Disclaimer: No copyright infringement meant with story. Characters owned by ZPI, not by me. I only wish to borrow them for a little while.
Summary: What happens after the incidents in "Ultimate Justice"? How does Diego avoid suspicions, especially those of the Alcalde?
AN: Yep, yet another story when I don't have my other ones finished. Sigh, but that's how my Muse works the best. Keeps her inspired, I guess. Also, now that I have three fandoms going, I do feel a little guilty when I'm not writing a Zorro story. But, again, I think it keeps the Muse sharp and on her toes. Sure hope you enjoy this one. Kinda different from my other ones, so here goes. Hope it was worth the wait.
As he rode home from the Indian village, Diego couldn't help let escape an occasional groan as the pain from the various injuries made itself known when unexpected jolts from Toronado occasionally occurred. If he were a man to curse, Diego would certainly swear a blue streak at Ignacio de Soto for his stupidity. However, he knew he should also swear at himself, for if he himself hadn't had a gigantic sense of honor and duty, he'd have left the Alcalde to face the Indian justice on his own.
However, Diego knew he couldn't allow the man to suffer, even if he himself were insufferable, with his stubbornness, prejudice and stupidity. But there were larger issues than just Ignacio however. Diego could take pride in the fact he prevented an uprising, or possibly even a war, between the Indians and the Spanish army. As he had attempted to explain to the Indian chief, if the Alcalde suffered any harm at the hand of the Indians the army would indeed take every opportunity to punish every Indian man, woman and child they could apprehend for harming one of their own.
Such noble thoughts didn't take away the pain and discomfort of his injuries. As Toronado galloped along, Diego wondered whether he should consult with Dr. Hernandez. As Zorro, he could tell the doctor what types of injuries they truly were, and he could tell them the proper ways to treat them. If, instead, he went home and allowed Felipe to only treat them, and then develop complications, he'd have to come up with another excuse for his injuries, which was becoming more and more difficult to create.
Having convinced himself of the intelligence of seeking the doctor's treatment, Diego headed for the man's house. Luckily, to Diego's advantage, the doctor's home was on the opposite side of the pueblo from the Alcalde's office and the cuartel. Plus, it was later in the day, so the doctor should be home.
Diego took the long way to the doctor's home, and tied Toronado to the back of the house. He approached the front door carefully, and not having seen anyone, knocked.
"Zorro, what a surprise to see you here," Dr. Hernandez said after opening the door to find the masked man standing there. "Please come in right away, so no one can see you." Hustling Zorro into the house, the doctor quickly shut the door. Leading the way into his salon, the doctor asked, "What can I help you with?" as he watched the masked man limp slightly into the salon.
"Not to go into an entire story, Dr. Hernandez, but…I've just undergone some Indian trials. I had to first run through a 'river of pain' which consisted of a crowd hitting me with sticks multiple times. At the end of this 'river', was one of their fiercest warriors who I had to battle with a staff. After beating him, I then had to climb up a canyon wall they call the 'Wall of Death'."
"Oh, my, Zorro why in the world would they make you do that? Everyone knows you are considered to be their friend. Aren't they themselves aware of it as well?"
Changing his mind about not having time for the entire story, and knowing the doctor wouldn't quit insisting until he got the entire story, Zorro told him about the Alcalde stumbling onto Indian sacred land when chasing him, and that the Indians would have killed the Alcalde if Zorro hadn't intervened.
"Oh, Zorro, you my friend are quite the hero indeed. What would we do without you? I can't understand how you can have such integrity to always risk your own life for the sake of the others."
Zorro attempted to deny such praise, but instead the doctor quieted him with a hand gesture. "I know you'd deny such praise, but just so you know I for one, like many other people in the pueblo, truly appreciate all you do." Smiling, the doctor gently placed a hand on Zorro's arm and indicating a room off of the salon he said, "Please enter my examining room so I can treat those injuries and get you on your way."
Zorro smiled his gratitude and followed him into the room. The doctor requested him to remove his shirt, and a gasp came out unbidden from his mouth, which he quickly apologized for. "Even with your warning me, it still took me by surprise." He excused himself and returned shortly after with a basin of warm soapy water and proceeded to wash the dried blood and dirt from the gashes and cuts on Zorro's abdomen and back.
Then stepping in front of him, the doctor looked at Zorro's hands. Seeing the red, bruised and broken skin of his palms, as well as the scratches and cuts on both sides of the hands, the doctor could only shake his head again.
