Chapter 2 Kidnapping

When he entered the Tavern, he went straight to the kitchen. When he saw Pilar sitting in a chair crying, he hurried over to her. She was behaving like she was scared and could not speak without crying more. He gave her some water to help calm her down, so she could tell him why she was so upset. "Where is Victoria?" He asked when he did not see her anywhere around the kitchen. "You can trust me, please tell me what is wrong."

"I was helping Victoria with the dishes; two men came in here and held us hostage. They said if we screamed or told anyone who they were, they would kill Victoria. They took her out the back door and disappeared. They gave me this note before they left and threw me into the corner. When I was able to stand up and get to the back door they were gone." She was crying and looked at Diego with tear filled eyes. "I am sorry Diego, I would have come to get you, but I was scared they would hurt Victoria if they saw me leave the Tavern."

"Are you hurt?" He asked as his eyes looked for cuts, bumps, or anything that might need to be checked by the doctor.

"No, but please find Victoria fast. I am really worried about her." Pilar looked at him and began to cry again.

"How long ago did this happen?" He asked her, as calm as he could.

"About ten minutes ago." Pilar answered his question the best she could while she tried to calm down.

"They could not have left the pueblo without being seen by someone." Diego started to work through how he planned on finding Victoria safe and quick. He pulled the note out of his pocket and read it.

Zorro,

If you want to see the Senorita alive and safe again please follow these simple rules carefully.

Meet us at the old mine on the De La Vega land by noon tomorrow

Bring no one with you, and if we see that you have brought someone with you, the Senorita dies.

Remember, WE WILL BE WATCHING YOU!

Diego read through the note a few more times, and tried to remember what the two men looked like that had Victoria so worried.

"I am going to need you to help with something." Diego looked at Pilar with a serious but friendly expression.

"How can I help you? I just want Victoria back here safely." Pilar gave him a pleading look.

"We all want her back safely, and I will find her. I need you to keep a look out for those two men that you told me about." Diego explained to her carefully.

"I will watch for them, but do you really think they will come back here?" she questioned him.

"I am not sure, but his note says that they will be watching us." Diego replied. "I do not want to take any chances." He stood up and went to the back door. "I need to go find Victoria, but if you hear any news, you can send a message to me at my father's hacienda." Diego said as he looked around for clues.

Pilar nodded and replied, "Zorro will be upset to hear that his lady love has been kidnapped."

"Yes he will be, and I am sure he will be out looking for her also. If I see him, I will inform him of the latest news." He tried to keep the anger out of his voice. "If only I had stayed here to protect her, this would have never happened." He thought to himself.

Diego left the pueblo and rushed to the hacienda to tell his father what had happened to Victoria.

Alejandro was in the library when Diego came in the front door. "Father there has been a change of plans for tonight. Victoria has been kidnapped, and we only have until noon tomorrow to find her before they hurt or kill her." Diego gave his father a serious look.

"She has been kidnapped? We need to find her!" Alejandro became worried.

"They left a note for Zorro, and it says to meet them at the old mine we own." Diego told his father quickly and headed to the fire place.

"How are you going to find Zorro and pass this news to him?" Alejandro's eyes followed what Diego was doing. The surprised look on his face was noticed by his son as the back of the fire place opened up to a hidden passage.

"This is how father, I will explain later. I need to find Victoria before she is hurt in anyway." Diego disappeared through the open door with Alejandro right behind him.