Mendoza and four of his men were out on patrol one morning as they came across a terrified Marcela Pecora, running towards them. Her entire appearance was disheveled, sweat streaming from her face as her hair was cascading freely down her back and shoulders. The Sergeant dismounted, heading towards her. When he reached her, she fainted right in his arms.

"Get Don Diego!" He ordered the lancers. "Now, men!"

ZZZ

"So, tell me, Señorita," De Soto asked as the young woman was in the medical office, a blanket covering her body.

Diego, Mendoza, Felipe and De Soto were all also there.

"He…" She uttered. "Please don't hurt him! It was all my fault. I shouldn't have allowed Señor Palomitas inside the hacienda. I knew Tonino would be jealous."

"Am I to understand that this has something to do with your fiancé and Señor Palomitas?" De Soto asked as Diego looked questioningly at Felipe.

"It was not his fault! I allowed him to kiss me and Tonino..." She replied, stopping herself from saying anything else, then simply lost consciousness.

De Soto stared at her disapprovingly as Diego asked Felipe to bring the salts.

"Mendoza, go check the hacienda and report back. I'll get to the bottom of this!"

ZZZ

About an hour later Mendoza and his lancers returned to the pueblo dragging Toño Estradas tied up on a horse behind them. The young man's clothes, face, hands and shoes were drenched in blood, and he looked both terrified and terrifying.

"Explain, Sergeant!" De Soto inquired as the commotion determined him and others to exit to the plaza, where a crowd started gathering.

"We found a pool of blood, Alcalde! There was no body, but Señor Palomitas is surely dead. Don Diego said nobody can survive losing 5 pints of blood and there was much more there." Mendoza replied. "We brought Tonino in for questioning but he says he doesn't remember anything."

"Of course he would say that, Sergeant!" The Alcalde uttered, glaring at the prisoner. "Take him to jail, and start installing the gallows!"

"Wait! Ignacio, you can't just declare him guilty of a crime without any real proof, or even a body! At least give him a fair trial!" Diego asked.

"I doubt he can afford a lawyer, Don Diego! And I don't have time to wait for one of the only two in the territory to get here" The official answered.

"Then I'll represent him!" He answered.

"You're now a lawyer, as well?" De Soto asked mockingly. "Please, Diego… With or without your help, you've heard his fiancée! He's guilty as charged. A trial would just postpone the inevitable!"

"Still… Every man has the right to a defense!" Diego uttered. "If the charges against him hold, I'm sure the lancers will have no problem finding the body and confirming the accusation."

"Alcalde! We all know Tonino, but nobody really knew Señor Palomitas. Perhaps there's more here than we know of!" Another don stated from the tavern's porch.

"Don Diego is a pretty good lawyer, Alcalde! He even defeated me in court once." Mendoza informed his superior officer.

"A donkey could defeat you in court, Mendoza!" De Soto replied. "Very well. The trial will take place the day after tomorrow at the tavern, beginning at 9 a.m. Sergeant, assign two of your men to go to Santa Paula. Judge De la Paz is there for another trial, and they can escort him to Los Angeles to preside over this one, as well. I will take over the Prosecution."

ZZZ

"I don't know what happened! I swear! You must believe me! I don't remember having harmed that man. I wouldn't have! I barely even saw him once or twice as he came by to visit my fiancée!" Tonino told De Soto, Mendoza and Diego in a begging tone.

"Your fiancée claims you have caught her kissing the man. The Sergeant found you in a pool of blood! How do you explain that?" De Soto inquired.

"Marcela said that? But I… I don't remember seeing her with that man!" He answered pensively, unconsciously massaging the back of his head.

"You said he had visited her before. Do you know why?" Diego questioned, looking attentively at him.

"I really don't know, Don Diego! I never dared ask her… I usually stay away when she has guests. I'm not deluded about my own place. To have gained her love is more than I could have ever expected."

Diego looked pensively. "If you don't remember having harmed the man, could you tell us everything you do remember?"

"He doesn't remember…" De Soto muttered. "The man is obviously lying! He duped a rich heiress into accepting him as her husband, then killed a man as soon as he found that engagement threatened!"

"I didn't dupe her! I love her. I don't care about the money. It is an impediment if anything!" The man said infuriated. "And I told you I didn't kill anybody!"