"I'm afraid these injuries are going to take some time to heal, Zorro."
"I was afraid you'd say that," Zorro replied, with a crooked half-smile.
~~Z~~Z~~Z~~
Ignacio de Soto was sitting at his desk, nursing a wounded pride. It was the day after his terrible experience with the Indians, where Zorro actually had to save him from a certain and gruesome death, Ignacio de Soto, the Alcalde of the pueblo Los Angeles. Oh, the indignity of it all!
Not only did he not capture Zorro, or find his secret lair, he himself had to experience the indignity of actually being in debt to the masked scourge of his existence.
The brilliance of his plan to become Alcalde in order to quickly gain prestige and experience in order to be promoted quickly in Spain had quickly lost its enchantment within the first few months of his arrival here. Between the poverty of the population, the ingratitude of his subjects, the lack of a proper appreciation of the finer things in life, not to mention the existence of a criminal like Zorro to interfere with his plans, de Soto decided all he wanted to do was return to Spain. But only in victory and success. And the only way he seemingly could accomplish that was to capture the fiend. But how to do that?
The Alcalde shook his head. Such a simple thing to do, figure out who was behind the mask, and imprison him. Why hadn't anyone accomplished it by now?
He had spent hours scouring the papers of the former Alcalde, researching the various schemes he had attempted to capture Zorro, and his various theories as to who could be behind the mask. Nothing seemed to even come close to solving the problem.
His mind returned to yesterday's events. Something was nibbling at the corners of his brain. It finally hit him. Why couldn't he figure out who Zorro was by investigating if anyone in the pueblo had the types of injuries he knew Zorro would have experienced from the fiasco? Sure, he had attempted to find out Zorro's identity often enough other times, but something always seemed to work against it.
A thought crossed his mind. Don Diego de la Vega seemed to be quite frail at times, often claiming to take to bed for minor complaints. At first de Soto passed it off as part of a hypochondriac personality, which often is present in an effete character like de la Vega often presented himself as being. But…maybe there was something more.
Ignacio attempted to remember if he had seen Diego at the tavern for lunch earlier that day. Even though his hacienda had one of the best cooks in the area, Diego was often at the tavern. Of course Ignacio, like almost everyone else in the pueblo, knew it wasn't the food or the company which attracted Diego to the tavern. It was a certain raven-haired tavern owner Diego always wanted to see.
He shook his head. The idea a firebrand such as Victoria Escalante would ever be attracted to a weak, cowardly man such as Diego was laughable. Of course, he reasoned that was why Diego had yet acted on his attraction. He was certainly no competition for a man like Zorro.
Another piece of the possible answer to his puzzle regarding Zorro fell into place. Both Zorro and Diego, two such vastly different men, interested in the same woman? Why would that happen?
Okay, Ignacio thought to himself, two possible reasons why Diego could be Zorro. But, really? How about all the ineptitude he often showed? And he was such a milquetoast, never acting with fire or temper when certain things occurred around the pueblo. Could any man keep such control of his temper as to never show his reactions? de Soto had just assumed Diego hardly had a pulse, since almost nothing appeared to disturb him. But could that also be an act?
He did call Zorro "a hero" yesterday. And what type of man actually offered himself in place of another, to prevent a war? Such an insufferable fool, such a nuisance, always ruining his plans. He really, really needed to get rid of him, to wipe the insufferable grin off his face. But how? How could he accomplish this when others have failed?
Lost in his thoughts he didn't hear Mendoza knock. Mendoza entered with his usual loud, clumsy manner. "Alcalde! Buenas tardes. The mail is here."
"Why are you always so noisy, Mendoza?" Grabbing the mail out of Mendoza's hand, the Alcalde said, "Here, give me that!" Scanning Mendoza from head to toe, de Soto asked, "Anything else to report, Sergeant?"
"Er, um, no, Alcalde. Are you expecting something?"
"No. Just wondering if anything out of the ordinary was happening. Did Diego de la Vega have lunch at the tavern today?"
"No, actually, no he didn't, Alcalde. Which is strange, for he is almost always there wishing to talk to Senorita Escalante. You know…."
Waving his hand, de Soto interrupted him. "I have no time for gossip, Mendoza. Gracias for the mail. Dismissed."
Mendoza saluted him and left. de Soto sat down, deep in thought. He absent-mindedly looked at the mail. One envelope caught his eye.
