“True,” Devon said. “What time’s the meeting?”
“Twenty minutes,” Callum said. “Over at the school. Want me to take you over? You’re gonna want a good seat.”
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Devon said firmly. “Lead the way.”
The school hall wasn’t any calmer. There were even more journalists packed into the small room and most of the residents had already claimed seats in the centre of the room, forcing the journalists to jostle for space around the outside edges. The locals were all glaring at the journalists, daring them to come closer. A table had been set up on the stage and Devon could make out the face of McCallum, the police chief and the mayor already having taken their seats.
The police chief waved when he saw her and indicated a seat close to the front. Devon pushed her way through the crowds and saw an empty chair, three rows back from the front with a white board on it. Her hotel landlady was sat beside it and Devon watched, smiling, as a journalist went to sit on the seat. Helen snarled at the man, practically taking his head off. The man beat a hasty retreat and Devon made her way over.
“You found us then lassie?” Helen said when she saw Devon. “Settle down here and enjoy the show.”
“Thank you,” Devon said.
She removed the board which had her name printed on it and took her seat.
“This should be good,” she whispered to Helen as more people shoved their way into the room.
A hush fell over the room as the last few people walked in and took their seats and the Mayor stood up to talk. Devon sat back in her chair and watched intently. Much of her gaze was locked on McCallum, simply trying to figure out what the hotel magnate was doing at the head table of a town meeting.
“Ladies and gentlemen thank you for coming,” the Mayor said, his voice booming in the crammed room. “I know that there is a lot of fear and speculation over recent events. I want to inform you all that we are using all of our resources to catch the culprit for these murders. Every effort is being placed on searching the loch and hunting for anything that may shed some light on these tragic events.”
Devon glanced around the room. Few of the locals looked convinced but the journalists were all on the edge of their seats or on tip toe, peering over each other to pay attention.
“Mayor is it true that the Loch Ness Monster actually attacked the police divers you sent into the loch?” one young woman called out, Dictaphone at the ready.
“That is not true,” the Mayor said firmly. “There was a disturbance within the water but we cannot say for sure what caused it. What we do know is that the disturbance knocked free the second body and our divers were understandably upset by this.”
“Do you have the names of the deceased yet?”
“Have any more people gone missing?”
“Will you be searching the loch again?”
“What does the Scottish government say about this?”
The questions kept coming and coming, each more outlandish than the last. The Mayor did his best to answer them but his answers were usually the same; names could not be released, no one else had been reported missing, all available resources were being channelled from multiple sources to find the culprit. Devon smirked as she listened. It was the classic bureaucratic runaround she had seen so often. When the questions started to repeat themselves she seriously considered getting up to leave. Then the Mayor pulled out his ace card.
“Please, please, settle down,” he said, as though talking to unruly school children. “Ladies and gentlemen please. I give the floor to Mr. James McCallum, local business owner and hotelier.”
“Thank you Mayor,” McCallum said, getting to his feet and walking forwards. “I’m very glad that you’re giving me this chance to speak. Now. I know that we’re all worried. I know that we’re all afraid. I know I am and this is not my home. I feel for the people who have made this area their home, the families, the elderly, the workers and business owners who have been born and bred here.
“I am terrified and I don’t even live here. I have no ties to this area save that I’ve chosen to build my latest hotel here. This is a beautiful place with a rich history and some of the warmest, friendliest people that I have ever met. I chose to make this my home from home with my latest hotel because of these people, because of the beauty that surrounds us. I truly believed that I could be happy here and that in time I would come to love it.
“I was wrong though. Two days was all I needed before I fell in love with this place. And when the attacks came I was as distraught as any of the people who have lived here all their lives. I didn’t know those men, I had never spoken to them. But many of you had. Many of you had seen them grown from babies into the men that they were. I cannot begin to imagine the pain that you are going through. But I am sorry for it. I wish that you weren’t feeling it, truly I do.
“When I chose to build here I wanted to preserve as much as I could of the local way of life. I wanted to create ties in the community that linked the outside world with this town and gave a unique insight into age old traditions that so often got overlooked. I wanted to make people see that this town is more than just the home of the Loch Ness Monster and showcase exactly how amazing it is.”
This was met with rumbles of agreement and Devon was horrified to see even Helen smiling and nodding along.
“And this place is amazing.”
The locals began to clap. Devon shook her head and rubbed at her temples. She knew that McCallum didn’t care, that he was saying whatever he needed to in order to win public favour. And worse, it seemed to be working. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that he had built the hotel that had riled the creature in the loch up, according to them. They had forgotten that he had brought Devon in, the very same doctor who had apparently upset Nessie even more and caused her to take two human lives.
McCallum of course basked in the applause and cheers from the locals and journalists alike. He smiled and waved wildly, pandering to the cameras. Devon felt a cold chill settle in her stomach and the hairs on the back of her neck raised up with foreboding.
