Disclaimer: I am merely playing with the characters. I certainly have no claim on anything but my own ideas, and anything you recognize from the episode is certainly not mine. "Dirty Tricks" was written by Philip John Taylor.
Summary: Politics can take strange turns.
Author's Notes: I know the plot of "Dirty Tricks" was unbelievable. The status quo restoring ending was so obvious that I'd assumed that there was some weird twist of law that allowed Victoria to run for office, but no. Anyway, I was going to skip this, but I found the idea of writing one particular scene irresistible enough to overlook how anachronistic the episode was, and then irony of ironies, the scene that made me want to write this story was the hardest to write.
Also, I've changed a few scenes around a bit, mainly to try to give the timeline a better flow for me, and I'm dropping a couple of background items that seem even more unbelievable to me, as well as adding stuff to try to make the plot slightly more believable to me, despite the fact that it's probably as anachronistic as the plot itself. Weird, how I feel guilty about changing the small things when I've already made one enormous change to the entire series and even more changes to other episodes.
Oh well, on with the tale.
By Hook or By Crook
Part 1
(Dirty Tricks)
Victoria was in a bad humor that day. The tavern was the busiest it had been in some time, and while that was a good thing, she'd hardly had time to take a break all morning. She'd barely been able to say hello to Diego before having to get back to business. Mendoza was going on about some dream of his where apparently she was some kind of incredibly shrewish alcalde, and then some idiot who apparently could barely read decided to try for the job of manager by insinuating that she was looking for a man to bed her. He was lucky that all she did was slap his face. If she hadn't been across the bar from him, she would have gone for a decidedly lower target.
As she stormed off to the kitchen, she thought it was a great pity that neither Pilar nor Alicia wanted the job. While Pilar didn't mind being left in charge for short periods, she had difficulties dealing with the tradespeople and was reluctant to stay for the overnight guests, and Alicia was perfectly content with cooking and serving customers and had no particular ambitions to anything more. Victoria decided to concentrate on cooking for a while, and let Pilar and Alicia deal with the customers, though she was thinking that with the way things were going she'd need both a manager and another waitress/cook.
She wasn't surprised when Diego appeared in the kitchen a few minutes later.
"Are you all right, Victoria?" he asked.
"Fine," she said. "He deserved the slap."
"I have no doubt," he replied. "Can I help?"
"I thought you and your father had something to do."
"You're more important," he said.
"I can handle this," Victoria said, with a smile, before changing the subject to one of the things that was bothering her. "Does Mendoza really think I'd be a tyrant if I were in charge?"
"It's just a dream," Diego said. "And since the last two alcaldes have been tyrants, it doesn't surprise me that anyone he dreamed into the position would also be a tyrant. I imagine if it had been me..." Diego looked puzzled. "Perhaps enforced painting or music lessons..."
Victoria laughed. "Or enforced scientific training... You're right. I shouldn't take it personally, though it would be nice if we could choose our alcalde."
"Well, technically we have the right," Diego said. "Even though we've had the commander of the garrison filling that role, Los Angeles has been given the right to elect its own alcalde and town council. Something I was pointing out to our not so loved alcalde last week."
"Then why don't we?" Victoria demanded.
"Tyranny and apathy are a powerful combination," Diego said.
"We should do something to change that," she said.
Diego stood still for a long moment. "Perhaps we could," he said thoughtfully. "Maybe if it's brought out publicly enough that he couldn't ignore it... A challenge... Especially if it came from his nemesis..."
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
"A way we might make an election come through. I'm not sure it would work, but it's a definite thought. I need some time to think," he said.
"All right, I won't press you," Victoria said. "Now you'd better get out to your father before he starts wondering what you've been doing in here."
Diego turned to her and leaned down to give her a brief but thorough kiss. "I wouldn't want him to think it was all innocent," he said.
"That definitely wasn't innocent," Victoria said. "But I really do need to finish cooking, Diego, and you need to go with your father."
"If you insist," he said, giving her another kiss on her cheek this time. Then he disappeared from the kitchen.
~Z~Z~Z~
Alejandro didn't say anything about Diego's brief foray into Victoria's kitchen, but then Diego didn't expect him to. He would more likely have said something if Diego hadn't gone to see Victoria. His father got up as Diego walked back to the table.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes, father," Diego replied and followed him outside.
