Thank you all for the well wishes. i am feeling much better. I know it's frustrating that Olivia has friend zoned Diego but she does have a lot on her mind. I'm sure she'll realize just how important Diego is to her sometime in the near future.

Just not yet.

But anyway, thank you for reading and sticking with me. It's about to get a bit more interesting.

Enjoy!

Linny

Chapter Twenty-Nine

They rode up to the cuartel separately, meeting up just outside the back wall. There was no sign of any of the soldiers being posted atop the cells, but Zorro took the chance of climbing up and taking a look. He stood on Tornado's saddle and pulled himself up just enough to peer over the edge and found that the roof was empty. He then pulled himself the rest of the way up and signaled to La Sombra that it was clear.

She followed suit, both of them crawling along their bellies until they could look over the edge of the roof. It was late and only a half dozen soldiers were standing guard inside. There would be at least one more standing outside the gate. Security was quite light, considering Estevez was becoming worried about safety.

"Do you think you can draw the guards away so that Ramon and I can talk?"

She looked his way and it was clear her gaze was full of sarcasm. "I don't think it would be too difficult." He rolled his eyes at her, but didn't comment on her words. She let out a soft chuckle in response. "How long will you need?"

"Thirty minutes at most, I think."

She nodded. "I can do that."

"Just be careful. If Allende joins the soldiers..." He hated to think what she would do if she came face-to-face with him again. She hadn't hesitated to wound him the last time, after all.

"Don't worry. My goal is to arrest him. Not kill him. No matter how much he wants me dead, he needs to be punished for his crimes." She'd left one thing unsaid, but it had been clear in her eyes. Killing him would be the easy way out.

"Be safe." His gaze met hers and he allowed himself to show her that he cared for her safety. Along with so much more.

There was the hint of something that told him that she felt the same. He expected it to disappear after a moment or two, but it didn't. "Don't take too long. I'll circle back if you're not at the meeting place."

Reaching out toward her, he grabbed for her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I'll be there."

They shared a another long look before she crawled back to the horses. He could hear Wraith's hooves disappearing into the distance as she circled around. Now, all Zorro had to do was wait.

He continued to peer over the eave of the roof as he waited. Suddenly, there was a loud thud against the closed gate and a cry from the guard outside. "La Sombra!" A shot rang out, alerting the rest of the soldiers inside the cuartel.

The two guards standing near the gate on the inside quickly unlocked it and heaved it open, while the man guarding the cells and the one protecting the Comandante's office charged forward. More shots rang out, but they missed their target.

Wraith reared underneath her rider as more lancers funneled out of the barracks. Most were half-dressed and quite a few weren't even wearing their boots.

"Lancers! To horse! After him!" Sergeant Garcia cried out as he struggled into his suspenders while trying to put his uniform jacket on at the same time.

During the chaos, Zorro had taken the chance to move closer toward the Captain's office. He jumped down into a dark corner and would wait until the last man filtered out. Estevez was now standing outside of his office, watching his men's valiant effort to chase after the bandit.

He unsheathed his rapier and pointed it at the officer's back. The Captain went stiff, but he made no move to defend himself. "I see that you've received my message."

"Why don't we go into your office and talk?" El Zorro suggested though he didn't yet lower his weapon.

Estevez nodded and led him inside. The masked man kicked the door closed, never taking his eyes off of the man in uniform. Zorro watched as he turned to look at him. He still looked just as exhausted as he did when Don Diego had spoken to him that morning.

"So, you and your impostor are working together now?" The officer didn't even try to put up a pretense to arrest him. He merely rolled his neck and stretched his shoulders to ease the day's tension.

Zorro put up his sword, but he didn't put it back in its scabbard just yet. Instead, he rested the blade on his shoulder as he put his boot up on the seat of the bench along the window. From that perspective, he could see when the soldiers would return. "We seem to have a common enemy at the present time. It is a friendship of convenience."

"So then the two of you have spoken? Do you know who he is?"

"Even if I did, I still wouldn't tell you."

"Yes, but would he say the same?"

Zorro didn't answer. He didn't have to, for he knew the answer to the question. His identity would never cross the lips of La Sombra. And no matter how much doubt the Captain tried to cast out, his faith would never falter. "I understand that there was something you wanted to discuss with me, Capitán. How about we focus on that instead?" The longer they dragged out this conversation, the more likely he would run into the soldiers.

"Usually you don't draw as much attention when you come to visit," Estevez mused. He even smirked, but there was a shadow behind it. Whatever his troubles were, they were weighing heavily on him.

