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“Then don’t do it again. We’re a family now. I won’t have either you or my child dying. Figure out a way that we can work safely together. I don’t care if you don’t like it or that it damages the ego of the Hunter.”
“It appears you’re already on your way to taking care of that for me.” He was smiling faintly. “But maybe if I study your technique, I’ll be able to follow in your footsteps.”
“It’s possible.” She drew a deep breath. “But not if you pull anything like this again.” She tried to joke. “I’m not about to let you go after I’ve taken so much time training you, but you’d definitely have to return to square one.”
“Heaven forbid.” He got to his feet and moved across the room toward her. He saw her slight withdrawal and shook his head. “I’m not in a hurry. I just wanted to make sure that the square-one rule wasn’t in force yet.” His finger pressing her cheek should have been rough and callused but the touch itself was gossamer soft. “What are you going to do tomorrow?”
“Research. I set Rodland to doing it, and it doesn’t seem fair if I don’t pitch in. There are probably some things I can do that he wouldn’t be able to.”
“I don’t doubt it.” He leaned forward and gently kissed her. “You’re the one who performs the magic. I’ll see you tomorrow, Jane.”
Then he was gone.
***
MacDuff’s Run
Next Day
“I don’t have time to talk to you, Caleb.” MacDuff looked impatiently over his shoulder as Caleb strolled into his office. “I have to approve the architect’s plans for the replacement houses for my staff that were destroyed. They’re having to live in the village right now.”
“I can wait.” Caleb sat down. “I wouldn’t think of inconveniencing you. Particularly since I’m going to have to beg you to lend me an exorbitant amount of cash when you get around to paying attention to me.”
“Beg?” He smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
“You always do. That’s why I thought I’d drop in and make your day.”
“You have your own money. Why are you trying to borrow from me?” His smile had a catlike malice. “Or have you been foolish and blown all that inheritance? I’d have to disapprove, I’m afraid. Perhaps I should have a talk with Jane since I wouldn’t want her to become a virtual pauper. After all, I’m head of the family.”
“Debatable. And Jane wouldn’t give a damn, as you know.”
“I’m afraid you’re right. But I can always hope. Proceed with your begging.”
“You’re sure you have time for it?”
“I’m curious.”
“I still have plenty of cash, but the problem is with quality, not quantity,” Caleb said. “I need you to pay a visit to the bank where you deposited your treasure and take out enough of it so that it would not only look substantial but be able to convince anyone that it was actually part ofanotherCira treasure.”
MacDuff gave a low whistle and then started to laugh. “What are you up to? Of course, I’ve heard the stories that there might be another Cira chest hidden somewhere in the hills. I even searched for it at one time. But I didn’t find it, and I decided that Cira had given me enough and I shouldn’t be greedy. Have you heard something?”
“No, just rumors. But Jane and I thought perhaps Cira might want to have any treasure she still has out there to be used to punish the people who had caused her family to suffer. What do you think?”
“Bohdan,” he murmured. “You’re going after the son of a bitch. You have a plan? You should really leave it in my hands. I’m much better able to handle it.”
“I don’t believe you can. You’re being greedy again.”
“You’re the one who is begging me. Do you realize what a risk I’d be taking? Just the insurance alone is going to cost me a fortune.”
“Now, I do believe you can handle that better than I can. Look, the treasure might not be used at all. Its prime value will be as a lure. We’ll take photos of it, and a few incriminating ones of me in the same photos with the treasure. Most of the time it will be in a safe in a railway car.” He paused. “Though I admit that it’s possible we’ll have to use it for other purposes if everything goes to hell.” Caleb got to his feet. “I’ll need the treasure no later than the day after tomorrow.”
“I didn’t say you’d get it.”
“You didn’t say I wouldn’t.”
MacDuff was swearing below his breath. “You’d better not leave me out of this. You saw what they did to the Run.”
“I saw it.” Caleb was heading for the door. “Look, MI6 doesn’t work well with others, and you have enough to do with protecting and keeping the repair work going on MacDuff’s Run. That doesn’t mean I won’t keep you in mind if I can find a way to do it.” He gave him a glance over his shoulder. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep your marines handy in case you need them…”
