Ignacio had just arrived in Los Angeles and was about to knock on the door to the medical office, intent on inviting his wife to lunch, when he heard the last few words Jessie said to Ramon "We must make sure nobody suspects anything!"

Intrigued, he hid behind a barrel that was placed next to the entrance, from where he watched the young Escalante exit the office and heading for the tavern, looking around as if trying to make sure he hadn't been spotted. De Soto watched him walk away with a suspicious look, wondering what that was all about. Standing up, he again knocked on the door and Jessie soon answered.

"Ignacio?" She asked, surprised to see her husband there.

"Hello, my dear. Am I disturbing something?" He inquired, noticing the look on her face before inquisitively glancing inside the office.

Rapidly looking over her shoulder, Jessie realized he could see the back room. "Ah… No, no! I had just fallen asleep for a little bit." She said with a fake yawn. "Are you here to have lunch with me?"

"Ah… Yes… If you'd like." He muttered, taking a mental note of the fact that she was lying to him and that, from what he could see from the doorway, the back room of the office was completely dark.

"Of course! Go ahead and order me some enchiladas! I will be there in a couple of minutes." She said as she slammed the door in his face without awaiting his agreement.

De Soto remained there for a few seconds, stunned, then slowly headed for the tavern.

ZZZ

After two more meetings in the medical office and one in an abandoned house close to the De Soto hacienda, during which they had discussed all they knew about Zorro's deeds and Diego's similarities with the masked rider, Ramon and Jessie had become rather convinced their friend truly was leading a double life.

In all that time, a jealous Ignacio started following his wife, trying to find out if she was having an illicit affair with Victoria's brother, and becoming more confused with each passing day. Eventually, after tracking the pair to the abandoned house and overhearing part of their conversation, at least as much as he could make out, he decided he needed to visit a certain tall caballero.

ZZZ

"Buenos dias!" De Soto greeted the following morning as he arrived at the De la Vega Hacienda to find Diego and his son training one of the young horses.

"Ignacio! What brings you here?" The tall caballero asked rather puzzled as the white-haired man dismounted.

"Well… There is a talk I need to have with you and it suffers no delay…"

"I see… What about?"

"Perhaps you might agree to a short ride…" De Soto suggested, unwilling to speak there, since there were several vaqueros around. "It is a private matter." He explained.

Diego nodded after exchanging an inquiring glance with Felipe, then, leaving his son to replace him, he went to saddle Esperanza.

"So…" the tall caballero said as they were some fifty yards away from the hacienda, "what is this all about, Ignacio?"

"Jessie… What else?" The older man uttered with a sigh.

"Jessie? What happened?"

"About a week ago, I saw Ramon Escalante coming out of the medical office… in a rather suspicious manner. I hid so he wouldn't see me, then knocked on the office's door, and Jessie lied to me. She told me she had been alone, sleeping. So –"

"Ignacio, this is really none of my business, but Jessie loves you."

"I know she does. That is why I did not jump to conclusions, as I used to." Ignacio told him, and his former schoolmate wisely shut up. "Not even when she started going to the guestroom to sleep after our lovemaking each evening." He continued to Diego's regret. De Soto's intimate life was certainly not something he cared to know about, and he already knew too much.

"Instead, I have been following them the entire week," Ignacio continued, "which is what, eventually, led me here. Because, it took me a while, but I now believe I know exactly what is going on: I think they are working on either a play or a novel…"

"What on Earth are you talking about?" The tall caballero inquired at hearing that conclusion.

"It's true. I don't know why Jessie didn't ask for my help, which I would have gladly given, but, perhaps, it is the young Escalante who came up with the idea and he was the one to ask for her help. Whatever the case, she is certainly very much involved now…

"I see…" Diego uttered with a smile. "But what does that have to do with you being here, then?"