“Sadly, that is all being lost,” McCallum said. “Fear and paranoia is running rampant. You are all afraid of going out on the loch, the very thing that makes this place so beautiful, with or without Nessie. Two lives have been lost, human lives, local lives. But I say enough. No more will I allow these people who have welcomed me to suffer in pain, no more will I sit back and watch others trying to find the root of the problem. No more will I allow the people that I have chosen to be my community to suffer alone.
“Today I give my word, no more. Two lives have been lost. That is two lives too many. I will no longer sit back and let others do the work. I have the time and the resources to make a significant difference and despite what my investors and other executives say I will help. Because I care about these people. I care about this town. So I am going to call on resources that the local government don’t have, using my own money.
“Three hours ago I contacted a group of highly trained former special forces officers. Two hours ago they accepted my monetary offer and agreed to work for me. One hour ago a plane was dispatched to bring them in. I plan to utilise the skills and experiences of these highly trained and highly specialised men to find and hunt and kill the creature that is responsible for these deaths.
“Because it is a beast. Because it is the monster that it has been called. Because it has taken two lives already and will take more if it is not stopped. No more will I sit idly by and do nothing. It is within my means and within my abilities to help. So I will help. The beast dies!”
By the end of his speech McCallum was red faced and spitting with every word. The room erupted into cheers and clapping. Devon looked around in disbelief. Everyone was on board. Journalists were making hurried scribbled notes to themselves. Presenters were clutching mics and talking in the cameras. But the more that she looked around the more Devon realised that maybe not everyone was onboard. Helen was sat b
eside her, arms crossed over her ample chest. The Police Chief was shaking his head and reading through notes. Other people that Devon recognised from around the village were glaring and shaking free of the grasps of others who wanted them to join in with the celebrations.
“Come on lassie,” Helen whispered to Devon. “Let’s get away from this circus because it gets any crazier.”
Devon nodded and hurriedly followed Helen from the room. She glanced back at the doorway and saw McCallum watching her, even as he smiled and shook hands with the Mayor. The flashing of cameras drew his attention away and Devon turned, rushing to catch up with Helen.
“I have never heard so much crap in my life,” Helen said as they walked back through the now quiet village. “Who does he think he is, coming here and saying he’s trying to preserve the local way of life?! We don’t need no help with that. We’re managing fine on our own.”
“I know Helen,” Devon said. “He’s an arse.”
“You said it girl,” Helen said. “Snivelling arsehole. He’s playing it up for the cameras, I’ll tell you. I bet if they’d never come and none of this had ever happened he’d be sat in his fancy office planning how to take up more of our land. That man couldn’t give two hoots about this village or anyone in it. All he cares about is making money and looking good.”
“Sadly that is the way it is with most businessmen,” Devon said. She sighed. “I’ve seen it time and time again. It’s always the same. Unless there’s a reason to seem like they care they carry on like they always do.”
“Well we’ll see how his grand gesture works out,” Helen said. “You’ll see. It’ll go to pot by the end of the week, you mark my words. And we’ll keep going and going, just like we always have.”
“I know you will,” Devon said. She linked her arm through Helen’s as they walked. “I’m starting to think nothing can stop you guys when you make your mind up. Hell, things would probably stay the same even in the apocalypse.”
“Oh aye, it would!” Helen said. She laughed. “Everyone out there would be eating each other and we’d all just be sat in the pub having a pint and planning a football match.”
Devon laughed. Perhaps everything would be ok.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
By the afternoon the entire village was in chaos, more than even that morning. Helicopters had been flying back and forth with men and equipment for most of the day and a lot of the press had been cleaned out. The village no longer looked like a media circus or a small peaceful holiday town. Instead it resembled a staging post for a military operation. Tents covered the entire docking area at the edge of the loch. Jeeps and sandbags were everywhere and uniformed men patrolled everything. No guns were in sight but Devon doubted that there weren’t any. Amongst it all McCallum had strode around like a conquering hero, giving orders and barking commands that were always instantly followed.
“It’s insane,” Arthur said.
He had joined her on the bench outside the hotel. She’d been sat there most of the afternoon, watching everything as she read through more of the research that Danny had sent over. Helen had kept her readily supplied with tea and cake and had passed on news from other parts of the village which were being taken over by the mercenaries.
“I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like it,” Devon said. She poured Arthur a cup of tea. “Even when I was investigating the Beast of Dean there was nothing like this. Just a few farmers with guns and dogs.”
“If McCallum wasn’t here it’d probably be that way,” Arthur said. “Then again if McCallum wasn’t here there’d be no problem in the first place.”
“I don’t know if he had anything to do with those deaths but I’m starting to think he did,” Devon whispered to Arthur. “It’s all too convenient don’t you think? People are against him and the hotel. Suddenly two people turn up dead and he steps in like a hero to save the day and everyone loves him.”
“Aye, the thought had crossed my mind,” Arthur said. “Still lass, I can’t see even him having someone killed just to help his ratings go up.”