As he walked outside, Alejandro went back to the conversation they'd been having earlier with Mendoza on the subject of his dream. "You know, Diego," he said. "You're right. Sometimes dreams do come true, in a strange roundabout kind of way."
Diego couldn't help but agree. He'd once dreamed about being able to publicly remove Zorro's mask and claim Victoria's hand, and while the unmasking was unlikely to ever happen, he was going to marry Victoria in the not-too-distant future. He had another dream too. That of being the son his father wanted, but he didn't think it was safe for him to know Zorro's secret yet. He wasn't a man who could step aside when there was trouble, and if he knew his only son were Zorro and in danger, he couldn't be silent. However, in his own roundabout way, Diego was trying to improve his father's opinion without giving away his secret. He knew he'd been making some strides there, especially with his engagement to Victoria, which was also fulfilling one of his father's dreams, his hope of grandchildren in the near future. And they'd enjoyed teasing the sergeant a little as he seemed overly fixated on his nightmare.
Lost in thought he hadn't noticed the new boxes attached the hitching rail, until his father mentioned them. "What are these?" he asked.
Seeing Mendoza walking out of the tavern, Diego turned to ask him, "Sergeant, can you explain this?"
"Oh, sí, Don Diego. The Alcalde feels the plaza is too congested. This is his new tethering tax. If you tie your horse, you put fifty centavos into the box. If you don't put the fifty centavos in the box, your horse gets taken to the municipal corral, and you will be fined."
"That's a dreadful idea, sir," Alejandro said, even as he took some coins out his pocket and tossed them in the air in irritation.
Knowing there was no point in making a scene at the moment, Diego simply reached into his pocket for the money as he spoke the first words that came to his mind, "This town is getting far too crowded."
"Madre de Dios!" Mendoza exclaimed behind him. "That's what you said in my dream!"
Diego was starting to regret teasing Mendoza about the possibility of dreams coming true, as he seemed to be taking this all too seriously. Riding away, Diego tried to think of a way to get De Soto to drop the new tax without riding as Zorro.
~Z~Z~Z~
The new tethering tax didn't last very long. Three days later without any interference by Zorro or anyone else that Diego could tell, De Soto rescinded the tax. Most likely it was because people stopped tethering their horses in town on the second day, thus making it a very easy tax to bypass. Though De Soto glowered as he saw the empty hitching post, he said nothing to anyone, not even Mendoza.
Wondering if De Soto had any additional motives for either the tax or its reversal, Zorro even paid a late night visit to the alcalde's office. There wasn't much to be discovered. There were a couple of different official letters with contradictory instructions. One calling for more revenue for Spain and another about Monterey considering cutting the amount of funds for the cuartel on the grounds that they weren't necessary because of local taxes. He also saw a letter De Soto was drafting concerning the pay for the lancers. This might prove challenging come market day and unfortunately, would be something more in Zorro's line than Diego's.
~Z~Z~Z~
Four days later, it was market day, and Victoria was out doing the shopping for the tavern, and as she moved among the stalls, she noticed with irritation De Soto was trying to use government vouchers to buy food. Everyone else had to use money or barter. What good was a bit of paper when the alcalde's taxes cut into everything? And why wasn't he using those taxes to pay for supplies? She stopped as she saw Carlos, the vegetable vendor, demanding back his produce.
"Your voucher won't pay my rent. Give me back my vegetables!"
De Soto tried to soothe the vendor. "Relax, amigo. You'll be paid."
Victoria had had enough. Diego might have some hope for De Soto; she didn't, and she wasn't in the mood to sit back quietly today. "When? When will Carlos see his money?"
De Soto stood straighter and spoke in a way that was clearly meant to go over her head but didn't— another strike against the man. "The garrison is unfortunately suffering from an embarrassing cash flow problem at the present due to budgetary constraints stemming from a certain impecuniousness in the territorial coffers."
"So in other words, you're broke," Victoria snapped.
