Chapter 7

Luis Ramón sat at his desk looking at a pair of boots sitting on the desktop. They were extravagant but the alcalde of the pueblo deserved the finest things in life..."Beautiful...Absolutely beautiful. Four hundred pesos, you say?"

"They are of the finest quality," the boot maker responded.

"You'll have your money this afternoon."

"Gracias, alcalde. It has been a pleasure doing business with you."

The tavern was filled with soldiers and townspeople enjoying their meal. Victoria was usually pleased to see such a crowd but not today. The soldiers were literally eating her out of house and home...

"Bill? But this is me, Sergeant Mendoza." The portly sergeant had just finished his meal when Victoria presented him with a bill.

"And this is me, Victoria Escalante. No more lancers are going to put me in the poorhouse."

"Do you have any idea what it is like to live off garrison rations? The meals don't compare to yours. They are awful. Have pity on a desperate man, senorita."

"Fine but you have had your last free meal in my tavern."

"Is there a problem here, Sergeant?" The alcalde sat across from the unhappy sergeant. Probably something to do with his stomach, no doubt.

"None, mi alcalde."

"There is a problem and it starts with you taking our money," the old don stated angrily as he eyed the expensive pair of boots the alcalde wore.

"Without taxes, Los Angeles would not be the crown jewel that it is."

"And you would not wear such fine boots, Alcalde. Yes. . . And what about that new school that we need or the bridge to Santa Paula that was washed out," Alejandro continued as he approached the alcalde. Luis Ramon's extravagance knew no bounds. People were starving and he had the audacity to buy new boots for himself probably at the taxpayer's expense.

"Be careful, de la Vega. Treason can be much more costly than taxes. What gives you the right to question my authority?"

"We are the people, Alcalde," Victoria chimed in confidently, "That gives us every right we need."

"Have you nothing to say, son?" The old don waited for a response from his son who had stood by quietly as he confronted Ramon.

"I am against such extravagance in the face of this pueblo's poverty. Excuse me, Father, Victoria. I have important matters to attend to at the Guardian." Ramon glared at Diego's retreating back for as moment and then left, expecting Mendoza to follow...

The crowd cheered and raised their hands in excitement as Zorro rode into town followed by three bandits tied together on one horse. As Toronado passed Victoria, the masked man tipped his hat to his lady acknowledging her presence. Several minutes later, Zorro rode away, saluting mockingly at the lancers across the plaza. "Alcalde!"

"Lancers, arrest him! Now!" Two lancers fired their muskets in Zorro's direction. The alcalde fired his musket narrowly missing the masked man.

Sir Edmund smiled gloating at the alcalde. "Missed again."

"I have had just about enough of your insolence, Kendall."

"When will you admit that you will never catch him!"

"I will see you hanged for your insubordination."

"Why don't we settle this like men, perhaps?"

Ramon was no match for the British knight. Did he really want the wrath of the English government as well as Don Alejandro directed at him? "Very well, I take back the comment."

"Very wise, alcalde. Edmund is a master with the blade," Don Alejandro stated.

I will destroy that masked fiend soon and Kendall as well. It's only a matter of time.

Luis Ramon paused in front of the noisy tavern that had a reputation for housing all way of outlaws and reprobates. He stopped as he located the reason for his visit. He would get rid of that insolent Englishman once and for all...

"Sit down. Do you have the money?"

"You will get your money when the job is complete and not a minute before." The alcalde had heard of Figueroa's reputation but refused to give him any money until the job was done...

"Five thousand pesos? For just one life?" Figueroa sneered.

"I have tried to capture Zorro for months...There will be a bonus if you can also dispose of one Edmund Kendall."

"Who is this Kendall?"

"A friend of the de la Vegas."

"Why don't you handle this Kendall yourself?"

"He is a knight of the British Empire. I cannot very well kill him myself but if he were to meet an unfortunate accident well…"

"Your hands would be clean and…"

"No one would suspect that I had anything to do with this. Do we have a deal?"

"I don't know, Senor. Surely you and your soldiers are capable of handling the situation..."

"After you dispose of Zorro and Kendall, I will take care of the de la Vegas myself. To the death of Zorro," he toasted sealing their bargain, "And the downfall of the de la Vegas."