“But what if there used to be another branch line? A temporary one built to serve a single construction project? Companies used to pay for them all the time. They’re called spur lines. There was once a factory that belonged to Bentley Industries in the area, but it went out of business before World War One. This mural showed a rail line for Bentley, but as far as I can tell, one never existed, at least not officially.”

“What are you saying?”

“I ran across this kind of thing in my research. Occasionally local railroad administrators would accept huge amounts of money from companies to build temporary spur lines for their projects, then just pocket the cash and not inform their home office hundreds or even thousands of miles away. When the project was completed, the administrators would strike the spur line and erase all evidence it even existed. That’s why no records exist of this one. And I think it’s why MacClaren painted over this part of the mural. He made a deal with the administrators before he and his Fiona left for their new life. He probably got a fat fee, and still had the option of going back and searching for the treasure himself if he chose to do it.”

“It makes sense.”

“It gets better. This line would have been the first branch line past McNaughton. And I know there’s a forked stream and a waterfall near there, and an ancient cemetery. I’m willing to bet there’s a big rock. This is where we look for the treasure.”

“Holy shit!” Caleb murmured. “MacDuff is going to love this. I can’t wait to—”

A sudden crash shook the train!

“What’s that?” Jane said. “It came from behind!”

“Rodland is trying to see what—”

“Never mind.” Jane looked up as she heard a series of thumps on the roof of the car. “Caleb, I think we have company. Footsteps on the roof, heading your way.”

“I’m on it. Stay down!”

Chapter 17

Chapter
17

Caleb pocketed the phone and pulled out his semiautomatic. “We’re about to get some company.”

Rodland’s eyes were still glued to his laptop screen. “I’m afraid I can’t be much help to you there. I need to switch to the main line, and if this software doesn’t cooperate, it’s going to be an extremely short trip.”

“Understood. I’ll handle it.”

Caleb ducked outside and moved along the side platform. He looked up as cold winds whipped against his face. If Jane was right, someone would be appearing above him at any—

BLAM-BLAM-BLAM!

Caleb fired at the two figures that appeared on the roof of the railcar above. One tried to fire back, but Caleb fired twice more to finish him off. One of the men fell from the train, the other onto the platform next to Caleb.

Caleb kicked him over the side.