1) Acted craftily 2) Cooperated secretly 3) Machinated 4) Plotted 5) Schemed 6) Were in cahoots 1) Schemed 
• (imp. & p. p.) of Connive
connived 1. Pretended ignorance of or having failed to take action against something someone ought to have opposed. 2. Having indulged in or been involved in secret sympathy, winked at, cooperated with secretly, or having had a secret understanding.