Chapter 3

"Sergeant Mendoza." Zorro called out, as he knelt down beside the body. It was obvious to him that the man was dead; he had been shot in the back.

"Si, Zorro, have you found something?" Mendoza asked, as he carefully made his way through the brambles.

Zorro sighed and stood up, "You could say that." he replied, as the sergeant stopped beside him.

"Madre de dios!" Mendoza whispered, as he crossed himself when he saw the body lying on the ground, "Isn't that…?"

Zorro nodded, "Si, sergeant, it is."

"But...but...I don't understand." Mendoza said in confusion, "Why would anyone want to kill...? Do you think it's because they're looking for..." he paused, as he gazed furtively around him, as though he expected someone to be listening in, "...for you know what?" he whispered.

Zorro shrugged, "Anything is possible," he replied, "Sergeant, can you have two of your men, take the body back to Los Angeles, while the rest of us continue on with tracking down these killers."

Mendoza nodded, "Of course," he replied, as he made his way back to his men, "Privates Gomez and Sanchez, bring your horses around the other side of the brambles and prepare to take a body back to Los Angeles."

Gomez exchanged a worried glance with Sanchez, "A body, sergeant?"

"Si, a body. You've seen one before. Now move." Mendoza ordered.

"Si, sergeant." Gomez replied, as he and Sanchez turned their horses around and slowly made their way to the other side of the thick brambles.

As the lancers prepared the body for the journey back to the pueblo, Zorro continued with his search, of the immediate area, for any sign of the kidnappers turned killers. He followed several promising leads only to discover that it came to nothing. But eventually he found, what he thought was the correct trail and with Sergeant Mendoza and the remaining four lancers, they rode onwards.

"Zorro, look, smoke and it looks like its coming from Medina's farm." Mendoza said, as he pointed to distance.

Zorro frowned as he saw the faint wisps of smoke, coming from the other side of a nearby hill, "Yes, indeed. And it so happens that the tracks are leading in the same direction." he replied.

Mendoza shook his head, "But surely you don't believe that Jorge and his brother are responsible. I mean they can be rowdy when they come into town but they are not killers."

Zorro sighed, "At this point, sergeant, I don't know what to believe," he replied, "Lets go and find out." he added, as he urged Toronado on at a faster pace, with the lancers behind him.

"Madre de dios! Who would do such a thing?" Sergeant Mendoza asked in disbelief, as they reached the top of the hill and looked down at the destruction of the farmhouse and the outer buildings.

Zorro forced down his anger, at the wanton destruction of property, "We need to check for survivors," he said.

Mendoza nodded, "Of course." he replied.

When they reached the farm, Mendoza turned to his lancers, "Fan out, men, and look for any survivors." he ordered.

"Si, sergeant." Corporal Sepulveda replied before he and the four lancers, dismounted and began to search around the smouldering remains of house and barn

"Who would have done this, Zorro?" Mendoza said sadly, as he too dismounted, "Jorge isn't a bad man and he and his brother work hard on their farm."

Zorro shook his head and dismounted, "I don't know, sergeant, but if we do find them, they will have to pay for this." he replied, as he walked carefully to what had been the front of the house.

"Sergeant," Corporal Sepulveda called out, "We've found Ismael Medina."

Both Mendoza and Zorro rushed to the corporal's side, only to find Ismael Medina's dead body, lying near the coral.

"He's been shot, sergeant." Sepulveda said.

Zorro cursed under his breath, he just couldn't believe it, there were now three deaths. Just what was going on here, he thought to himself. Just what was the connection between all three? Were the killers still in the area? Were they going to discover even more victims, as the search went on?

"Sergeant, look, it's Jorge Medina." Private Torres called out, pointing to the far side of the farm, where a man came stumbling out behind some trees.

Both Zorro and Mendoza ran over to Jorge, just as he collapsed in pain from the burns to his hands and arms.

"Private, bring your water canteen," Zorro ordered before he knelt down beside Jorge, "We'll get you some help, Señor Medina, but can you tell us what happened here?" Zorro asked, compassionately.

Jorge took a gasping breath, "Men...came...they stole...our horses...they killed Ismael when...he tried to stop..." he stopped, as the private arrived with the water canteen.

Zorro took the canteen and carefully gave Jorge a drink of water, "Easy, Señor, not too much water." he cautioned.

Jorge continued, "They set...fire to the house...I was inside and...I had to get out...that's how I burnt...my arms."

"Did they say anything, anything at all?" Zorro asked.

Jorge took a deep breath before he shook his head, "No...not really..." he replied, "Can I have...more water."

Zorro nodded, as he held the canteen to Jorge's lips and the wounded man drank slowly, "Gracias," he replied.

"Are you sure they didn't say anything? Perhaps a name?" Zorro asked once more, "Even the smallest thing could help us find these men."

"I...they said something...about a mine...that it was an accident...And something about the...Capistrano Mission...they wanted...information." Jorge said breathlessly, as the pain became too great and he collapsed, unconscious, into the arms of the private. But, not before he uttered, "Bouchard."

Mendoza looked worriedly at Zorro, "Bouchard. Surely not here in Los Angeles?"

Zorro let out a long breath, "It looks like it," he replied, "Let's get Señor Medina back to Los Angeles, so the doctor can tend to his wounds."

Mendoza nodded, "I'll get the men to make a litter for him."

Zorro noticed the lateness of the day, "It's getting late and I don't think we can search any more today," he said, as he turned to Mendoza, "Thank you for your help, Mendoza."

"You're welcome, Zorro. I just wish we had found the killers." Mendoza replied.

"So do I, sergeant. But they will be found and brought to justice. That I promise." Zorro stated firmly.