“Neither did I, until Rodland mentioned he might have to go back to digging for more Fiona stories to entertain you. It reminded me of the Cira treasure that MacDuff discovered all those years ago.” He added softly, “And what is more alluring than an ancient treasure? Particularly to a crook who thinks he deserves to get something for nothing. A portion of which has already made MacDuff an incredibly rich man? All we’d have to do is build the story and set it up.”

Jane nodded. “And we already have the letter that MacClaren wrote Fiona about a second Cira treasure that had been hidden in the Highlands and was supposedly stolen by Fiona’s fiancé, Graeme.”

“It didn’t sound as if there was any ‘supposed’ about it,” Caleb said. “I don’t believe MacClaren would have lied to Fiona even if he might have been less than honest on occasion with someone else. She was his guiding star.”

She frowned, puzzled. “How do you know?”

“Oh, I’m very familiar with guiding stars. I can recognize the signs. Though I’ll have to have you and Rodland go over their in-depth history with me so that I can get with the general program. But you also have to consider that she looked like you and he was an artist. He would have known he could trust her. And by that time, they’d spent months together and become lovers.” He added thoughtfully, “He was telling her the truth as he knew it. Since he was supposed to steal the treasure from Graeme as payment to that rail baron, it could have been the truth. It wouldn’t make sense that Saldaron would lie to MacClaren.”

She tilted her head. “You’re talking as if you believe there was a second treasure.”

He shrugged. “There might have been. There might not have been. It might still be out there. It might have disappeared into some fat cat’s bank account over two hundred years ago. It shouldn’t matter to us. The only thing that should matter is that we’re convincing enough to make Bohdan believe it’s still out there and he can get his hands on it.”

“Or that the Judas is convincing enough.”

He nodded. “He’s the important one. You’re right, our job is to distract and keep Bohdan off guard until we can close the trap.”