De Soto spoke angrily himself, but she wasn't sure whether it was anger at her asking questions or his annoyance that he was in this position to begin with. "I refuse to allow my men to starve because of bureaucratic red tape in Monterey. They must be fit. Always on the alert for forces of evil lurking in this pueblo and that includes that arch fiend... that menace to society... "
Of course, Victoria thought bitterly, it always came down to...
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Zorro's voice. She should have expected this. Diego had told her that there might be a problem on market day. "Let me guess," Zorro said. "Me?" He dropped down from the tavern to the ground.
De Soto was quick to call out. "Lancers!"
However, Zorro was quicker and had his sword to De Soto's throat before the lancers could take aim. "You'll hit the ground a dead man, señor."
Victoria noted that as usual De Soto decided that discretion was the better part of valor when he said, "Hold your fire!" Then addressing Zorro said, "What do you want?"
"An honest day's pay for an honest day's work. These people cannot exist on credit. Pay them."
"Impossible! This pueblo is operating on a deficit and short of raising taxes," he said, then raised his voice to address the people, "which I have sworn never to do..."
Victoria couldn't believe that he'd have the gall to say that considering that stupid tethering tax from last week, and Zorro seemed equally incredulous as he interrupted him.
"Spare me the political rhetoric. You have six thousand pesos in your safe," he said with a wicked grin. "I checked."
Victoria almost laughed at De Soto's expression when he said, "You what? That is the reward money for your capture."
"No one is ever going to collect it," Zorro said with a confidence that Victoria hoped would never prove to be misplaced. "So why not use it for something worthwhile. Now pay them!"
Again De Soto took on that pompous tone Victoria loathed. "No. The people of Los Angeles are willing to tighten their belts in support of the garrison."
Zorro lowered his voice. "I insist."
He sliced a Z into De Soto's jacket and the crowd clapped as De Soto gave in— again.
Zorro looked around at the people before turning his attention back to De Soto. "You still believe the people of this pueblo support you? I'll wager that in a free election, you'd be lucky to get one vote."
And Victoria finally saw that this was what Di— Zorro had been leading to all along. A challenge to an election by getting De Soto riled. She couldn't resist adding her own fuel to the fire.
"Well, maybe one..." she sneered. "His own."
De Soto, losing his composure, insisted, "The people of Los Angeles respect me."
Victoria wondered if he was delusional enough to actually believe that ridiculous statement.
"Then why not prove it by holding a fair and open election?" Zorro asked. "Or do you choose to govern by intimidation and fear?"
"Señor, I would be pleased to hold a free election. But an election requires more than one candidate to run and..." He raised his voice as he looked around threateningly. "... since there is no one to run against me..."
As De Soto had been speaking, Victoria had been looking around. She'd hoped that Don Alejandro would be in town. He was one of the few people willing to stand up to the alcalde face to face; the other was Diego but he was standing there with a mask on. And Victoria realized that if no one volunteered to be a candidate right now, De Soto would rescind the offer, and they'd lose the opportunity perhaps for good, since De Soto seemed to want to believe that every one either respected or feared him too much to stand against him. Well, Victoria was not about to let him get away with that. Before De Soto could finish his sentence, Victoria shouted, "I will!"
The entire crowd seemed taken aback, De Soto most of all.
"What did you say?" he asked.
With the confidence born of her anger and disgust, Victoria said, "If that's all it takes to get you out of office, you have an opponent."
De Soto, realizing that he couldn't back down without looking more of a fool than usual, said, "So be it."
Zorro turned to her with a slight smile, and she could see the approval in his eyes. "Señorita, I commend your civic mindedness, and I'm sure you'll be the fairest alcalde in California. I must take my leave." He gave a slight bow before turning and punching De Soto in the stomach. Then he took out a coin and tossed it to Carlos. "For your vegetables, Monsieur." Then he was off and escaping from the lancers with his usual aplomb.
After Zorro had disappeared, De Soto stood up, straightened up his clothes and faced Victoria. "So, Señorita Escalante, you're determined to stand for election."
"As soon as you're willing to set the date," Victoria retorted.
De Soto looked at her craftily. "Well, I wouldn't want to delay the wheels of the electoral process. So I propose we hold the election in three days' time. Voting to be held in the plaza."
"Three days?" she asked incredulously.