“No, you’re right,” Devon said. “But he’s still taking advantage of the situation and of people’s fears. I don’t like it. Why can’t people see what he’s up to?”
“People are scared,” Arthur said. “When they’re scared they do irrational things and cling to whatever offers the quickest chance of getting them away from the fear. I’ve seen it before, out on the ocean. Fear does funny things to a person.”
“Yeah…” Devon said. She watched McCallum, “Yeah, it does.”
“You’re gonna talk to him?” Arthur asked as he followed her gaze. “Will he listen do you think?”
“He hasn’t so far,” Devon admitted. “As far as he’s concerned I’m here to boost the idea of his hotel as a monster hunting spot. I’m not an advisor, I’m not an executive. I’m just a professor in need of money who he hired so he could say he was trying to be thorough.”
“Try anyway,” Arthur said. “You may be a consultant but he’ll listen to you I think. Even just a little.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Devon asked. She paused. “Well, I suppose I could just keep going on at him and annoy him in to listening…”
“Sometimes that can work,” Arthur said. “It’s how Helen got her husband to buy the hotel here.”
“Really?!” Devon asked. She turned to Arthur excitedly and prepared to listen.
Her attention was diverted for a while, listening to the local stories that Arthur was full of and for a little time at least she could forget the politics and fear that were running rampant through the small village and just enjoy her time with a new friend.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Night fell and the village was quiet. Everyone who lived there were in their homes and only the mercenaries were left out of doors. Many of them patrolled around the loch, pairs walking together, torches in hand and scanning the water for signs of movement. Radios hissed and squawked from time to time and the low murmur of voices were everywhere. Small buoys floated on the surface of the lake and men huddled together in the tents with eyes locked on computer screens. As she watched and listened, Devon could pick out McCallum’s voice, loud above the others.
Curtains flickered in the houses and many of the windows of the hotel were full of people peering through to see what was going on. Devon shook her head and stormed out of the hotel, headed straight for the command tent and McCallum.
“This is too much,” she said firmly. McCallum barely glanced at her but she continued anyway. “Seriously! What do you think you’re playing at?”
“What am I playing at?” McCallum said coolly as he turned to look at her. “Why, I’m helping the local people to catch a dangerous monster. After all, I may have been the one to rouse it. I should help sort it out shouldn’t I?”
“That’s not what you’re doing at all and we both know it,” Devon said. “You’re taking advantage of these people and trying to buy their loyalty.”
“It’s working isn’t it?” McCallum said. He smirked. “We’ve been waiting for hours now and nothing’.s happened. Lures are set, patrols are going around and still all is quiet.”
“I’ve seen the stocks McCallum,” Devon said. “I know that your shares are selling like hotcakes since you made your announcement this morning. I know that you’re just taking advantage of these people to line your own pockets.”
“A fortunate side effect from unfortunate events,” McCallum said. He waved his hand at her. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and actually do what I hired you for? Go look for signs that the monster’s around.”
Devon gawked at him for a few moments. Some of the mercenaries glanced between her and McCallum before backing away a few steps. She narrowed her eyes and glared at the hotel magnate.
“Fine,” she said harshly. “But I’m doing this to make sure this search is done right, not because you told me to.”
She turned and stormed out of the tent, grumbling to herself. She st
ill heard McCallum’s parting words though.
“Of course darling. Don’t forget to check your payments have gone through as well.”
She paused at the entrance to the tent and listened to McCallum’s snickers. Some of the mercenaries were chuckling as well. She partially turned her head, not looking at McCallum directly. None of the mercenaries would meet her eye.
“I may be taking your money McCallum,” she said quietly. “But I will not jeopardise my career to say what you want me to say. I have a lot more sway in the world than you realise so be careful.”
She left. The tent door swung back and forth behind her. She strode through the small camp, searching for the command centre that held all of the monitoring equipment screens. As she searched she allowed a small smirk to take over her face and the sense of satisfaction that she may have given McCallum something to worry about filled her.
The command tent that she had been looking for was clear to see once she stopped thinking about McCallum and actually started to look for it. Within moments she was inside and taking a seat at some of the monitors, ignoring the protests from the mercenaries who tried to stop her.
“If you have a problem take it up with McCallum,” she said, waving her hand at them. “I’m doing what I’m paid to do, looking for a monster. Now go do something else.”
The mercenaries grumbled amongst themselves but moved away after a few moments. Devon didn’t watch them go, she focused on the screens, looking for any sign of movement.
Hours passed. Nothing happened. Some of the mercenaries began to nod off, one even stretched out on a table beside Devon and started to snore. Devon rubbed at her eyes as she kept watching the monitors. The patrol reports were coming in steadily but there were longer and longer gaps between them. When she had gone outside of the tent for a walk to stretch her legs and wake herself up some more she had noticed that all the windows of the houses were now dark, everyone having finally gone to bed. She’d returned to her seat a little more awake but still bored.
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