CHAPTER FIVE

"Arrested you for conspiracy against the Capitan?" Diego said to his father. Alejandro was looking like an angry child who had been sent to the corner. He grasped the bars of his cell until his knuckles turned. "Did you think I wanted it to turn out like this Diego? The Capitan needs to be stopped!"

"How do you plan on stopping him while your behind bars, Father?" It was the wrong thing to say to his father and Diego knew it.

"Well I certainly won't need your help to do it!" Alejandro turned around and stalked to the back of the cell where the rest of the Dons were sitting.

In the Pueblo, Diego made his way to his horse.

"Diego, I just heard." Lucinda came up behind him. "I'm so sorry."

Diego turned around, "Lucinda, what are you doing in town?"

"I came with father," She said.

"Thank you for your kindness," Diego could tell she was shaken by the news.

"You are my friend, and I care what happens," Lucinda said and gave him a tiny smile.

A few minutes later Diego was on his horse headed for home. He was going to be riding again, but not as Don Diego.

Lucinda had convinced her father to let her ride home. She said that she wanted to go lie down and that she had a headache.

When she finally rode up to the Hacienda she put the horse in the stable.

"Why are you back so early?" Her mother asked as Lucinda stepped through the door.

"I need to lay down for a bit."

"Alright, would you like me to make you some tea?" A crease appeared in the middle of her mother's forehead. She was worried.

"No thank you," Lucinda said smiling, "I will be fine. Just need a little peace and quiet."

Once she was in her room she locked the door, and pulled her red riding clothes and mask out from inside her closet. After she had gotten dressed, she peeked outside to her balcony. She could see no one. With her heart pounding she slipped out and dropped onto the ground, like she had done the previous time.

It took her even less time than it had before to prepare Topaz for the ride into town. The only thing she feared while she was in the stable, was that one of her father's workers would come in and see her. She was thankful when she was able to guide Topaz out of the stable and be on her way.

It was dusk when she arrived at the edge of town. Shutters where starting to be closed. Towns people were disappearing into the their tiny homes and locking them for the night. Lucinda felt almost intrusive when she climbed over their rooftops like a cat on the prowl. It was difficult maneuvering over the tiled roofs, and she wished she could find an easier way to go about getting to the Capitan's office. The back of the Capitan's office was unguarded and the easiest way to get in. She couldn't help but smile when she saw how close to the window Monasterio was sitting. His head was forward and she heard a soft snoring noise.

Carefully and quietly drawing her sword, she put the cold steel of the blade up against his tanned neck. She pressed ever so gently, so that he would feel a pinch. His snoring stopped and he rose his head slowly.

"Be very quiet Capitan," Lucinda said, "Don't make any sudden movements." Keeping the sword at his neck, she lifted her right leg over the window sill. It was a low window and didn't take much to climb over.

"Displeased with something, Senorita?" Monasterio said in a tone as smooth as cream.

"Too many things to count," Lucinda said keeping the sword to his throat as she moved around to face him. He was sitting at his desk. A pile of papers sat in front of him. His hand darted for the stack.

"Something you don't want me too see?" Lucinda smiled as Monasterio froze. He looked up, his eyes burning with untold rage. Lucinda couldn't reach the papers unless she let her guard down and took the sword away from Monasterio.

"Push them toward me," She ordered.

He did what he was told. She snatched them up and glanced at them.

"So, no trial no nothing? You were just going to execute the Dons tomorrow?" Lucinda shook her head, "Wrong thing to do, Capitan."

"The people of this pueblo need to be taught a lesson," Monasterio said, his teeth clenched in anger.

"Mark my words Capitan, you aren't going to be the one to teach it."

Lucinda looked up. Sitting in the window, his black outfit almost invisible from the shadows, was Zorro. He stepped over to the front of the desk.

"Zorro and the Crimson Rose working together," Monasterio's small mustache twitched. "I knew it."

"We only run into each other, nothing more," Zorro said glancing at Lucinda who didn't say anything. If he didn't want any help, she thought, then she wasn't going to make an issue of it. She was doing what she felt was right and he didn't have to agree.

"Order the release of the prisoners and I will not slice your throat to ribbons," Lucinda said.

"Looks like she is taking your job over for you, Senor Zorro," Monasterio said.

Zorro didn't answer.

Lucinda made Monasterio stand up and head over to the door. The point of her sword pierced his shirt and went all the way through to his skin. She motioned for him to open the door. "Now, tell your men to release the prisoners," She said.

Monasterio spotted Garcia, "Sergeant Garcia!" He called in a curt tone.

Garcia struggled to his feet and stood at attention, "Yes Capitan?"

Monasterio frowned, "Release the Dons from their cell."

"Release them?" Garcia said.

"Are you brain dead or hard of hearing?" Monasterio yelled as Lucinda pressed her sword a little harder into his back.

"Neither Capitan," Garcia said saluting. In a strange way he looked almost happy about what he was just told to do. He hurried to the cells as Monasterio shut the door.

Lucinda allowed him to turn around and go back to his seat.

"Well goodbye Capitan," Lucinda said touching the brim of her hat and preparing to leave.

"Wait a minute!"

Both Zorro and Lucinda looked at him in doubt. Why did he want them to stay? Was it a trap?

"I was under the impression that you two knew each other." An evil smile played across Monasterio's lips.

They remained silent. "Correct me if I'm wrong Crimson Rose, but," Monasterio reached slowly into his shirt pocket, and pulled something out. "Isn't this yours?"

Dangling from his fingers was Lucinda's mother of pearl necklace.

She froze for a second and then looked at Zorro. Her heart felt like it stopped beating. His eyes were round and he was staring at the necklace as if he recognized it. The he looked at her, and she knew. The only person who could have known about that necklace was Diego. Foppish, foolish, yellow tailed Diego. The same Diego that was standing next to her at that very moment in a Zorro outfit.

Lucinda snatched the necklace away from Monasterio who laughed. She didn't wait to see what happened. She disappeared into the darkness.