"With your confidence, surely you don't require more time," he said.
"Of course not," Victoria retorted. "The sooner we can vote you out of office the better."
She turned and headed towards the tavern.
~Z~Z~Z~
Diego and Felipe rode into town not too long after this. While Felipe disappeared into the crowd for a few minutes, Diego was properly amazed when Mendoza told him what had happened in the marketplace. Once he had heard the whole story, he entered the tavern to see Victoria busily talking with some people about the election. He approached her in his capacity as editor of the Guardian and asked if she'd take a walk over to the newspaper and tell him her plans for the pueblo. She agreed readily.
She took a deep breath as she entered the office. "Gracias, Diego. I don't think I knew what I was getting into this morning." She sat down in one of the chairs. "It seems very hard to get the people to see what an opportunity this is to make this pueblo what it should be."
"Politics is a trying business, Victoria," Diego said as he went to sit behind the desk.
"Do you not mind that I volunteered?" she asked. She felt sure he approved, but she'd wondered if he'd had someone else in mind when he'd made the challenge.
"From what I understand, if you didn't, we wouldn't be having an election at all," he said. "And you are a truly excellent candidate. A person of property and standing in the community, which is all that is required as far as I was able to determine."
"That's good to know," Victoria said. "This fight is going to be nasty enough as is."
"And that is something we need to talk about," he said.
"What particularly?"
"Dirty politics. We both know that De Soto is going to try to win by any means necessary. And as editor of the pueblo's only newspaper, I'm in a unique position, as I'm supposed to behave in an unbiased manner no matter what my feelings really are."
"What are you saying?" Victoria asked.
"Please don't take amiss any declarations of neutrality you hear from me over the next couple of days," he said. "I will be, as always, on your side, but..."
"I understand," Victoria said. "The paper's important to you— and you think he might take your neutrality as an opening to try to influence you."
"Right on both counts," he said. "It's wonderful being engaged to such a clever woman. I think you'll make an excellent alcalde."
"What about remaining unbiased?" she asked.
"That is my unbiased opinion," Diego said. "You've always been passionate about justice, about the people, never shy about speaking up, even with a tyrant. It's part of what I love about you, even as I worry about what might happen."
"I'm not quite as impulsive as I used to be," Victoria replied. "Not that you could tell this morning."
"That wasn't impulse; that was acting decisively and passionately when needed," Diego said. "And providing the people with a truly just and noble candidate in the face of... what we have at the moment." He sighed.
Victoria smiled. "You're not exactly coming off as unbiased, my dear editor, but I wish you could more actively help me. You have a great gift for words."
"Perhaps you could ask my father," Diego said. "I'm sure he'd love to be your campaign manager. He loves the battle and believes whole-heartedly in the same things you do, and he won't want to stand aside now that we have a possible way of ousting our current alcalde."
Victoria looked at him curiously. "And how do you intend to appear to remain aloof with your father aiding your fiancée in a political campaign?"
"As best I can, since there's no one else to do the job," he said, before taking out some paper and a pencil. "Now tell me, Señorita Escalante, what are your plans for the pueblo."
"Well, the first thing will be to get rid of the bounty on a man whose only crime is protecting the people," Victoria said, with determination. "Aside from the unfairness of that, we saw today that the pueblo can't afford such a high bounty. Six thousand pesos sitting in a safe when the cuartel can't afford to pay for its supplies, when we need an improved water supply, and a better school. All these taxes, and yet nothing is done to help the people."
"Excellent," Diego said. He glanced out the window to see his father riding to the front of the tavern. "And now might be a good time to go talk to my father."
"All right," Victoria said, rising from her chair.
Diego stood up and crossed to the other side of the desk and took her hand in his. "Good luck." He kissed her hand very politely to her mild displeasure but still smiled warmly at her.
"The whole pueblo needs it," Victoria replied, as she turned to leave.
