Chapter 2
Several days later, Diego was sitting in the tavern eating lunch with Sergeant Mendoza when de Soto swaggered in and leered at Victoria who was cleaning the top of the bar. "Senorita, it looks like your lover is a thief after all." he said in a loud voice, which carried to all the patrons in the tavern, including Diego.
Victoria looked up sharply at de Soto, a blush crept over her face at the implications of his words. "Zorro is not my lover, Alcalde and he is not a thief." she replied heatedly.
de Soto pulled a piece of paper from his coat and slammed it down on the bar. "This is the latest report from Santa Barbara regarding the number of thefts that have been occurring there recently. This time there were witnesses to your lover's crimes."
She bristled again at his words but reached out, pleased that her hand was steady as she picked up the paper and read the report. "No, it can't be." she said quietly, her face paled.
Diego immediately rose at Victoria's obvious distress and went to stand next to her. "What's this about Zorro, Alcalde?" he asked, taking the paper from Victoria's now trembling hand.
"Zorro." spat the Alcalde, his hatred for the masked man showing. "Has finally shown his true colours, he was seen stealing money and jewellery from a tavern in Santa Barbara."
"That doesn't sound like Zorro." Diego said calmly as he started to read the official report.
"Zorro is not a criminal." Victoria shouted.
de Soto looked at the senorita. "If you don't wish to visit my jail, I would suggest that you use a different tone with me Senorita." He said harshly.
Diego knew that his lady had a fiery temper and would not be able to stay quiet at the veiled threat so he quickly intervened. "Alcalde, this description could be anyone. A common criminal hiding his face."
"Hardly de la Vega, the witnesses saw a man dressed in black, wearing a sabre and riding a black horse. This is not what your normal thief wears. And he marked the site with his trademark Z."
Diego knew exactly where he was on the night of the thefts, so he tried another approach, more to reassure Victoria of her hero's good name, than to give de Soto more reason to detest his alter-ego. "This incident happened several nights ago, Alcalde. Zorro was in the square early Tuesday morning, surely not enough time to get to Santa Barbara that night."
de Soto nodded angrily, his lancers had missed again when they shot at the fleeing bandit. "He had enough time to get there on that wild horse of his and it was late, after midnight when the robbery occurred."
Victoria gasped as she realised what Diego had said.
The two men looked at her.
"It wasn't Zorro, he was..." she stopped herself from saying that Zorro had been in her room on that night.
"Yes senorita. Zorro was...?" de Soto sneered.
She shook her head; she didn't want anyone to know that Zorro had occasionally visited her in her bedroom. There were enough rumours about her and Zorro without adding to them. "Nothing."
de Soto snorted. "Well, not only is he a wanted criminal here in Los Angeles but also in Santa Barbara. He will be caught very soon and then he will hang." He turned and left the tavern with an evil gleam in his eye.
"It wasn't Zorro, Victoria." Diego said convincingly.
"I know it wasn't Zorro." She smiled at him. She knew that he was trying to cheer her up for he had no way of knowing of Zorro's late night visit. Not that she was going to tell him. It wasn't because she didn't trust her closest friend with the information, she just felt that he wouldn't understand why Zorro had to visit her in her bedroom. For Diego de la Vega was a gentleman and he would never visit a senorita's bedroom without a wedding ring on her finger first.
"How do you know...? Or shouldn't I ask." Diego teased. He couldn't help but stare as a small blush crept over her lovely features as she lowered her eyes. He was overcome by a sudden urge to kiss her but he quickly masked his emotions.
Victoria looked up and for a split second, she saw something flicker across his blue eyes, something that she couldn't place, but it went so fast that she thought she had imagined it.
"Excuse me Senorita." interrupted Sergeant Mendoza.
"Si Sergeant." she turned towards the older lancer.
"May I have another one of your lovely burritos?" he asked with an eager expression on his face.
Victoria smiled warmly. "Of course Sergeant. Do you want anything else Diego?"
Diego shook his head. "Thanks but no, I must be getting back to The Guardian, I have a piece to write. But I will see you later, adios."
"Adios." Victoria smiled as she watched him walk out of the tavern.
Diego entered the newspaper office, sat at his desk and thought about this impostor. He knew he had to get more information about this charlatan for he could not let the reputation of Zorro to be tainted as a thief, it was not what he stood for. He decided to travel to Santa Barbara to find out what he could. And despite the Alcalde's regard for Toronado's speed, it would take almost two days travel especially as he would be leaving late in the day.
An hour later, Diego was back at the hacienda and after he told his father about his unexpected trip to Santa Barbara, Felipe signed "Z" to Diego.
"No Felipe, I will go as myself, the editor of The Guardian. Besides I don't think that Zorro would like to be caught by the lancers at Santa Barbara. They are much better trained." He smiled.
Felipe grinned back as he went back to his studies.
As Diego watched him go, he thought about how much Felipe had grown from the time he found him in the middle of the battlefield, with his parents laying dead somewhere nearby. He sighed again, wishing not for the first time that he had his own children, to watch them grow. He shook himself out of his melancholy and walked briskly to his room to pack.
Later that evening, Diego arrived at a small roadside tavern and stayed for the night. He enjoyed a light supper before retiring to his room for the night. While Diego prepared for bed, the impostor robbed another tavern further north from where Diego was staying. The bandit again stole cash and gold and rode off into the night after leaving behind the mark Z.
The following morning Diego was up early, settled his account with the tavern owner and continued his journey north.
Back in Los Angeles, Victoria was serving lunch to Sergeant Mendoza when Don Alejandro and Felipe walked through the doors.
"Hola Don Alejandro, Felipe." She greeted them before looking around for Diego.
"Hola Victoria, how are you feeling this fine morning?"
She smiled warmly. "I'm fine Don Alejandro. Where's Diego?" she asked as they took a seat.
Don Alejandro smiled. "Diego decided that he wanted to know more about this impostor so he has gone to Santa Barbara to do a story for The Guardian."
"Really, that was nice of him. I know it wasn't Zorro but I too would like to know who is posing as him."
Don Alejandro nodded. "Of course it wasn't Zorro. He doesn't steal. I'm sure Diego will find something."
Victoria gazed at Don Alejandro for a moment. "You're proud of him, aren't you?"
Don Alejandro thought for a moment, and then nodded. "As the editor of The Guardian, he seems more interested in the community. Oh he still has his books but I'm glad he has other interests."
Victoria bit her lower lip, not sure if she should say what is on her mind.
He saw her hesitation. "Victoria what it is?"
"I...Don Alejandro can I say something personal?"
He patted her hand. "Of course you can. You're like part of the family." He watched as a blush crept over her face. He sighed. Here was a beautiful, young senorita and there was his son, who didn't seem to notice Victoria or any other women for that matter.
She took a deep breath. "I think you should tell Diego that you are proud of him. You would make him happy if you did."
Don Alejandro stared at Victoria, too stunned to make a reply. Then he lowered his gaze. "Perhaps I will." he said softly, remembering some of the remarks he has made to his son.
Victoria gave Don Alejandro a warm smile before she walked back to her kitchen. She had often heard the cutting remarks he had made to his tall, adult son which she felt that Diego didn't always deserved. She was pleased that she was able to defend her best friend for once. But then a little voice inside her head said,
Why did you feel the need to defend him?
He's my best friend.
Is that all? He doesn't mean anything more to you?
Like what?
That you have feelings for him and not of the sisterly kind.
No. NO, he's my best friend. That's all.
Victoria shook her head to clear it from these disturbing thoughts. From the other side of the curtains came the sounds of more people entering the tavern for lunch and all thoughts of Diego was pushed aside as she went out to take their orders.
