Mulheron, and you are…”

  “Dane Maddock.” They shook hands. She had soft hands but a solid grip. “This is my partner, Bones Bonebrake.”

  For once, Bones wasn’t checking out the attractive woman in their midst. He stood, frowning down at Isla’s companion, a stocky, brown-haired man.

  “You look really familiar,” Bones said. “Where do I know you from?” And then his eyes brightened. “You’re Grizzly Grant! The cryptid hunter.”

  Grizzly smiled and gave a single nod, like a monarch accepting tribute. “You would be correct. Always a pleasure to meet a fan.”

  Bones turned to Maddock. “This dude is a legend in cryptozoology circles, especially on the forums. He’s investigated some jacked-up stuff.”

  Maddock shook hands with Grizzly. As he did so, he could have sworn he saw Isla roll her eyes.

  “Any idea who those guys were who tried to grab you?” Maddock asked.

  “No idea,” Grizzly said.

  At the same time, Isla said, “The Tuatha.”

  “Wait. The Tuatha de Dannan?” Bones said sharply.

  Isla nodded. “So, you are after the treasure?”

  Bones and Maddock exchanged glances.

  “Sort of,” Bones said.

  “We’re after a treasure,” Maddock added. “Are the two of you looking for the Stone of Destiny?” Maddock asked. “That’s what we’re focused on at the moment.”