Leaning against the side of the window, Diego watched her cross the plaza, greeting people as she made her way back to the tavern. She was magnificent, with a good mind and a better heart... and he really did need to cultivate a better air of neutrality to keep De Soto from using their relationship as a reason to discount anything the Guardian said. He'd need to walk very carefully, and somehow get De Soto to overlook or discount that little detail. He almost wished that anyone else had volunteered for the election, but he was there, and if she hadn't spoken no one else would have. It would have been easier if his father had been the one, he thought ruefully. Enough people knew of the general disappointment his father had in him, even if his opinion had lately improved, that De Soto would have immediately thought of using that as a wedge. However, he couldn't really regret Victoria's stand. She was a fighter to her bones, and even as it often added to his anxiety, she wouldn't be the woman he loved if she'd stayed silent in the face of such an opportunity.
Sighing, he sat down at the desk. All this was going to require a special edition of the newspaper, and he might as well get started on the first story. Felipe entered the office shortly after he got started.
"You know, you're getting a little obvious about leaving us alone," Diego said.
Felipe shrugged and signed something that made Diego turn a little red.
"It isn't always like that," Diego said. "I was just interviewing her for the paper." Felipe looked skeptical. "Really, Felipe. After all, until the election is over, we need to keep our distance, and I have to be the perfect impartial gentleman... and don't give me that look either. Now is my father in the tavern?"
Felipe nodded.
"Good— I think. He's not going to be at all impartial. This is going to be a challenge, Felipe. De Soto isn't going to play fair, and now it's my fiancée and my father versus him. I don't know how I'm going to manage this." He looked at Felipe. "Yes, I think Zorro should have thought things through a little more thoroughly before he challenged the alcalde to hold an open election. Like having a candidate ready who did not have close ties to the newspaper editor." He sighed a little as he took in what Felipe was trying to tell him. "No, I can't think of anyone either. Not enough people willing to challenge the alcalde on his own ground." He stared out the window. "Oh, they'll protest— to a point. They'll act— when he's not around to see. We've all become a little too dependent on a masked man to save the day." He went back to the desk. "It doesn't matter now. We've got some work to do."
~Z~Z~Z~
An hour later, Diego and Felipe made their way over to the tavern to see what was going on and found his father in the middle of a group of people making political signs in support of Victoria. The moment he saw his son, however, he crossed the room immediately.
"Diego, Victoria has asked me to organize her political campaign," Alejandro said.
"A wise choice. Congratulations," Diego replied sincerely.
"Thank you, though I'm a little surprised she didn't ask you," Alejandro said. "We are going to unseat the despot De Soto, Diego. I know I can count on you two for help."
Diego hated to disillusion his father, but he had no choice. "Well... Felipe's free to do as he chooses, but as editor of the only newspaper in the pueblo, it is my duty to be as fair as possible to both candidates, which..." he started to say before his father interrupted him.
"What fair, Diego? We're talking about Ignacio De Soto. The word fair doesn't exist in his vocabulary," Alejandro said angrily.
"Does it follow we should exclude it from ours?" Diego asked rhetorically. "And before you ask, Victoria and I already discussed this, since it's going to be more of a challenge to seem to be fair as I'm engaged to her."
His father looked like he was about to explode. "Diego, we have a chance for a free Los Angeles at last, and I just can't believe that... that..." He spluttered to a stop, and Diego could practically see him reconsidering what Diego said. "No, no, no. Wait." He smiled as the idea hit him. "Wait. Good thinking, Diego. I can just see it now. After impartially weighing all of the issues in the election, the Guardian firmly endorses la Señorita Victoria Escalante as alcalde." He slapped Diego on the arm. "Good thinking." He turned around to go talk to another group. Diego was relieved that his father didn't protest any more than he did, though he was afraid that it wasn't going to be as easy as that, at least not without careful work on his part.
Victoria caught his eye as he started back towards the door. He smiled brightly, as he exited to sit on the tavern's porch at a seat near a window so he could look inside as well as across towards the cuartel. For the rest of the day he planned to be as invisible as possible and simply observe the democratic process, such as it was, at work.
~Z~Z~Z~
The next afternoon, Diego made his way back to town. He'd gotten to see more than enough of the campaign beginnings the day before. De Soto had had his lancers busy making signs and riding around the country informing people of the election, while his father had gotten many of his fellow caballeros as well as his vaqueros to do the same. Victoria talked with everyone who came to the tavern. She had a truly winning manner when she took the trouble, and she was taking the trouble now.
