Everything was ready. Alejandro had contacted Ricardo Ramirez, on behalf of Zorro, and asked him to assist in a plan to be rid of the alcalde. Ramirez was to hold a party celebrating the return of his son, Roberto, and one of the invited guests was to be de Soto. Diego knew the pompous alcalde would consider it a great honor to be asked by such an influential land owner. His absence would allow Zorro to search the alcalde's office for the all-important payroll ledgers.

A few nights before the party, Zorro paid a visit to Victoria. He silently entered the tavern after it was closed, and found her doing some last minute cleaning. She was pleased to see him. "Zorro!" She put down a lamp she was dusting, and went to him. He pulled her close, hugging her, and she sensed a difference in him. "What is it? Has something happened?"

He didn't want to tell her yet, not wanting to get her hopes up. He replied, "I have come to ask a favor of you."

"Anything," she told him.

"Two nights from now, the alcalde will be attending a party at Don Ramirez's hacienda. While he is away, I am going to search his office for some important papers. I need to distract the lancers so I'm not discovered. Could you, by accident, have a large excess of food left over, that you need to sell before the day is over? You could offer it to all the soldiers at a reduced rate. I think they would all be eager to take advantage of your error, leaving me unbothered by their presence while I'm in de Soto's office. I will of course pay you for your trouble."

"I will help as much as I can," she assured him. "I know exactly what to cook - tamales. They are a particular favorite." She paused, then asked, "What kind of papers are you looking for?"

He just smiled at her and said, "With any luck, you will find out the night of the party. I don't want to spoil the surprise."

This just piqued her curiosity even more, but she accepted his explanation. Apparently the trip to Santa Paula had been a success. She resolved to try to pry some information from Diego the next time he visited the tavern. "What time should I be prepared to feed the hungry hordes?" she questioned, grinning at the thought of Mendoza's reaction.

"The party is at six o'clock, so spread the good news to the lancers around that time. I'll be watching and will go forward with my search as soon as I see them heading to your tavern. Oh, and don't be stingy with the drinks or other foods. The more they are preoccupied, the better chance I have of finding what I need."

"Then I will do as you ask. As long as you promise to fill me in on these papers as soon as you find them," she told him.

"Your wish is my command." He bowed before her, then took her hand and kissed it, looking into her eyes. "Until then, mi querida." With a swirl of his cape, he exited the tavern, leaving Victoria pondering what would happen in two nights' time.

ZZZ

Zorro watched as de Soto, dressed in his finest uniform, mounted his horse and left the pueblo, accompanied by a single lancer. When the duo had disappeared in the distance, he turned his attention to the tavern. All was quiet for a while afterward, then he saw Victoria approaching the cuartel. She disappeared inside briefly, then came out, followed by a crowd of happy soldiers, with Mendoza in the lead. The noisy men entered the tavern.

Zorro immediately headed to the alcalde's office, picked the lock and entered, then closed and locked the door behind him. He knew one of the ledgers would be easy to find - the one with the wrong wages listed. Sure enough, it was in a desk drawer. Zorro flipped through it, and noticed that the previous 3 months had only the soldier's initials, as opposed to the rest of the pages, which were signed by each lancer. He set it aside, and started to hunt for the book that would prove the theft of the lancers' pay.

It was a long shot, but he checked the safe first. The book wasn't there, but there were two bags full of money. One was the reward for his capture, while the other was the pay stolen from the soldiers. He left the safe open and started carefully searching for the hiding place of the other ledger. He checked the floor boards, but none of them were loose. Then he looked under each piece of furniture, finding nothing there either. He stopped in the middle of the floor, then looked up, his eyes going around the top of the walls. And that's where he saw a piece of wood that was slightly out of line with the rest of the wall.

Containing his excitement, he placed a chair under the section, stood on it, and used his dagger to pry the piece loose. He reached in the open area and his hand closed over a book. He pulled it out and stepped back to the floor, then took the book to de Soto's desk and opened it. He grinned when he saw that this was the ledger showing the proper wages that should have been paid. He now knew why the alcalde had the lancers start to sign their initials for their pay. It was easier for him to forge those, than the entire names.

He returned everything in the office to its proper place, and put both books into a leather satchel he had brought with him. Then he took some coins out of one of the money bags and placed them in the safe, and closed it. The bags went in the satchel. He slung it over his shoulder, carefully went out the office door, and slipped away into the shadows.

Mounting Toronado, he rushed back to the cave, where Felipe was waiting on him. "I found it," Zorro told him. Felipe smiled, took the satchel, and secured it in a safe spot. "You know what to do when my father gets home," Zorro continued. Felipe nodded, and Zorro wheeled Toronado around and headed back to the pueblo.

ZZZ

Ignacio de Soto dismounted and left his horse in the care of the lancer who had accompanied him. He went to his office and unlocked the door. What a wonderful evening it had been. It was good to have at least one caballero in this miserable pueblo who recognized his position as a man of power. He lit the lamp on his desk, then jumped back in surprise when he noticed his arch enemy sitting in his chair.

"I wouldn't call for your lancers if I were you," Zorro told him. "You don't want them to hear what I'm about to say."

"And what would that be?" the alcalde snarled, placing a hand on his sword.

"I own you, de Soto. I know that you have been stealing the soldiers' wages. I have the proof. Not with me," he added as the alcalde took a step toward him. "The ledgers are, by now, safely in the hands of certain citizens. If you are not on a ship bound for Spain tomorrow, those books will be delivered to the proper authorities. I'm sure that you know what the penalty for stealing from the King is - a not very pleasant death." Zorro shrugged his shoulders and continued, "Or, you could flee and become a fugitive, but that wouldn't be an easy lifestyle." The alcalde stared at him, speechless.

Zorro presented his offer. "So, I am giving you one chance. Resign your position as alcalde and leave for Spain, and never return here. The ledgers will remain safely hidden, and you can start your life over in Madrid, or wherever you desire. Stay, and you will return to Spain in chains when you are captured." Zorro watched as a myriad of emotions crossed the alcalde's face.

"What assurance do I have that those ledgers will remain hidden?" the alcalde finally demanded.

"If there is anything you should know about me by now, it is that I always keep my word," Zorro replied.

de Soto clenched his fists, but he knew he had no choice. "You expect me to be ready to set sail tomorrow? I have to pack, get transportation to the port, book my passage..."

Zorro stood. "It seems you have a long night ahead of you." He started to leave, then said, "By the way, I have taken the liberty of relieving you of your ill-gotten gains. The reward for my capture will be returned to the citizens, and the lancers will receive their back pay, after being told there was a clerical error concerning their salaries. But never fear. I left enough for you to book third class accommodations for your trip."

"Third class!? That's an outrage. You can't expect me..." de Soto sputtered.

"Would you rather return as a prisoner?" de Soto was silent. "If I were you," Zorro continued, "I would start packing right away. I'll be watching." He left the office.

Ignacio de Soto helplessly watched him go, knowing he was defeated. Then he slowly walked to the safe and opened it. Inside was a small amount of coins, stacked into the shape of a "Z".