ZZZ

After leaving the young distressed woman in Victoria's care, Diego, Felipe, De Soto, Mendoza and two of his lancers, headed that afternoon towards the Pecora Hacienda.

It's former owner, Don Antonio, had been found dead in his bed one morning, about six weeks earlier, just ten days after his granddaughter, his only living relative he had left, arrived from Spain. The young woman had been heartbroken, even though she hadn't met the old don in person until she came to California. Alone once again, she found comfort in her grandfather's servant, Toño Estradas, despite having, initially, despised the young man. He was an orphan, too, just like her, and, having been practically raised by the old don whom also his mother had once served, he grew to love him as a father. The two, thus, found consolation for their loss in each other's arms, and soon their friendship grew into much more than that. Or, at least, that was the story as Tonino had told it.

"Here, Alcalde!" One of the lancers guided his superior officer as the other men followed.

In the hacienda's main hall there was a large red stain, the blood almost completely dry at that point. Not far away was a set of footprints leading away from it and towards the main entrance.

"So… You're the blood expert, Don Diego!" De Soto uttered. "Do you think any human could have survived this much blood loss?"

"No…" Diego replied pensively. "I also doubt one would have bled this extensively. There must be about nine pints here." He said as he took out a few vials from the medical kit he had brought with him, and collected some of the blood.

"What are you doing?" The Alcalde asked.

"Taking samples. I'll have to study them, and I will let you know what I find out." He explained.

"You will find out that someone was murdered here, then carried outside to an unknown location. The body must already be buried by now!" De Soto said. "But the absence of a body will not save that murderer!"

"One question, Ignacio…" Diego replied. "If someone took the body out, how come's there's no blood spatter, or trail? All I can is one set of footprints."

"Well… He… Carried the man out!" De Soto replied hesitantly.

"In his arms? A man who was almost twice his size?" Diego asked.

Mendoza had a déjà vu. "Don Diego is right. Not even I could have carried a well-built man like Señor Palomitas. I would have had to drag him. Perhaps it was not Tonino, Alcalde!"

"Don't be stupid, Mendoza! He obviously… erased his traces. Cleaned up… but you and your men arrived before he could finish."

"Wouldn't he have at least washed his hands and face if he would have had time to wash the floor?" Diego insisted.

"He's probably not a very bright fellow!" De Soto became rather irritated. "Whatever the case, the blood here, his fiancée's testimony, the blood stains on his clothes, Palomitas' disappearance… it all adds up. Mendoza, take some men and start digging the courtyard. When I'll find the body, not even you will be able to object to a guilty verdict, Señor Lawyer!" He told Diego.

The caballero glared at him, and, after one more look around, he signaled for Felipe that it was time to leave.

ZZZ

"Quite a mystery…" Diego uttered a while later as Felipe entered the cave where he was studying the blood samples.

The younger man had, as per Diego's request, spent several hours at the tavern to see if there was any useful information he could find, from either the other Los Angelinos or Marcela, who had refused to return home, claiming that she needed to be close to her fiancé, and thus took a room at the tavern.

The adopted son signaled to ask what the caballero had discovered in his absence.

"Well, for one, just as I suspected considering its quantity, this is not human blood. It must come for a large animal. Perhaps a cow, or a bull. Somebody must have placed it there deliberately to frame Tonino. But who and why would do such a thing? What would anyone gain from it? And why would the woman who agreed to his proposal say she saw him kill the man?"

"I also found out something that might be useful" Felipe signaled.

"What have you found out?" The don wondered, then started interpreting the younger man's signs. "Señorita Marcela and Señor Palomitas had come to California on the same ship from Spain? That would explain why he believed he knew her that evening he arrived. But it doesn't explain why she kissed him after having only seen him a couple of times since he arrived in Los Angeles."

Felipe continued signing. "Victoria said he had changed his mind about staying here after he visited her the first time? And some of Don Antonio's former servants, who the Señorita dismissed after his death, mentioned that they had been surprised by the announced nuptials considering that she had seemed to dislike Tonino since they first met."

A few moments of silenced paused that conversation as Diego took some time to think things through and so did Felipe.

"So we have an heiress coming from Spain just a few days before her grandfather's death; an engagement to a man far beneath her social class… whom she detested before Don Antonio died… a stranger headed for Santa Paula who decided to remain here after his reencounter with the señorita… animal blood passed for human in what seems as an attempt to frame the señorita's fiancee… and the presumed-dead man's body missing."