"I can leave." The bandit turned toward the door and reached for the latch.

"No. It's probably for the best that there was no one in the yard. None of those men are loyal to me. In fact, I don't even know who I can trust." Except for Zorro, it seemed.

"So, you've come to me?"

"As much as I hate to admit it, you are my greatest ally at the moment. There is dissent among my men and I need your help."

"What of your second in command?" Whatever the Captain thought about Allende was crucial to the continuation of this conversation. Diego hadn't been able to ask during their previous conversation, but Estevez's opinion on the Lieutenant could sway this conversation one way or another.

"The Lieutenant and I have been at odds ever since the night of the de la Vega's fiesta. I fear that he has been corrupted." That was the night Gilberto had been killed; where the Lieutenant said he'd only shot because Gilberto was trying to escape.

"Do you think he could have planned it all? Made certain that only a handful of soldiers were in the cuartel—ones that only he trusted—so that he could kill Gilberto?"

That Captain's expression became one filled with interest. "You know something about it, don't you?"

"Only my own speculation."

"Care to elaborate?"

No. He didn't. This man was a good soldier. He would eventually figure it out unless he already had and his denial was keeping him ignorant. "I would just recommend that you learn about the man you think you know. Is that everything you wished to discuss?" He peered out the window. The yard remained empty.

"No. I heard that you rescued Señorita Walker and Don Diego de la Vega the night they were taken hostage."

Zorro nodded. "I did."

"Gracias. I'd hate to think what would have happened to them if you hadn't been there." There seemed to still be something bothering him, though it took him a moment to find the words. "Someone wants the señorita dead."

"I'm aware. And I have been keeping a close watch over the de la Vega hacienda since she was moved there."

Ramon frowned. "No one is supposed to know where she is. How did you discover that?"

"You may want to have a word with your men. News is already spreading of her location." He could see by the worry in the Captain's eyes that this was troubling news. Good. He should be worried. His men were under Allende's thumb, which made them all a danger. He was going to need to watch his back.

The officer swore under his breath, his fist punching into his palm. "It wasn't supposed to happen this way. She was supposed to be safe."

"Who all is supposed to know of her location?"

"Only me, Sergeant Garcia, and Corporal Reyes." He froze as a thought struck him. "Lieutenant Allende knew as well."

"It sounds to me that the dots are all connecting far too conveniently around Lieutenant Allende, Capitán."

"But, he is a soldier of the King."

"I've fought against many men who claimed to be servants of His Majesty. How can you be certain he isn't an impostor or a traitor?"

"That's preposterous." Yet, Zorro could see him considering the possibility. His eyes shot up to meet the ones behind the mask. "Please, keep Olivia Walker safe."

"I swear it. On my life." Yes, Zorro would fight tooth and nail to keep her safe. As would Don Diego.

"Gracias."

"Now, there's something I'd like to ask you." His blade made a swishing sound in the air as it switched shoulders.

The Captain relented as he dropped into the chair behind his desk. "You have more than earned the right."

"The man you found dead in the cabaña just off the highway... Do you know his name?"

It didn't surprise Estevez that the bandit knew of the man. By now, the news had spread to all edges of the district. "No one has been able to identify him. But, Don Diego believes it could be a man named Borromeo. He claims the men who were holding them mentioned him as being some kind of hired killer."

"He was the one who was supposed to kill the señorita." Zorro had a feeling he knew what that meant. "Perhaps there is dissent among more than just your men, Capitán."

"What do you mean?"

"Borromeo was not at the cabin when I rescued the señorita and young de la Vega. But, he was on his way. The men in your jail should be able to identify him."

"They refuse to talk."

"They will once you show them that not even their silence will protect them if whoever is plotting against the señorita is willing to kill his own assassin." He didn't come out and say it. Ramon had to draw the conclusion on his own.

Estevez considered his words for a few seconds. Despite his exhaustion, realization of what the outlaw was implying was clearly beginning to dawn on his features. Both of them knew that was not usually how things were done, but time was of the essence and they needed answers fast. "You're right."

"And I know that you'll want to act as soon as you discover the truth, but I warn you against it. This man, whoever he is, is dangerous. He may have even been involved in the plot to kill you."

"Are you saying that I can count on your help if need be?"

Zorro nodded. "If it means that we can end this nightmare for the senorita and Los Angeles as a whole, then so be it. But, now I must take my leave." He peered out through the window once more and watched as a few soldiers began filing back into the cuartel, leading their horses as they trod on tired feet.