Finally! A letter from his former classmate Juan de Carlo, still living in Madrid. de Soto had sent him a letter asking for information about Diego shortly after Ignacio had arrived in the pueblo. At the time, believing any information about the upper class would only be useful, Ignacio had sent off a letter. Even with the difficulty of getting mail from Spain in a timely fashion, it seemed to have taken a much longer time than usual. However, it was fortuitous it had arrived today.
Ignacio quickly opened the letter and read it. A smile appeared on his face, which got bigger and bigger the more he read.
"Finally! I cannot believe it. I have got him, I've got Zorro."
de Soto rose from his desk and began to pace. He needed to execute his plans carefully, leaving nothing to chance. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will have Zorro in my jail. Soon, Madrid, I will be returning to your glorious sights once again.
~~Z~~Z~~Z~~
Ignacio de Soto spent the rest of the day gathering evidence and collecting testimonies. He made a visit to the doctor. Dr. Hernandez attempted to be as uncooperative as he could, not knowing what the Alcalde was up to but suspecting only the worst. Clearly, since he asked about Zorro, the Alcalde was up to no good regarding the pueblo's savior. Again.
Dr. Hernandez attempted to distract the Alcalde with minor details, and talk about the inability of a doctor to talk about his patients, but the Alcalde threatened him with jail if he didn't cooperate. So Dr. Hernandez verified the injuries Zorro had received care. Figuring he was only confirming knowledge the Alcalde had anyway, the doctor figured Zorro would understand why the doctor cooperated.
When the Alcalde demanded the identity of Zorro under threat of death by hanging, Dr. Hernandez was never as glad for Zorro's anonymity as he did that moment. "As you know Alcalde, he never tells anyone who he is under the mask. I do not know, nor do I have any clue as to his identity."
"Certainly, treating his injuries should have given you some clue?"
"In this case it didn't. I didn't see any recognizable marks, and I didn't recognize him as someone I would've treated before."
The Alcalde hardly expected the doctor to give him the information he so desperately wanted, but he did take a certain satisfaction in making the doctor as uncomfortable as possible. It was useful to find out Zorro had kept his identity secret from even the doctor. And because of his profession, to find out that even the threat of death didn't always scare the doctor into breaking his vows of privacy to his patients, the Alcalde filed it for future use as well.
"Thank you, doctor. Now, remember, if I find out differently you do know who Zorro is under the mask, I will try you as an accessory to his crimes." The Alcalde couldn't resist adding the warning as a parting shot.
The doctor watched the Alcalde walk across the pueblo. He still had no idea what de Soto was up to, but Dr. Hernandez hoped it wouldn't prove successful against Zorro. The pueblo still needed the courageous man, whoever it may be under the mask.
The Alcalde didn't have much more luck from the padre, or the nuns at the orphanage. He of course didn't bother questioning Senorita Escalante. Even if she'd know something useful, she wouldn't tell him, even under threat of death. Neither would the other shopkeepers.
However, as he laid himself in his bed that night, Alcalde de Soto was satisfied with how the day had gone. Tomorrow would be a grand day indeed.
~~Z~~Z~~Z~~
Even though he desperately missed Victoria, Diego knew he needed to stay home for the second day in a row. His wounds were healing slowly but without complication. He knew he could hide the wounds on his back without difficulty, but the dark bruise at the base of his throat was still noticeable, as well as the cuts and burns on his hands. Diego knew he could possibly explain the condition of his hands by way of a scientific experiment, but the bruises on his body…Diego knew it would be foolish to attempt exposure for no good reason. Even though seeing Victoria certainly wasn't to be excused lightly, Diego decided to wait out one more day.
Since he had been able to go to bed at a reasonable hour the night before, due to his injuries plus nothing requiring Zorro's attention, Diego was up before 9am. He had time to dress and eat breakfast with his father. Of course his father had to comment on the strangeness of seeing him awake before noon, but Diego brushed off his light teasing and enjoyed a nice conversation with his father.
Until Ignacio de Soto showed up at their door shortly after they had finished breakfast.
AN: I suppose you've figured out what kinds of details are in that mysterious letter? Either way, hope you return back for the next chapter when I get it posted. Thanks so ever very much for reading, and hopefully reviewing. Always appreciated!
Yeah, this had started off as only being a reveal connected to the episode "Ultimate Justice". And then, the idea about the letter came barging in…so I hope it works…We shall see, I guess. Hopefully the next chapter wouldn't be too long in appearing. See you then!