Poisoned
Part 4
Disclaimers in Part 1
The three arrived in the room to find Dr. Hernandez finishing the exam of his patient. "Any change?" Alejandro asked.
"I'm afraid not, my friend. Unless Zorro has come up with an antidote, she will not survive the night."
Diego took a deep breath. "Then we're in luck because Zorro just dropped this off. He said he wasn't sure it would work, but it won't do any harm either."
"Let us pray that it will work."
He nodded to Diego, who walked over to Victoria and sat next to her on the bed. He shook her gently. "Victoria, please wake up, you have to drink this."
Victoria could hear someone calling her name. It sounded so far away. "Diego?" she whispered.
"Yes, it's me. I have what could be the antidote."
"Could be?" she asked. She was so tired and just wanted to sleep.
"If it doesn't work, you'll be no worse off than you are now. Try it." Victoria acquiesced. Diego gently guided her back to the pillow. "Rest, querida."
"Diego, will you send for Padre Benitez... just in case?"
He kissed her forehead. "Just in case."
As Victoria drifted off to sleep, Diego turned to face the people behind him. He looked up at Felipe, who nodded and rushed out the door.
Dr. Hernandez placed a hand on Diego's shoulder. He smiled sadly, "Now the only thing we can do is wait."
Sergeant Mendoza was heading to the tavern when Felipe hurried into the pueblo. His heart jumped into his throat as the young servant rushed into the church.
"Sergeant, what are you doing?"
He pointed to Felipe and the Padre, who was now getting onto his horse. "That can only mean one thing, Alcalde. Senorita Escalante will not make it through the night."
The Alcalde nodded slowly. That would mean he could pin her death on Zorro. He would have to think of the perfect motive, but that would come to him. "Come, Sergeant, we should pay our respects to the Senorita."
"Si, mi Alcalde," Mendoza replied.
Felipe glanced behind him and saw that Mendoza and the Alcalde were following them. With a shrug, he kicked his pony and was heading towards the de la Vega hacienda.
When they arrived, Felipe led Padre Benitez inside. "Padre," Diego said with a nod. Alejandro had gone to see what the Alcalde wanted.
"Don Diego. How is she doing?"
"Not well. Zorro found what he believes is the antidote, but we won't know for certain until the morning. She's been asking for you, though."
"If you'll excuse me," Padre Benitez replied with a nod.
Diego decided he could do nothing but wait so he joined his father, who was speaking with the Alcade and Sergeant Mendoza. The Alcalde was mentioning something about Zorro, but Diego wasn't listening.
No, his thoughts were on the woman he loved. Would the antidote work? Would he ever see her beautiful smile again, hear her sweet laughter? He didn't know... and that scared him the most.
"Don Diego," Mendoza said. "How are you holding up? I know that you and Senorita Escalante are good friends. The two of you grew up together, si?"
Diego nodded. "We did, Sergeant. I don't know how this pueblo would get along if she were to die."
"Or Zorro," Mendoza replied.
"Or Zorro."
