Chapter 13
Diego left the office crossed the plaza into the tavern. It was about siesta time, and so he entered through the back door. Victoria had already closed.
"Diego." Victoria greeted him with a wide smile. Rushing in his arms to kiss him. He loved it, they had not been in the open about the feelings they had. Of course his father and Felipe knew. But even in the hacienda they had to be careful, the servants would not notice. And so it was the cave and a closed tavern to be the few places they could be themselves.
Of course Diego and Victoria had talked about him being Zorro and how it had been possible to keep the secret for so long. It helped a lot that Victoria had put only one name on her list. It proved for them both that Victoria had feelings for Diego she had been hidden even for herself.
After a long conversation Victoria was now open to show her feelings for Diego and had accepted an offer of marriage. Now the remaining problem was how to get married without revealing Zorro's identity. For this minute, it did not concern Diego the least. All he wanted was to hold Victoria in his arms, kiss her and feel her skin under his hands finally being able to so without wearing gloves.
Diego's mouth moved over her neckline. "I love you querida. And you look beautiful wearing a new blouse."
"You noticed." Victoria giggled.
"Victoria, I always try to notice everything that concerns you."
"I have missed you in the tavern this morning." as she moved away from him to pour in a glass of lemonade and went into the main room. Diego followed her and took a seat at one of the tables.
"I went to Marco to have a talk with him." he told her.
"Is that wise? We still do not know what he is here for."
"That is what I am trying to find out." Diego explained.
"And..." Victoria wanted to know.
"He thinks about lowering the bounty on Zorro's head. He says the pueblo is too small to have such an amount of money in the save not being able to spend it on the benefit of the pueblo."
Victoria sounded a little sarcastic saying "Benefit of the pueblo? Not for his government in Monterey or Spain?"
"Victoria, Marco is a good man trust me. You and father both think he is against Zorro. I disagree, he has come to California to improve things and make changes for the better. He wants to lower the bounty on my head. And has not once said he wants to capture Zorro. He wants to talk to him, to hear his side of why he is doing what he does. Marco also has asked me things about de Soto."
For a second Diego hesitated what to do. than deciding after so many years of keeping secrets and deceive the woman he loved. He wanted to be honest to her all the time. And so he made up his mind.
"What I am about to tell you, Marco told me in confidence. You can not talk to anybody about this. I am telling you because I do not want any more secrets between the two of us."
"I indeed advise you not too. I have forgiven you this once. I might not be so forgiving the next time." Diego smiled as Victoria showed her famous Escalante temper.
This was reason enough for Diego to bent over the table and place a kiss on her mouth. Moving back he grab her hand. Gently moving his fingers over it.
"Marco has told me why he is not only interested in Zorro but just as much in de Soto. Turns out de Soto was blackmailed."
Victoria was amazed "Blackmailed? How and by whom?"
"It is a long and complicated story. I do not know or I have completely understood it myself. And Marco probably has not told me everything."
"Tell me." Victoria was curious for the story. And so Diego started telling.
"Between Ramón and de Soto another man was appointed alcalde of Los Angeles. This man, Javier Carroga never even left Spain for he died right after he was appointed alcalde in an accident. Hours later de Soto was appointed alcalde and left Spain the same day.
Due to bad weather the ship carrying the letter Javier Carroga had died and de Soto was the next alcalde arrived in Monterey sooner than de Soto himself.
Sebastian the secretary of the former governor read the letter and knew de Soto from his time in Spain. Knowing de Soto had not always been honest, so he wanted to take advantage of the information he had got.
And indeed de Soto believed he was responsible for the death of Señor Carroga."
"But you said it was an accident what happened to this man"
"Yes the accident caused Carroga to die. But he was already injured by someone before the accident happened. Probably, Marco was not sure de Soto had tried to 'convince' Carroga to redraw. So yes, De Soto wanted to become alcalde of Los Angeles. No, he did not murder Carroga on his way to become alcalde.
Sebastian however managed to convince de Soto he was wanted in Spain for murder. That made it possible to blackmail de Soto. 500 pesos every month to be paid."
Victoria had been listening getting more and more amazed every sentence Diego had said. 500 pesos a month. That is a fortune.
"That explains the so-called tax raises. It was all to clean his own alley? How is this all discovered?"
"Because my father went to Monterey just in time it turns out. It was discovered there was almost no correspondence from the pueblo. This did raise Marco's suspicious, and he asked why there wasn't any. In the meantime Sebastian realized it was all to come out, and so he ran."
"Then how it was discovered?" Victoria wondered
"Because of lieutenant Hidalgo, he had started by secret order the day my father visited Marco to do research for the missing letters my father told Marco about. Starting in Monterey the man in the post room told Hidalgo there had been many letters from Los Angeles over the years. That could only mean Sebastian had known about the letters and him being the one keeping them back.
Sebastian was captured at one of the gates leaving Monterey. As soon as he was arrested he tried to blame de Soto. That he had done it on his orders. Making only one mistake."
"That being?"
Trying to leave Monterey carrying over 5000 pesos in his luggage. Why would someone pay 500 pesos a month if he was not blackmailed?"
