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Zorro stood at the base of Victoria's window for a few minutes, trying to put all that out of his head so he could concentrate. Maybe it was better they got interrupted. Now she could think over things in private instead of unleashing her hot temper. He admired it, but he'd rather not see it directed at himself. The pueblo was absent of gunfire now, and Zorro cautiously crept around to the cuartel. He spotted Sergeant Mendoza alone, and got his attention.

"What's happened?" Diego asked quietly.

"Hernando Perez has escaped!" Mendoza cried out.

Zorro approached the sergeant in disbelief. "Hernando wouldn't have tried to escape. He was going to serve his time. We talked before I brought him in…he wanted a future, not a life on the run."

"But Zorro, he is a thief!"

"Yes. He was desperate and made a few mistakes. But he was going to pay for his crimes. He had plans for after he was released from jail. Why would he escape?"

"I do not know what you talked about, Zorro, but when I came back from dinner he had attacked the alcalde. I don't know what happened, but he stole the alcalde's gun, his sword, and took off on the alcalde's horse! My men are searching for him now."

Zorro shook his head. Something wasn't right. He whistled for Toronado. As he mounted, he told the sergeant "I'm going to get to the bottom of this."

"But Zorro…you brought him into the jail! Now you think he is not guilty?" Mendoza asked.

"Yes, he was guilty." He heard the tavern door open, and braved a glance toward the tavern. Victoria stood on the porch, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders despite the heat. "But I believe in second chances," he finished to both of them. Toronado pranced around, eager to be off but Diego hesitated.

Victoria looked at the beautiful stallion, the tired sergeant, and her hero. "So do I," she said clearly. Diego smiled weakly, but Victoria's face remained serious. Toronado danced again, and Zorro saluted before giving chase to one more criminal. Victoria stared after him for a long time before she went back inside.

Zorro caught up with Hernando quite easily in an abandoned stable. As he approached, Hernando came out of the shadows holding a gun pointed at Zorro, his hand shaking. "Don't come any closer, Zorro. I'm not going back to jail."

Diego raised his hands, but dismounted and took a few steps closer. "I don't understand. Why did you escape? I promised you that you would receive a fair trial. You told me you wanted to learn carpentry. I said I'd find you a master when you were free. What happened?"

Hernando dropped the gun to his side. "I don't know! The alcalde…he…" Hernando ran his hands through his hair in frustration. When he realized he still held the gun, he threw it on the ground as if it were a snake.

"Calm down, Hernando. Tell me what happened."

"The alcalde… he told me he would let me go. He told me he wouldn't put me in jail if I gave him some of the money I stole. I told him you took it…that you said you were going to give it back. But he didn't believe me. He told me he'd make sure I hanged for what I did."

"The alcalde said all this?" Zorro asked.

"Yes. He said I should escape and bring him some of what I stole. When I refused, he took that pistol and hit himself in the head. He said if I didn't escape, he'd hang me for attacking him. Zorro, I was scared! So I took what he gave me and I ran as fast as I could. They shot at me." He collapsed weakly on a nearby crate.

They both were quiet for several moments as they listened to the silent night. Zorro had a plan, but Diego's thoughts were still on Victoria. He stroked Toronado's neck as he struggled with what he should do. She'd have to forgive him, because this was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Maybe Hernando could help him end this charade and that might make Victoria happy. If she could forgive him. If she couldn't, there was no hope anyway.

He turned back to Hernando, "I have a plan, but you'll have to trust me." Hernando looked up at Zorro with hope in his eyes as he nodded. "Do you know Diego de la Vega?..."

Victoria lifted the basket of food she'd brought to the De La Vega hacienda, but paused to gather her thoughts. Her best friend had come to her last night to admit he'd been the one man she'd been in love with for more than two years. It was hard to imagine, but Diego and Alejandro had been right. It was a good thing. She knew him. She knew of his honor and compassion. Now she could blend that with the courage and passion she saw in Zorro. She took a deep breath and and approached the front door just as Alejandro came angrily storming out.

Alejandro stopped just before colliding with the senorita. "Victoria, I'm sorry, I didn't see you. What brings you out here so early?"

"Is everything alright?" Victoria asked, all kinds of images flashing through her mind of Diego injured or caught or …worse.

"Oh, yes. I'm sorry. It's my son!" He held up a note so Victoria could also see how clueless his son was. "He knew we had things to do today but he just decides he has to get his violin tuned. Today! He mopes around the house all week but now when I need him, he's gone!" When she just stared at the crumpled note in his hand, her face drawn and pale, Alejandro forgot his temper.

"I'm sorry, Victoria, come inside. Did you need something?" Victoria took time to compose herself as she set the basket on a table he indicated and took a seat. Diego wasn't home. Had he come home last night?

"Well, yesterday you said something was wrong with Diego. I thought I'd bring him some food. I thought it might make him feel better since he hasn't been to the tavern in awhile." She looked at the basket, pressing a hand against it as if she could will the food inside to make him safe. She looked back at Alejandro. "Did it say when he'd be back?"

Alejandro sat across from Victoria. "He'll probably be back tomorrow he says. But who knows. Diego is hopeless. I don't know what to do with him. I never know what he's doing." He looked at Victoria's strangely stricken face. "Maybe you should come back tomorrow night. Come for dinner. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you." Alejandro smiled.

Victoria couldn't stop the images of Diego lying hurt and alone somewhere, and stood quickly to leave before she started crying. She remembered to agree to return for dinner before she escaped out the front door and rested against it. She closed her eyes and tried to let the sun warm the chill from her body. She jumped when she felt a touch on her arm, and turned to see Felipe looking at her with concern. She started to assure him she was fine, then remembered something Diego had said last night. Felipe knew he was in town last night.

She latched on to Felipe's arms, "Where is he?"

Felipe smiled at her, indicating that Diego was fine. He signed an awkward 'Z' in the air when she still wouldn't let go of his arms, and kept the smile on his face when he once again indicated that he was fine. She saw no panic or worry in the teenager's eyes, so she tried to relax. Then she noticed Felipe holding out an envelope. She took it with numb fingers, and traced her name elegantly scribed on the front.

Victoria,

I hope you believe in third chances. I'm sorry I'm not there, but something came up last night and I have to take care of it immediately. I don't want you to worry about me, so know that I am not injured and have only gone to Santa Ana with Hernando. I hope we can talk when I return. I've told Felipe to answer any questions you might have, but I'd rather talk with you myself. If all goes well, I will return tonight.

Love always,

Diego

She held the note to her chest and tried to believe that he was okay. He'd explain later. She opened her eyes to see Felipe holding out a candle. He wanted her to burn the note? She looked from the note back to Felipe and shook her head. She wanted to keep it. Felipe looked at her patiently as she worked things through in her head. This note conflicted with Alejandro's. Why would Diego go to Santa Ana with Hernando? She read the note a few more times, trying to commit it to memory. Especially the 'love always'. Evidently, knowing Zorro's identity didn't make it any easier. Knowing he had a helper in Felipe didn't make it any easier. Diego was right. She fell in love with an untouchable legend. She did still love the man. But the man could be hurt, and that made all the difference. She touched the paper to the flame and watched the note disappear into ashes.