Chapter 13 Taken

"Maybe they don't mean anything," Alejandro shrugged.

Diego shook his head, "He is very organized, Father."

"Three victims. Three sets of riddles," Alejandro shook his head, "But maybe he stopped because he thinks he has killed you."

Diego frowned, "No. I think he knows that Zorro survived. I think he is giving Zorro time to lick his wounds. This isn't over," Diego punched the desk.

Bernardo held up the first two riddles.

Alejandro nodded, "What does paint and time have to do with the Magistrado?"

"I don't know but I think Zorro should enlist Morales' help for that," Diego grunted as he began to unbutton his shirt.

"But you are still healing. Do you think it wise?"

"I have no choice, Father. I have to go."

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Capitan Morales sat behind his desk, finishing the daily report and working on the next day's duty roster. He took a swig of brandy and rolled his head to loosen the tension in his neck. He cleared his throat and leaned over his desk to continue with the almost finished work. Immediately, he looked to the side when the candles to his right were extinguished.

He grew instantly angry as he stood, "So you finally decided to show up," he turned and saw the shadowy figure standing in the dark corner of his office.

"I've been busy."

"You've been busy? Doing what? I thought we were to do this together. I had that flag down for as long as I dared and you never showed. Where have you been?!" He forced himself to pipe down so no one would hear him from outside.

Zorro shifted, "I apologize for my absence."

Morales crossed his arms over his chest, something was off about the masked avenger. He could not put his finger on it. "I suppose you heard that Don Miguel was not seriously hurt?"

Zorro nodded once.

"Although I did not find the traditional note on Miguel's person. You didn't happen to find one?" His tone was edgy.

Zorro held up the note. He had Bernardo fish through his discarded, bloody clothes. With Diego out of commission and Bernardo gone, they had not taken the time to properly dispose of the outlaw's clothing.

"Dammit, Senor Zorro. We are supposed to do this together," Morales snatched the parchment from the masked man's hand. He read the note, "What does this mean?"

Zorro shifted his weight, "Retribution. He wanted me to pay for something."

The capitan eyed him suspiciously, "Why didn't you report this to me that night?" He was beginning to notice the uncomfortable, small shifts the man in black would take, a hint of a grimace while doing it. The capitan glanced back at the severely rumpled note and noticed a few tiny red specks on the paper. It was beginning to make sense to him, "You didn't meet him, did you?" His tone was low and even.

Zorro kept eye contact.

"Cause if you met with this madman alone, that would have been just plain stupid," he took a swig from his glass, knowing he was not going to get an answer. He looked back at the outlaw with a slight grin, "Don't make my judgement of you to be a mistake," he coined the masked man's phrase.

Zorro grinned, "Touché, Capitan."

"So, was that note all that you came to bring me? You wouldn't happen to know if he is finished, do you?"

Zorro tensed, "I don't think he is done. I believe there is one more victim."

Morales sighed, "Don't suppose it's you."

Zorro shook his head.

"This is not good, Senor Zorro."

"There was a connection in the answers to the riddles. They point to a man named Carlos Galindo."

"The previous magistrate?"

"Si, the two convicts both worked in some form for Galindo. One was a messenger who stole the army pay roll in a plot to kill Sergeant Garcia," Zorro almost boiled at the memory of the man. He could still remember seeing Tornado defending him against the messenger. "The other tried to illegally trade men into slavery. I never knew their names, they were just agents of the Eagle."

"But Galindo is dead."

"Maybe someone who worked for him is trying to avenge his honor. That is where you come in."

"Me?"

"I need you to look into Galindo's background. Where he was from, family, friends other judges who believed in his cause."

"It could take time."

"Then you better get to work."

They both turned suddenly when there was a rap on his office door, "Commandante, it is Sergeant Garcia. I have Don Alejandro de la Vega and Don Gregorio Verdugo with me. They would like to speak with you."

Zorro and Morales exchanged glances, "Hide in my room. You can listen at the door," he waited until the outlaw was completely hidden before he turned, "Enter."

The fat sergeant opened the door and ushered in the elder dons.

"Don Alejandro, it is good to see you," Morales grinned and shook his hand.

"Yes," Alejandro turned toward his friend, "Commandante, this is Gregorio Verdugo and he has an urgent matter to discuss with you."

"Oh?" Morales frowned, "What can I do for you?" he could tell the newcomer was distraught.

"It is my daughter, Commandante. She has not come home from the de la Vega hacienda. She told me she was going to visit Diego but when I rode out there, Alejandro said that she never arrived. I am extremely worried."

Diego instantly became alarmed. He did not know Anna Maria had gone to visit him. He was about to open the door until he realized he was dressed as Zorro. He held back and listened.

"We also tried a few of the places she might have gone to but she was not there," Alejandro furthered.

Capitan Morales softened, "I will send out patrols, Senor Verdugo. We will find your daughter," he led them to the door and was stopped when Corporal Reyes met him at the threshold.

"Excuse me, Commandante," the Corporal sounded apologetic in his thick accent.

"What is it, Corporal?'

"This letter just arrived for you," the mousy lancer handed a familiarly eerie envelope.

Morales hesitated for a moment before taking it, "Corporal, inform the soldiers to be prepared to ride out of here."

"Si, Commandante," Corporal Reyes saluted then left.

Capitan Morales closed the door and locked it with the elder dons and Sergeant Garcia in the room, "Gentlemen, I am afraid this might be bad news."

Alejandro recognized the envelope, but refrained from saying anything. He wished his son was around to see this.

"What does this have to do with my daughter?" Gregorio asked.

Capitan Morales opened the envelope and slid the note out. He frowned at only seeing one riddle: "The man who invented it doesn't want it. The man who bought it doesn't need it. The man who needs it doesn't know it."

"What is it?" Alejandro dared to ask.

"It's a riddle," Capitan Morales answered.

Sergeant Garcia gasped, "Just like the riddles from a few days ago!"

"Let me see it?" they all turned at the unaccounted voice.

"Zorro!" Garcia exclaimed.

Alejandro quietly sighed in relief.

"Sergeant, refrain from shouting," the commandante ordered quietly as he handed the riddle to the outlaw.

"What does this have to do with my daughter?" Gregorio asked in distress.

Capitan Morales turned to the don, "She has been missing for how long, Senor?"

"Since late this afternoon," Gregorio stopped then looked at the man in black, "No. No, he only takes men!"

Alejandro put a comforting arm around his friend.

"He has taken men who resemble Zorro and asks them if they know his identity," Capitan Morales explained. He stopped and turned to the outlaw, "Didn't the senorita and you—"

Gregorio turned to the man in black, "Does he think she knows who you are, Senor?! He won't hurt her?!"

Zorro's heart beat wildly. She very well could have been taken because of the relationship she had with Zorro. But why now? Why not sooner? He shook his head, "I don't know," he heard himself saying, "He won't. I won't let him," he assured.

Capitan Morales interjected, "We should get back to the riddle. It might locate the next victim."

"You mean my daughter."

"But what would the man want with a coffin?" Sergeant Garcia asked.

All eyes turned to the fat sergeant. "What did you say?" Morales spoke.

Garcia felt sheepish. He pointed to the riddle, "The man who invented it doesn't want it. The man who bought it doesn't need it. The man who needs it doesn't know it. It's a coffin."

Zorro's eyes widened and Alejandro and Morales both saw it.

"What is it?" Morales said.

Zorro's mask did not conceal his worry, "I know where she is and who is behind this."

We're getting down to the wire! Thanks again for all the support and lovely comments!