"Everything. Frankly, from what I've heard – which isn't a lot, but just enough – the plot is rather far-fetched and I wouldn't like my wife to embarrass herself if they, eventually, decide to publish it. So, since she obviously doesn't trust me on such matters, I thought, perhaps you might help her… discreetly, of course…"

The younger man just stared at him with a dumbfounded face that made Ignacio feel far more intelligent in his presence than he normally did.

"I don't know all they have in mind…" De Soto continued, "but their main character is a certain Armando who spends much of his time dressed as a woman, calling himself Antonia. And, listen to this: Antonia is in love with another woman called Vanessa, and Vanessa is also in love with Antonia without knowing Antonia is actually Armando, who she only sees as a friend.

"I'm sure you understand my reasons for concern… A woman in love with another woman… How did they even come up with that?"

"Well," Diego found himself muttering, "historically, it never was that uncommon. For example, initiation rituals in the Ancient Greek –"

"We don't live in the Antiquity, Diego! In this time and age, a play or a novel proposing that a woman might fall in love with another woman goes against everything the Catholic Church teaches us! It will be a failure!"

The tall caballero was about to point out that "Twelfth Night" by Shakespeare relied on a rather similar plotline, even if the character's genders were reversed, and was more than a little successful when Ignacio continued. "Besides, I am also preoccupied with the secondary characters, who are, to put it simply, quite badly thought-out. Like Alejandra, Armando's mother who never even considers that her son is posing as a woman. I mean, what mother wouldn't recognize her own son just because he puts on a dress? And Felicia, who I am unsure if she's Armando's sister or aunt… but is some sort of relative who knows he likes to dress up as a woman, and helps him. Then, there is a soldier, Isidro, who also falls for Armando's trick, apparently, for he spends years pursuing Antonia, no doubt, hoping she might marry him or something; and Armando's best friend, Mateo, who encourages, just like everyone else in that town, the romance between Antonia and Vanessa, without knowing Armando is Antonia.

"Such an absurd tale!" De Soto concluded with a sigh. "My wife's latest suggestion is a possible plot in which Antonia is tricked into revealing herself as Armando, or the other way around; and their main concern is if Vanessa will feel cheated and refuse to ever see Armando again, or if she might still decide to marry him after knowing he's not a woman… Absurd, of course, but the way they go about this entire affair… it is almost as if the characters had a mind of their own and the two of them are just taking notes…

"Anyway… As I am sure you might understand after all I've told you, I very much fear that my wife might end up a pariah if she publishes or is in any way associated with this… nonsense… Can you imagine the scandal? We'll be forced to leave California... Right now that things are finally going my way for once…"

Diego was just contemplating everything Ignacio had told him as the older man continued. "So that's why I need you to help her. She wouldn't listen to me if I tried to say anything, but she does listen to you!"

"I see…" The caballero muttered as he started grasping exactly what Ramon and Jessie were up to. "Alright, I will think of a way to help... discretely, as you asked." He promised. "But, in return, you must promise me to stop following your wife. She is bound to find out if you continue, and I have no intention of meddling if that happens. Also, I think you should avoid opening the subject of this novel or whatever it is they are writing. I will do my best to get her and Ramon to abandon the idea and, if I succeed, it will certainly be for the best that nobody reminds them of it, or they might reconsider…" Diego said in the hope he'd find a way to derail his two friends without De Soto realizing what was really going on.

The older man nodded his agreement and, as the matter seemed settled, the two soon parted.

ZZZ

Felipe found his father in the cave a while later, sitting at his desk, deep in thought. "Is there something wrong?" He signed to ask.

Diego looked worriedly at him. "I believe Jessie and Ramon suspect me of being Zorro… And you of helping me…" he answered.

Felipe looked worried. "How do you know?" He inquired by signs.

"De Soto told me. No, Felipe," he continued, noticing his son's face, "Ignacio doesn't know what they suspect. They've been using code names for us all, apparently. He's convinced they are writing a play..."

"What should we do?" Felipe asked.

