Chapter 46

Don Alejandro listened as Javier spoke. The man truly is a fool. You can search my home but you will not arrest my son. "You think that my son is Zorro…Javier Rodriguez, you are a fool. Diego…my Diego is Zorro." My son is the consummate actor. Diego wore a bland, disinterested expression. No one would believe that the mild mannered man was Zorro…

"Have you nothing to say for yourself, de la Vega. Do you deny that you are Zorro?"

"You come to our hacienda with a full company of soldiers…at this time of night and expect me to confirm that I am Zorro. Surely, you cannot believe that I am Zorro, Javier. My fiancée was involved with him…I think that she knows the difference between me and Zorro," the tall caballero scoffed, "Do you hate me so much that you would accuse me of being Zorro?"

"Very clever, de la Vega. She will not confirm that you are Zorro. That would effectively put your neck in a noose. She is too intelligent for that...I always thought that it was suspicious that she would abandon Zorro so easily in favor of you, it makes sense if you think about it! The only other reason I could think of is that she is after the de la Vega fortune not true love…If in fact you are Zorro that would give her even more reason to deny it!"

"You don't know the meaning of love, Javier. You are too callous and insensitive to look beyond your own nose!" Victoria wanted to wipe that smug expression off the man's face. I trust Alejandro and Felipe. Diego's life depends on it…

"How romantic, Senorita Escalante. Your defense of your fiancée is touching but according to my records, your 'precious' Zorro appeared shortly after Diego returned from Spain. He even threatened me, as I recall," Ramón interrupted, "Zorro's first appeared when he rescued Don Alejandro and Victoria from my jail. That is enough reason to suspect that he is Zorro."

"Purely circumstantial evidence that would not hold up in a court of law," Don Luis stated. "No one has ever seen him without a mask so he could be almost anyone."

"The way Zorro carries himself indicates that he has great wealth…he is a caballero. Who else but a caballero would own such an outfit made of black silk? A mere peon would not be concerned with the plight of the poor. The de la Vegas are leaders in this community...Who else could Zorro be other than Diego de la Vega?" Javier was certain of that the proof was right at his fingertips…

"You have built an interesting case, Javier although it is purely circumstantial," Don Luis countered, "Diego would have to be a skilled swordsman and an accomplished horseman. He is known to be a quiet, peace loving man and you cannot prove otherwise…None of these suspicions could be proven..."

"That is why I have irrefutable proof. Enough to prove that Don Diego is Zorro….that beneath this indolent, scientific façade is Zorro himself, Don Diego de la Vega."

"Javier, you cannot be serious. Are you that upset with me? This is beneath you!" Amanda's eyes flashed, "I cannot believe that I ever wanted to marry you!" Beneath that polished exterior was a selfish, mercenary man who was not worth her time or attention. I was a fool to become engaged to such a man...How could I have been so stupid?

"It does not matter what you think, my dear. You are beautiful, charming, everything a man could want but I need money to support the lifestyle that I am accustomed to. You will be happy with the Sergeant. You deserve each other! Diego has managed to fool us all and I will prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt..."

Javier is definitely beneath my AmandaI hope that whatever Don Alejandro has planned works, Mendoza thought.

"Jaime, you cannot believe what he is saying….That Diego is Zorro...You know Diego…you trust him…"

"The sergeant does not have enough backbone to take a stand against the government," Ramon sneered, " He would not risk everything he worked for your entire life to side with a suspected outlaw, a known criminal."

"Don Diego is not an outlaw. I do not know that he is Zorro, mi alcalde but Diego is my best friend and that is all that matters. I will stand with my friend!"

"Gracias, amigo. Think about what you are doing."

"What is life without honor? Loyalty or trust?"

"Such touching sentiments," the alcalde sneered, "If Don Diego is Zorro, then you will hang alongside him. We will search this hacienda brick by brick until we find what he are looking for, Excellency. If we find nothing, then Don Diego will be free to go! I will deal with you later, Sergeant or shall I say Private Mendoza."

"The de la Vegas are close relatives of the King, Senor Ramon. You dare accuse Don Diego of treason against his own family," the Emissary interrupted, "I hope that you have irrefutable proof or you will find yourself and your friend, Senor Rodriguez on the first ship back to Spain. Do you still wish to go through with this?"

"Yes," Javier answered, "There is no need for all this melodrama. Zorro's lair is hidden under the mantelpiece. Thanks to Don Emilio. I know where Zorro's hideout is and I know that Diego de la Vega is Zorro." The caballero probed the underside of the mantle until he found the mechanism. It has to be around here somewhere. The panel opened to reveal a secret passage. "Follow me, ladies and gentlemen to where Zorro lives. After you, Don Diego or should I say Zorro?"