Could Maria Felipe be alive somehow? Diego's mind raced as he processed what Don Escobar had just told him. And what did he mean by 'tormenting us all'? "Senor, I am afraid I am not a believer in ghosts and spirits," he said. "Perhaps there is a more…earthly explanation?" He dug the tip of his rapier in a little harder. Escobar twitched uncomfortably. "What is this conspiracy the note speaks of?"

"It does not concern you, Senor Zorro," Escobar replied quietly.

"Oh, but I am afraid it does," Diego countered. "People are dying in my pueblo, Don Escobar, and I do not take that lightly."

"You are a protector of the innocent," Escobar said. "And none of us are that."

"Explain."

"It will not be long now," Doctor de la Cruz let Don Miguel's arm drop back to his chest. He looked up at Juan Felipe. "Does your father have his last will and testament drawn out?"

Juan nodded, displaying a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket. "Papa says the land is to go to Maria and me," he explained, "but Maria will be the sole decision maker."

Sanchez and Escobar exchanged a Look. "Juan," Sanchez said. "Would it not be better if the land were to go to someone more experienced in ranching, selling, purchasing…?"

"My sister knows all these things," Juan said. He sighed. "Better than I do." There was a twinge of jealousy in his tone.

"And what if, perhaps," Don Escobar spoke up, "someone would look after it until you are of age? After all, Juan, you are the first son." He waved an arm. "By rights, this should belong to you. You could become one of the richest men in California."

"I would wager he could rival the de la Vegas, or the Torreses," ventured Sanchez.

The three men in the room knew Juan Felipe had no interest in being a ranchero. He was a spoiled son, more fond of the wine and women than of cattle.

Juan's eyes brightened…but his face fell. "It does not matter," he said morosely. "My sister is named instead of myself."

"It just so happens," Escobar said, "we have a man tonight that could change that decision." He looked at Senor Sanchez.

"Whatever you are planning," Dr. de la Cruz said, "do it quickly. If you require Don Miguel's signature, we do not have long." He looked at the others. "I will, of course, require payment to ensure my silence on this matter."

"I am sure that young Don Juan Felipe would be more than happy to accommodate you," Escobar said smoothly. He looked at Juan.

The young boy looked at his father, then to Senor Sanchez. "I would like this."

"Then we shall make some necessary alterations to protect the future of the Felipe Rancho," Sanchez said, taking the paper from Juan. "Escobar will hold the land until Juan is eighteen years of age, and then it will revert to Juan Felipe."

It was unspoken that an unfortunate accident would befall the young Felipe before that change would occur.

"And my sister?" Juan asked, already feeling fat and rich.

Sanchez was hastily writing, copying the documentation. "Oh, a woman like herself would be better suited to serve our Lord and Savior, yes?"

Diego was livid. "I should let the ghost of Maria Felipe run you all through." A thought occurred to him. "Juan Felipe. The last time I spoke to you, you said he was working here still. Is the boy here?"

Escobar nodded miserably. "Si. In another year, there was to be an unfortunate riding accident."

"You would kill a young man, send his sister away, and for what? A few hundred head of cattle? To cover for your betrayal of his father?"

"That young man agreed to the scheme," Escobar said. "He is as guilty as we all are."

Diego shook his head. "No. There is something else. There is no reason Juan Felipe should still be alive." A thought occurred to him. "Just how long has the ghost of Maria Felipe been tormenting you all?"

"One year," Escobar told him. "The first note we all received told us we were not to harm Juan Felipe or demons would drag us into the hellfire. That our time would come due on Dia de los Muertos in a year's time. That no one would celebrate us, rather, the world would know of our transgressions."

Diego had to hand it to Maria Felipe, if she was still alive. The woman was indeed shrewd. He found himself admiring her, despite her methods. And yet. "Where is Juan Felipe now?" he asked. Maria may not have known that her brother was not an innocent bystander in this entire affair…but it didn't mean in the past year she hadn't been able to figure it out. Her brother was in just as much danger as the other men.

Escobar scoffed. "More than likely, in town, celebrating his dear sister and father with multiple toasts, and a senorita on each arm."

It wasn't a great lead, but it was a place to start. Diego pulled a sash from the curtains and made Escobar stand before tying his hands behind him. Then using the man's own banda, he secured him to the chair. "Pray that I return before la fantasma finds you," Diego said in a low voice. "Or perhaps, that she finds you first. I may not be so merciful as she."

"You cannot leave me here unprotected!" Escobar gasped, panic rising in his voice.

"You did not give the same courtesy to Don Miguel, taking advantage of him in poor health." With that, Diego shoved the man's handkerchief into his mouth. Then, he locked the office door, and pulled the sashes on the windows.

He walked over to Don Escobar…and blew out the candle on the desk.

Don Escobar's muffled screaming followed him out the window as he swept into the night, latching the window behind him.

Outside, he rode Tornado past the servant's quarters and hopped off his back. He picked up a good-sized rock and threw it at one of the windows, shattering the glass. "That should get their attention enough to go looking for their master," Diego said. He climbed back on Tornado.

"Let's ride, Tornado," Diego whispered, turning him toward the pueblo. "La fantasma would not dare try anything with so much commotion, so we have bought ourselves and Don Escobar some time. We need to find Juan Felipe. Dia de los Muertos is nearly over. Now run!"

Alejandro de la Vega sat with Bernardo at a table for two outside the inn. They watched the dancing and the celebrations, but Alejandro also watched for his son. In some iteration or another, Diego would be back. Alejandro had news to share with him. The two men were also watching for…well, Alejandro wasn't sure exactly what. A pale woman with menace in her eyes? Another terrified man dropping dead in the street? If what he had gleaned from his search of Sanchez's office had been any indication…he could not fault the ghost of Maria Felipe for wanting vengeance.