"I don't know yet. But we should be careful. Apparently, they are planning to trick me into revealing myself. We must find out what their plan is… or… Or, maybe, we don't have to… Maybe all we truly need is a way to convince them that I am certainly not Zorro… A way that could explain all the clues that led them to their inferences while leading to a different conclusion…" He continued pensively as a plan started forming in his mind.

ZZZ

About two weeks had passed since Ramon and Jessie had started meeting in secret, and a plan to secretly unmask Zorro was almost ready. All that was left was for them to finalize a few minor details, and they'd soon be able to put it into motion.

"Hola, Diego! You're here early today!" Ramon's thoughts about said last details were distracted by his sister as she greeted their friend.

"Yes… I was hoping to meet Felipe and my father for lunch," the caballero replied, fully aware that his father was out on patrol with his men, searching for two bandits Zorro had, in fact, already captured that morning but had yet to bring to the pueblo. "Have you seen them by any chance?" He asked.

"Just Don Alejandro. I saw him leave with half the garrison about two hours ago, and I don't believe he has returned yet…" The young woman answered regretfully.

"I see… Well… Felipe knows we should meet here at noon precisely, so, at least, I shall, no doubt, have his company…" Diego muttered while pretending he hadn't yet noticed that Ramon was spying in on their conversation from behind the kitchen's curtains.

"Papi!" Marisol exclaimed as she exited her bedroom after recognizing his voice and hurried into Diego's arms. The caballero picked her up and asked her if she wanted to have lunch with him as Victoria also agreed to join them.

Ramon hurriedly exited through the back door as he saw his sister heading his way, and returned to the taproom through the main entrance, discreetly taking his place behind the bar.

A few minutes later, as the caballero and Marisol were talking at a table, Felipe stormed in, a sense of urgency clear on his face. Rapidly glancing around the room and identifying his father, he made his way towards him and started signing nervously.

"Are you certain?" Diego asked when he finished, and Felipe nodded. "Marisol," the caballero then uttered, "I'm afraid I must leave. Felipe will have lunch with you instead, won't you?"

The younger man nodded and smiled at the child, then gave Diego another worried glance.

"Whe' a' you going, Papi?" Marisol asked.

"There is something I need to do, my princess, but I will be back soon, and then, perhaps, we can have a short ride together. What do you think?" He asked her.

The child nodded and Diego hurriedly left, just before Victoria returned with the food. "Where is he going?" She asked Felipe, having noticed the caballero exit the tavern.

"There's a problem with one of his experiments. He'll return soon." The young man signed.

"Diego and his experiments…" The taverness muttered with a smile as she sat down.

From where he was standing, Ramon was certain that conversation had not been about an experiment, for, while he couldn't yet fully understand Felipe's signs, he had, however, understood the sign for 'bandits'. Consequently, discreetly asking Pilar to replace him, the younger man also hurried to leave the tavern, heading for the medical office.

"Jessie, we must go!" He said at finding the young woman alone. "We have the perfect chance to confirm, once and for all, if our suspicions are true."

ZZZ

They rode about half an hour some hundred yards behind Diego, trying to avoid getting noticed and not even suspecting that he very well knew he was being followed, having even slowed down to make sure they'd keep up.

At some point, he stopped, dismounted, and made his way downhill.

"This is not very far from the De la Vega hacienda. I remember these hills from when we used to play around here as children. If I am right, he is heading towards his hideout…" Ramon told Jessie as they, too, dismounted and followed the caballero from a distance, careful not to be noticed.

Diego made his way through some boulders and, reaching a stone wall, he unearthed a cord and pulled at it. Moments later, a howling sound was heard echoing through the hills. He pulled again and another one followed. When that was done, he sat on a boulder, waiting patiently.

"What do you think he's doing?" Jessie inquired.

Ramon just shrugged his shoulders.

They didn't have to wait very long for the answer. Some ten minutes later, horse hoofs were heard heading towards the caballero and, soon after that, Zorro showed up on Tornado.