Once siesta was over it seemed that most of the pueblo was congregating in the tavern to listen to Victoria speak about what she hoped to accomplish for the pueblo. This included De Soto who seemed to simply be hovering around in silent annoyance, rather than trying to make his own case. Diego kept an eye on De Soto, wondering what he was planning to do. It was out of character for him to simply stand by.
"A vote for me is a vote for an alcalde who will see that your taxes will be spent justly. For a better water supply... for schools... and not for pink lace curtains in my office!" Victoria said with a small laugh.
Diego noticed Mendoza looking a little taken aback by that last comment. Victoria obviously was still annoyed by Mendoza's dream, though she turned it into a joke instead. After all, anyone who knew Victoria knew she was not one to spend money on frivolities, unlike the men who'd been holding the office of alcalde.
"Victoria Escalante, the next alcalde!" Don Alejandro said, after Victoria had finished her speech.
There was much applause, and Diego stood taking notes, while still watching De Soto out of the corner of his eye. He realized that De Soto was also watching him, and when Felipe came up to him and pointed this out as well making a few signs, Diego said quietly, "You're right, Felipe. De Soto will use every means at his disposal to defeat Victoria." He glanced at De Soto again. "But..." Now was the time for to make things a bit obvious to De Soto. Raising his voice, he said, "I must remain neutral, Felipe. The Los Angeles Guardian has a duty to the voters of this pueblo, no matter how strong my feelings for Victoria. It is critical that I be even handed."
Almost on cue De Soto took the bait, clapping at Diego's public declaration of neutrality.
"I applaud your integrity, Diego, if not your suit," he said, apparently unable to resist a barb even as he wanted something. "Please, stop by my office a little later. I would like to outline for you my five-year expansion plan for the pueblo."
Diego, glad to have the opportunity to see what De Soto would try, said, "Why not?"
"Excellent. Until eight then," De Soto said.
Nodding his head, Diego signaled to Felipe that it was time to leave. Once they were outside and out of earshot, Diego said, "We can do more good if De Soto thinks I'm particularly easy to manipulate. And if it looks like I'm playing his game, he might not try something worse."
~Z~Z~Z~
Diego arrived at the alcalde's office promptly at eight, wondering what De Soto had in mind to convince him. It would be interesting to see if he were subtle with his attempt to influence him.
He wasn't.
Almost as soon as the pleasantries were over, De Soto went straight to business. "I understand that you find yourself in an awkward position as editor of the paper, wanting to do your best to be fair on such an important matter, and of course, it is a challenge when your own fiancée is one of the candidates."
"That is quite true," Diego said, still waiting. "But I intend to do my duty to the best of my ability."
"Of course, of course," De Soto said, in what Diego thought was supposed to be a conciliatory manner. "And I'm sure it's not easy to have to worry about offending your fiancée, even for the good of the pueblo. I'd like to find a way to make the decision easier for you."
Diego didn't reply, but simply raised an eyebrow as De Soto brought out a bag of coins and dumped it out on the desk.
"Two thousand pesos. It's all yours," he said.
"Provided the Los Angeles Guardian endorses Ignacio De Soto for the office of alcalde," Diego said.
De Soto seemed pleased by Diego's understanding. "I knew we spoke the same language. After all, we're both men of the world, sí, Don Diego? Democracy— it's just a plaything we give to the people when we need them. We both know the real power lies... with men like us. The movers and the shakers of this world." He looked up at Diego. "And it really is a man's world. Women don't have a head for politics, and I'm sure you can agree that it would be best if Señorita Escalante paid more attention to you and your upcoming marriage than getting tangled up in local politics."
"I've always admired her independence, alcalde," Diego said. He was willing to go a certain distance but not too far. Besides, it would be interesting to see what De Soto would do if Diego resisted a bit.
"True, she is independent. But can you really tell me you're pleased with the thought of your future wife spending all her time trying to run the pueblo when she should be learning to run your household instead?"
"I hardly think a woman who runs a tavern needs any training to run a hacienda; if anything it will probably be rather dull for her," Diego said mildly. It was hard to keep on the oblivious side, especially in light of De Soto's blatant offer of money which he hadn't yet responded to.