"I'll have to sound the alarm."

Zorro grinned in response. "I would be insulted if you didn't." He quickly pulled open the door and disappeared into the shadows. The Captain took his time sounding the alarm. "Lancers! Zorro is here!

After him!"

The lancers groaned in response as they watched the dark form of Zorro disappearing behind the wall. Still, they climbed up onto their horses and took chase.

The Captain had even joined in this time, but the bandit noticed that one soldier, in particular, was missing. Where was Lieutenant Allende?

The road along El Camino Real was dark and quiet. There was no moon out tonight but the stars were blazing brightly in the sky. They were what he used to travel along the long, dusty road to his destination. The note he'd received said that a lantern would be burning for him. And that it wouldn't be the only thing.

He rode for another twenty minutes before he spotted the orange glow in the distance. Digging his heels into his horse, he spurred the creature on.

A small, abandoned farmhouse lay at his destination. The front gate hung off its hinges. The paint on the outer wall was faded and chipping away. The growth of the flora had taken over long ago.

Curiosity furrowed his brow as he took in the dilapidated shack. Why had she wanted to meet at this place?

Dismounting, he tied his horse to the old, rotting hitching post that had battled the elements and lost long ago. He grabbed the lantern that had been set upon the wall and used it to guide himself inside.

The years of wear were obvious throughout the building. No one had lived there for many years.

He allowed the light to guide him to the rear of the house where he was met with a doorway that had disintegrated years ago. And through that door, he saw a vast, starry sky and a beautiful woman waiting for him.

He didn't say anything as he set down the lantern and continued to approach her.

"You're late," her voice held a scolding tone but the inflection held something so much more seductive. Her curvy silhouette was clear against the celestial sky.

He stepped up behind her, his hands falling to her waist. He leaned down and placed a kiss upon the side of her neck. "I had to make certain that I wasn't going to be followed. Ever since the incident with Gilberto, Estevez has been on me like fleas on a dog."

She arched back against him, one hand reaching up to circle his neck, holding him closer. "Do you believe he is on to our plan?"

"I can't be sure. I just know that it is dangerous for him to remain at his post." His hands glided to the front of her dress, pulling her tighter against him. His lips trailed a line over the soft flesh of her neck before moving to her jaw.

She let out a breathy gasp at the way he touched her. "What about your little surprise guest? Do you think she's recognized you?"

He didn't want to think about her. He wanted to take this woman into his arms and make love to her. "I'm certain she knows who I am, but for some reason, she hasn't given me away."

"Either she plays her part well or there is another reason why she is here."

"Her papers tell the same story she's told everyone else. I even inquired at the garrisons in Santa Barbara and Buenaventura. She'd been purchasing horses from the landowners in both pueblos. From what I understand, Los Angeles was supposed to be her last stop before returning home."

"What do you believe?" She turned around in his embrace and reached up to stroke the cheek under his white eye. She never shied away at the sight of it.

"I believe that she is trouble and she knows more than she lets on. She needs to be disposed of."

"And what about Estevez?"

"That man is a thorn in my side and I need him out of the way."

She placed a tender kiss upon his damaged eye and smiled. "I'm glad to hear that we are still on the same page." She then shoved him away, a frown marring the usually elegant features of her face. "So, why hasn't it happened yet?"

"Finding a capable man has been challenging. Borromeo was utterly useless and his men are just as much so."

"Then, you know what you have to do." She stepped closer to him again, her arms reaching out to him like this was some intricate dance that she was using to entertain herself. He could see right through her. She was playing him and he was falling in line. After all, he was getting exactly what he wanted from this union as well.

"You see this house?" she asked, her icy eyes warming as she looked him over from head to toe. "This is the house of a poor family who had to fight to live. I fought my way out of here and married one of the richest Dons in California. I can't go back to living like this. So, if we are ever to be together, then you're going to need to take care of them yourself."

"If that's what needs to be done, my love." He wrapped his arms around her again and held her close. Her slender form fit perfectly against his broad chest.

"Soon, mi amor. Soon, you will help bring California into a new age where you will have all of the money and power you desire."

"And what about what else I desire?"

She smirked up at him, one of her palms resting over his heart. "And yes. You will have that as well."

Their lips met in a passionate embrace. Bodies pressed intimated against each other as they each became ravaged by the other. This was a union of mutual satisfaction where each of them would get exactly what they wanted.