"This is a lot of information to take into. So de Soto maybe is not so bad as we believed?"
"Perhaps, last week de Soto told me some things about his youth and why he had become the way he is. It even made me feel sorry for him. And wish in his youth someone had stand up in a way you and my father do."
Victoria and Diego talked on about the matter until it was time for Victoria to open the tavern and for Diego to go back to the hacienda and change for dinner that night.
The dinner itself was a success. Besides don Marco also Lieutenant Hidalgo was present.
No less than 6 other dons and their wives been able to come at such short notice.
Maria had outdone herself. Victoria had sent Alicia as extra helper. And all the dons were praising Zorro, telling many stories of the things the outlaw had done and saved them from.
Don Marco listening amused to what the don's and donas were telling. Only sometimes replying or asking questions.
"Hearing these stories, it is hard to believe it is all done by one man. He must have some kind of helper. I still think it can be one of the lancers. Lieutenant Hidalgo maybe we should inspect the lancers. See or any of them show similarity with the drawing of Zorro."
Diego had also talked about his pride the local paper the Guardian, that had a new edition every other week. The next due in 2 days.
"That gives me an idea. Is it possible to print an article of me arriving in the pueblo in the next edition and also that I want to speak to this Zorro? I am sure that he will hear about it. If he is so good at getting his information he must also read that paper of yours."
"It is very short time to add more stories. I am not sure I can manage in the little time I have." was the only excuse Diego could come up with.
Marco insisted that it could be done wanting the next edition of the Guardian to be published the next day. He offered Diego the help of his soldiers. And so it was that after dinner Diego was working in his office in the pueblo all night on an extra page for the Guardian. Lieutenant Hidalgo, Felipe and two more soldiers helping him to accomplish it in time.
Till Diego's surprise it had been a very pleasant time. Lieutenant Hidalgo fascinated with how Diego and Felipe communicated and were able to understand each other with simple signs.
"My youngest sister in born deaf. She is not a mute but can not speak many words for how can you speak if you do not know how words sound.
She also uses her hands to communicate as we, the family do to communicate with her. But not like you do, complete sentences. Like having a real conversation. It is really impressive Don Diego."
It had not taken more than an hour for Diego and Fernando to start to talk on a first name bases.
"It takes practise and of course Felipe and I live in the same house. That makes it more easy."
"Si I understand. Looking at the two of you, it is like you have your own language. And how is Felipe able to read lips so well."
"Felipe isn't born deaf, is what I think. He might even be able to speak."
Explaining how Diego had found the boy Fernando expressed his sympathy.
"The battlefield is not a place for children to witness. I joined the military believing I could make Spain a better place to live, find the glory everyone likes to talk about.
I gave up the hope for that 2 years ago when I heard my captain brag how many French officers I killed. Risendo was his name, took proud in telling it were over thirty. Out of the blue those words hit me.
Those French were doing the same as we did. Both countries sending young men to battlefield. Where they almost die for sure. Men who have family's at home praying their son or brother survives. Dying because some high ranked officers and kings believe winning war brings glory.
Shortly after I ask for relocation and I met don Marco. Joining him turned me in a better man. Made me see that all lives matter and not just your own"
"Talking about Don Marco what is he planning on Zorro?"
"I honestly do not know, with don Marco you are never sure. If Zorro really is fighting for the people and not against the crown of Spain I wouldn't be surprised if he is going to pardon him. If he is a real criminal one who robs and murders don Marco will have his head.
Why don't you tell me more about this Zorro? If only half the rumours we have heard are true his must be a wizard or something."
Diego laughed "Well, I do not know about that. Tell me what have you heard?" Diego pouring Fernando a glass of wine. Felipe had fallen a sleep.
"So many, that he is the best swords' fighter in the territory.
He can appear and disappear in thin air. One second standing in front of you the next he is over a mile away.
He can make himself invisible and is unbeatable.
His stallion is almost as smart as the man himself. Can jump over buildings and is faster than any other living being."
Diego smiled. "Well I think Zorro is only human and his horse Toronado is only a horse.
They do work together well and have done amazing things I admit. But Toronado can't jump buildings and Zorro can not make himself invisible. Here"
Diego walked to the closest and got out some old newspapers. "Here are some earlier editions of the Guardian. Some contain story's of sightings of Zorro and things he has done. As a journalist I have always tried to be a true as possible. It might help give you a more realistic few on Zorro."
The next morning pamphlet were hanged throughout the pueblo. A free edition of the Guardian handed out to the people. So it was known by everyone in the pueblo. The new governor wanted to meet with Zorro. The biggest question still being why?
People having talked with the new Governor all say, him being a pleasant man, interested in things going on in the pueblo. People believing that perhaps finally an official had arrived that cared for Los Angeles and her citizens.
And not for the glory to be the man who captured the famous outlaw Zorro.
.
I am beginning to hate this story. Every time I think I am almost finished I need to put more into it. Chapters becoming longer and longer. Cutting them in half so they become two chapters and then 4 chapters.
I really think it is going to be 16 chapters now, so the end is coming near.