He could see De Soto's frustration with him and knew he'd pushed it about as far as he could, so he waited to see what the man would say next before getting back on track. De Soto made an effort to control his contempt and find some common ground. "Don Diego... as independent as Señorita Escalante is, she could hardly respect a man who simply leaps to her command. You need to assert your own independence. Show her you're a man to be reckoned with..." De Soto looked down at the money on the table. "And with two thousand pesos you could get her something with a bit more flare than that necklace she's now wearing."
Diego had to work to keep his composure at that last statement. He could certainly afford on his own behalf to buy Victoria far more expensive jewelry, but that necklace had a certain sentimental value and the fact that it was not expensive is what made it appropriate for her to wear openly without worrying it would attract thieves or be damaged during daily wear. But it wouldn't do for him to seem offended right now. He decided instead to ask about the money De Soto was offering. "I understand the pueblo funds were at an all-time low. How did you come by this?"
De Soto's face took on an expression of wicked glee. "I took it from Zorro's reward money. He gave me the idea himself. Isn't that fantastic?" He laughed at his self-perceived cleverness.
Again Diego had to struggle to keep a straight face though this time it was because he was trying not to laugh rather than to hide offense. "It does have a certain irony," he said.
"Well, what do you say?" De Soto asked eagerly.
Diego took a moment to appear thoughtful, but if he appeared to accept this bribe at face value, De Soto would be far more inclined to refrain from casting doubts on the Guardian until it was too late for it to do him any good. "Two thousand pesos is a lot of money," he said. He took a deep breath before finishing. "The Los Angeles Guardian endorses Ignacio De Soto for the office of alcalde with pleasure."
"Excellent," De Soto said.
He took the bag and held it open as De Soto started dropping the coins back into it. He could only hope that this little bit of trickery on his part would not backfire on him come election day.
~Z~Z~Z~
After his meeting with De Soto, Diego went into the Guardian office and worked on his story for about fifteen minutes before slipping out and around to the back of the tavern. He'd told Victoria that he'd be there at nine, and he didn't have to wait long before she came out and met him.
"Well?" she asked.
Diego smiled. "Well, I've just been offered two thousand pesos to endorse Ignacio De Soto for alcalde, and I thought I'd come and see what his competition had to offer," he joked.
Victoria raised a brow but played along. "I could offer you albondigas soup," she suggested lightly.
He shook his head.
"Flan?"
He did love her flan even more than her soup. However... "Tempting, but not quite," he said.
A slightly mischievous smile appearing on her face, Victoria made a show of thinking before saying, "Then perhaps... a kiss?"
"That sounds about right," he said, leaning towards her for a brief but sweet kiss. "Now that is certainly much better than two thousand pesos."
"You're easily satisfied," Victoria said.
"Not in the least, querida," he said. "But that's a discussion for another time."
Victoria smiled at him as she leaned against the wall. "He really tried bribing you?"
"He wasn't even subtle," Diego replied, showing her the bag. "Two thousand pesos and a lecture on how to keep my future wife in her place."
"You accepted?" she asked incredulously.
"The bribe, not the lecture. It seemed only fair as he was so determined," Diego said. "Although I'm afraid that Zorro might take exception to this and rob me on the way home. I don't think I'd dare put up a struggle."
"I certainly wouldn't," Victoria teased. "And it serves you right for accepting bribes. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself."
"I know, and I am," he said, knowing he didn't sound at all ashamed. "But still I intend to do my best for Ignacio, even if it's not exactly in the spirit he intended."
"What are you planning?" Victoria asked suspiciously.
"Oh, to do exactly what he asked, but not in the way he meant."
"Is this going to get you into trouble?"
"Not too much if he thinks I'm being obtuse or helpful in the worst way," he said. "But don't worry. I intend to be absolutely fair and give my whole-hearted support to the best candidate." He took her hand and kissed it.
"Diego..."
"Allow me a little mystery for myself, Victoria. I'd like you to be genuinely surprised tomorrow."
Victoria reluctantly acquiesced. "All right, but don't do anything dangerous. That's Zorro's job, not my peace-loving fiancé's."
"Trust me."
"I do," she assured him. "That doesn't mean I don't worry."
~To Be Concluded~