The caballero stood up. "I think it's time for Zorro to take over the investigation, Felipe!" He stated as the young man immediately headed for Tornado.

ZZZ

The Sergeant is still hopeful, it seems. Although, if there's a body to be found, I doubt it's anywhere around here. Zorro thought as he watched the soldiers digging at the faint light of an oil lamp while he headed for the main house.

The hacienda Pecora was barely half the size as the De la Vega's. Its former owner, a widower, had arrived in California with his son just a year after Los Angeles had been founded. The young man left for Spain to pursue his studies twelve years later, and never returned. He wrote to his father frequently, but neither one ever saw each other again. The son died, just a couple of years after his daughter was born, and her mother decided to remain in Valencia, where she had family. It had been, perhaps, why, deprived of his blood relatives, the old don had taken a liking to Tonino, the son of one of his servants.

The woman had been working for him for several years, having been hired about the same time his son had left, when she became pregnant. Since she wasn't married, the customs of the time normally required him to fire her as soon as possible, but, despite his strict character, the don wouldn't even hear of such a thing. When she died in childbirth, he even assumed raising the baby who, despite being a servant, had a different status in the household. Much like Diego did with Felipe since he was a young boy, Don Antonio took Tonino everywhere with him, and even saw to giving him a proper education.

When he had fallen ill, about three months before his death, Doctor Hernandez had prescribed a special diet for him to increase his chances of survival for at least a few more years. The don's favorite servant had been the only one preparing his meals, even after his granddaughter arrived. But, as the doctor had warned about diseases of the heart, no matter how careful one is, it may not be enough. For the old man that held true as he was found dead in his bed one morning.

As Zorro made his way inside the house, as he expected, he found the place empty, the young woman having dismissed the household's few servants after her grandfather's death, except for Tonino. He entered through a window, avoiding the blood-stained hallway, and made his way towards the rest of the rooms there. By the end of his investigation, though, he had to accept defeat and return home empty-handed.

ZZZ

The following day, Diego headed to town early in the morning, making his way straight towards the Alcalde's office.

"Good morning, Alcalde!" He greeted the official at entering.

"Yes. Isn't it a bit early for you, De la Vega?" De Soto replied.

"Just a little bit, perhaps." The caballero answered with a smile. "But I have news I wanted to give you."

"Really? What news?"

"The blood we found is not human. According to my analysis ̶ "

"Don't be absurd, Diego! You may have convinced half of this pueblo that you can see groups in human blood, but you won't convince me that there's any way for you to know which blood is human and which comes from an animal!" The Alcalde answered. "Now stop wasting my time, and go interrogate your prisoner if you want, or leave me in peace! I have important business to attend to."

"It's animal blood, Ignacio. You are about to seek the death penalty for an innocent man." He replied rather enraged. "Why must you be so stubborn in repeating your mistakes?"

"Mendoza!" De Soto called, and his man came right away.

"Si, Alcalde!" He replied.

"Escort Don Diego out! He may come to talk to his client this afternoon, after having reconsidered his attitude!" De Soto indicated.

Diego exited with a frown and was already planning to return as Zorro when he saw Victoria on the tavern's terrace and all other thoughts disappeared from his mind. It was early, so he could, at least, take time for a coffee.

"Have you found out anything that might exonerate Tonino?" Victoria inquired.

"I did, but the Alcalde is his usual stubborn self." He replied, unaware that Marcela was in the kitchen, overhearing the conversation they were having at the bar.

"What did you find?" The taverness wondered.

"That that blood the lancers discovered at the hacienda is animal blood, not human." He answered.

"Animal blood? But why?"

"So far I'm not sure… But tell me, how is Señorita Marcela? I'd like to talk to her as soon as she's in a condition to talk." Diego stated.

"She's in the kitchen, getting warm by the fire. It's already hot outside, but she can't stop trembling. I doubt she's in the right state of mind for that conversation." Victoria answered.

Diego nodded, then decided to take the time to return to the Pecora Hacienda and search the place while it was daylight.

Just as he arrived home, though, so did his father.

"Diego!" Don Alejandro greeted his son as he dismounted a black stallion with a white star on his forehead.

"Welcome back, Father! How was your trip?" The tall caballero asked.

"Excellent. Meet Atlas! My newest acquisition. The other three are also as beautiful. So? What do you think, Son?" He inquired as he dismounted.