"What news you bring me this time, Don Diego?" He asked the caballero, who stood up at seeing him.

"Bandits, south of the pueblo. Most probably the ones who have been robbing the farmers. They plan on attacking the tavern today, during the siesta. My father and many of the lancers are away on patrol, so we need your help."

"I see. Well, then, if my services are needed, I will do my best not to disappoint… Before that, though, there was also a matter I wanted to discuss with you – about the explosives you've been inventing for me to use. I had a new idea, and I want to know if you can make it. Also, I shall need more ether.

"Of course! I will make sure to order some more."

"And, next time, let's return to meeting at our old location. This summoning mechanism you have installed here is rather noisy and may attract unwanted attention. I'd rather you got rid of it."

"I… If you think it's better. But how will I know when to come? And how can I find you when there is an emergency I need to tell you about?" Diego inquired.

"I'll make sure to send you a message. As for you finding me… I think the best way would be by the use of those red-flame bullets you created a few years back. I can certainly see them from quite a distance, and I know where to meet you if I do. Now… I believe I have some bandits to capture." As he said that, the black-clad man saluted, then turned his horse around and headed back in the direction from whence he came.

Diego watched him leave, then, after what seemed like a few moments of hesitation, he headed for the cord he had used earlier, cut it, and followed half of it for a while, returning some twenty minutes later with a couple of strange-looking objects in his hands. Returning to his horse, he passed right by the two people who had followed him there, and who he pretended not to have noticed hiding behind some nearby bushes.

Mounting Esperanza, he headed back towards the pueblo.

ZZZ

"Well… I believe that answers our question…" Jessie told Ramon as the two of them arrived in Los Angeles a while later, at a slow pace, just as two men were also entering the plaza from the opposite direction. Their hands were bound and they were facing backwards on their horses, seeming to be unconscious. Zs were decorating their vests and a pouch of money was hanging from one of their saddle horns.

"I believe you were looking for these men, Sergeant!" Zorro said from the pueblo's south entrance, addressing Mendoza.

"Armando is not Antonia…" Ramon concluded as they noticed the caballero on the tavern's terrace next to his son, a mixture of regret and relief in his voice.

Soon enough after they watched the masked man hurriedly ride away.

Felipe, who was discretely watching them, smiled knowingly, then winked at Diego as they returned to the tavern.

ZZZ

"Good evening! We brought you dinner." Diego uttered as he and Felipe entered the cave to find Rafael reading in his chair.

"Great! I am starving." The younger man uttered. "Is everything you have written in these ledgers true? You really did all this?" He then asked, indicating his reading.

The older man smiled back and slightly nodded his head.

"So…" Rafael said as he closed the notebook and looked hungrily towards the food they placed in front of him, "did your plan work?"

"Like a charm. Thanks to you." Diego answered.

"I hardly did much. I only had to ride around dressed in black and escort those thugs to the pueblo. You did the hard work by catching them… But, you know, Cousin, I've been thinking… Maybe I should stay a few more days… to make sure those two really believe you and Zorro are different people."

"Rafael, you are still not fully recovered after being poisoned. You risked enough already just to help me. Besides, our plan already worked. They no longer suspect me of being Zorro. There's no reason why you'd remain here, sleeping in a cold cave instead of returning to the woman you have married…"

"Well… I don't exactly dislike it here… Your lair is rather comfortable, to tell the truth, and a small vacation is good from time to time, especially if I get to do something exciting like impersonating California's most famous outlaw. And I am glad you trust me enough these days to share your secrets with me. I've been having quite a bit of fun riding around in that mask…"

"I am glad to hear, and I am most grateful for your help," Diego replied with a grin as Rafael started eating, "but Zorro is no match for an enraged Uncle Rodrigo should anything happen to you while helping me. I'd rather not risk it…"

"Alright, alright! I'll be leaving in the morning, then. Good things never last, anyway…" The younger man said with some regret.