"Impressive!" Diego replied, reaching to pet the horse.

"Three years-old, and in perfect condition. He'll make a good stud for our mares. Although, as you know, there's only one in particular I'm interested in when it comes to him." He mentioned as he put a hand on his son's shoulder guiding him towards the house and leaving the stable hand to take care of the horse. "I'm so glad you convinced me not to sell Luna, Son! But tell me, how did you fare in my absence?"

"Not easily. I'm certainly glad you're back, Father!"

"And I'm glad to finally be home! I have to tell you all about my trip!"

"Before we get to that, however, you've arrived just in time to help me with a different issue. Were you close to Don Antonio, Father?"

"Not very close, Diego, but we had a good business relationship. Why? What is this all about?"

"Well… His servant, Tonino, was accused of murder. I offered to be his lawyer."

"Tonino? Accused of murder?"

"It's a long story, Father. What I was actually wondering was if you might tell me all you remember about the dead don. I feel like there's a clue I'm missing somehow."

ZZZ

"Please inform Ignacio that I am here to see my client, Sergeant!" Diego asked his friend as soon as he dismounted later that afternoon, hitching his horse by the entrance to the Alclade's office.

The good man did as asked and soon the caballero heard De Soto agree, and found himself guided towards the prison through the back door.

"Don Diego is here to see you, Tonino!" Mendoza informed the prisoner.

"Tell him I no longer need his services, Sergeant." The young man answered.

"What? What do you mean?" Diego asked as he followed his friend inside.

"I have decided it would be best to confess, Don Diego."

"Confess to what? You're innocent! Sergeant, will you excuse us for a moment?" The caballero asked, hoping to speak to Tonino in private.

"No… Please stay, Sergeant! You don't understand, Don Diego! I don't want you to defend me. It is my decision, and I know what I'm doing!"

"If you confess, the Alcalde will hang you today. You won't even make it to the trial. At least take some time to think about it Tonino! Don't hurry to your own death, my friend!" The caballero advised.

The young man nodded as Mendoza escorted Diego out.

"Has anybody visited him?" Diego asked the Sergeant as he was being escorted to the plaza the same way he went in.

"Just Señorita Marcela to bring him food." Mendoza replied.

"Don't tell anyone he has changed his mind about accepting my help. I am hopeful that, after a good night's sleep he might change it back."

"You really think he's innocent, Don Diego?"

"I do, Sergeant. That blood isn't Señor Palomitas'. It's not even human, but the Alcalde doesn't believe me, and I'm not sure the judge will, either. I'll have to find another way to prove it. Have you and your men made any progress in finding the body?"

"No, Don Diego… But, if the blood isn't his, doesn't that mean that perhaps Señor Palomitas isn't dead?"

"Perhaps… But, if that was so, why would he disappear like that, without taking any of his belongings? And where is he?"

At returning to the hacienda, Diego sent Felipe to San Pedro.

ZZZ

Later that afternoon, Diego donned the mask and, once again, made his way towards the Pecora Hacienda. Armed with several new clues Don Alejandro had given him, he, once again, made his way towards the room which had previously belonged to Don Antonio. There, he started checking all the walls, books, and furniture. At last, after moving a painting, a wall slid open giving way to a hidden passage. He knew he had found what he was looking for based on the smell.

Entering the narrow hallway, Zorro followed it towards a bifurcation, then advanced straight ahead. At its end, he found the body of the man everyone was looking for. Examining it, he realized that the man had been killed by a dagger through the heart. The blood stain from that wound, however, as his clothes demonstrated, was quite small. While not enough to acquit Tonino of the crime, at least, it was a start.

Deciding to pursue his investigation further, he headed towards the bedroom next to the body was, and realized it was Señorita Marcela's. Searching her quarters he found an old Bible and, in it, a will signed by Don Antonio. Leaving the Bible where he had found it, he took the will, and returned to the secret passage. Considering returning to the room from whence he came, he stopped as the corridor bifurcated, and followed the other one, finding that it was leading towards one of the servant's quarters.

After a close inspection of that room, he returned to Don Antonio's bedroom to continue his search.

A while later, Zorro was creeping his way towards the cuartel's back yard, where the windows to the cells were situated.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

AN: By now you should already be guessing what is going on in this story and I do hope you are enjoying it. Do leave a review to let me know, though!