"El costillar es mío, me lo quieren quitar. Si tú no me lo quitas, quién me lo va a quitar," Sergeant Garcia's powerful baritone voice resounded in the tavern, accompanied by Tonio's contagious laughter. Together, they formed an odd pair, but they were having so much fun other customers were laughing and singing along with them.

As he watched his friends, Diego tried to smile, but he had a difficult time keeping it up. There was this omnipresent dull pain that was pounding in his head, and rubbing his temples seemed to have no effect against the headache. A strong coffee was pretty much his last resort, but he felt a dose of peace and quiet would have done much better to help his cause.

He had Tonio to blame for it. The soldier had got him out of bed barely before sunrise, and dragged him along in town for breakfast. Diego was certainly not used to waking up so early in the morning, as this was usually the time Zorro would slip into bed. The caballero had barely slept, his thoughts haunted by last night's conversation with his best friend. He found it strange that after such a tense moment between them, Tonio seemed to act as if nothing had happened, and it was just like old times in Madrid... except this was totally the wrong time of the day for it.

"Come on, Diego, you have to cheer up a little! What's this frown in your face right now? You should be celebrating my arrival!" Tonio said loudly.

"You friend is right, Don Diego," Sergeant Garcia cheerfully added. "I look forward to hearing all your good stories from Madrid!"

"Oh, you'll like this one, Sergeant," Tonio patted the officer's large shoulder, winking at Diego at the same time. "There was this one time when Diego wanted to invite the beautiful Señorita María Luisa to..."

Diego rolled his eyes in despair. He knew it was useless to stop Tonio from telling this one story. He grunted and tried to forget about his pain, and also the shame he would soon feel at having this event retold once more to the general public. He could always count on Tonio to make him feel horrible at one point or another.

With a sigh, Diego laid back in his chair, hands crossed behind his head, and directed his gaze outside through the window. The town looked so different this early in the morning than what he was used to. The peónes were so active, and hurried about before the air became too uncomfortable and hot.

Among the lively crowd, something suddenly caught the young man's attention. The dashing blue uniform of the Comandante stood out among the dull colors of the crowd, accompanied by the bright yellow of Señora Escudero's dress. The Capitán looked utterly annoyed and was obviously trying to walk away from the woman who seemed to have made it a mission to make his life... interesting. Diego suppressed a chuckle and kicked his friend under the table, trying to get his attention on what was happening outside.

"What?" Tonio said, annoyed at being interrupted in his story.

"Oh, the Capitán is back!" Sergeant Garcia exclaimed. "I was wondering where he had gone. He had ordered me to report first thing in the morning, about Zorro and those scoundrels, but I couldn't find him. I thought that was odd."

So, Monastario had spent the night with the Señora? Diego thought with a smile. This would certainly turn out to be the gossip of the week, and would explain the Comandante's agitation about being seen with her.

"And look who's there," Tonio whispered, pointing at Mateo who was tying the cart's reins close by. On his face, there was also the same, though milder, annoyance that could be detected on Monastario's.

It looked like the Comandante was finally successful in getting rid of the Señora, taking his leave with a half-heart salute. As Mateo and his mother entered the tavern, Diego and Tonio went back to looking busy as if they had not been watching their arrival.

"Diego! Antoine!" the Señora happily waved at them.

"Señora Escudero, what a pleasure," the caballero greeted her with a smile. "My father sends his regards."

"Oh, how nice of him!" she giggled, sitting down at the table with the three men.

"The Sergeant and I were about to leave, unfortunately," declared Tonio, standing up and dragging Sergeant Garcia with him. "We need to report to the Capitán."

"But—" the Sergeant protested.

"Have a great day, Señora," Tonio cut him, while smiling at her. "Mateo, can I talk to you for a second on our way out?"

As his friends walked out of the building, Diego suddenly realized with a sinking feeling he was now alone with the bubbly Señora Escudero. His headache would certainly not go away anytime soon. With the smile still stuck on his face, Diego nodded and sipped on his coffee, thanking his best friend for the missed opportunity to spend the morning comfortably sleeping in a bed, and the leftover bill for his breakfast.

Imelda was sitting on a large rock, silently staring at the horizon. She let the strong wind play with her black hair and caress her skin, her mind empty of any thought. She stayed still for a very long time, observing the seemingly bare land of California extending all around her, noting every detail of it. She knew this land would soon be busy with human life, and shrink slowly as the years will go by. Every week new colonists were coming in and taking ownership of parcels of this country, transforming it into something different with their crops and cattle.

As if to confirm her predictions, a tiny figure was suddenly visible far ahead. Imelda squinted her eyes, trying to figure out who could be walking alone so far from the pueblo. A lost colonist perhaps? She decided to stay still, maybe the man would not notice her presence if she did nothing to make it known she was there.

The tall man took his time, walking slowly in a random pattern while pulling his mule along. It seemed he was looking for something on the ground, and Imelda found it amusing that he was so intent in his search he still had not noticed her presence, even when he finally was walking only a short distance from her.

When his eyes finally saw her feet, he slowly looked up, but did not appear surprised. Instead, he smiled.

"Hola," he greeted.

Imelda stared back at him with a faint smile. The bearded man cleared his throat, shifting his weight slightly. Imelda sensed he had been made uncomfortable by her silence.

"My names is Jacques Garat. I just came to Los Angeles a few months ago."

Imelda kept smiling at him, amused by the situation.

Unsure of what to do, the man threw a puzzled look at the strange woman in front of him, and then resumed his search, deciding not to waste any more time on the one-sided conversation. After a few minutes of looking around, he came back to her with decided steps.

"Look, I don't know if you understand Spanish or not, but maybe you could help me. I am looking for datura metaloides... er, well, a white flower, looks like a trumpet, maybe this big, with heart-shaped leaves. Have you seen any in the area?"

A... botanist? Surprising, and very intriguing. Why would a newly arrived colonist look for this dangerous plant?

Curiosity took over, and Imelda slid down the rock, taking the man's large hand into hers and pulling him towards a rocky mount half a mile ahead. As they slowly made their way on the sandy ground, Imelda did not understand why, but she felt some sort of connection with Jacques. She found it amusing that he was trying to have a conversation with her even though she had said nothing so far.

"I am trying to replenish my stock of medicine," Jacques explained.

So, he was a Healer? Imelda was surprised, and her reaction made her squeeze his hand slightly, though he was polite enough not to notice it.

"This plant is a very powerful hallucinogen, but if one inhales the smoke it produces in very small doses it makes for a great anesthetic for the throat and lungs. I heard this plant was quite common in California, yet I have been unlucky in my search so far," he said excitedly. He definitely looked passionate about his interest and did not mind sharing his knowledge around.

As they came closer to the mount, Imelda pulled Jacques around, and headed towards the small ditch she knew was right next to it.

"Yes! Finally!" he exclaimed, dropping her hand to run towards the patch of flowers hidden by the rocks. The man bent down on his knees, and carefully took out a small knife and cut with precision one of the seed pods that had dried out. Imelda was surprised at this attention, she knew most of the newcomers in the area had little if no care for the original life on the land when they came to settle.

"This should be enough for a while, and I should be able to grow some at home. Gracias," he nodded to her, putting the seeds away in one of his leather bags.

"Toloache," replied Imelda with a smile.

"Pardon me?"

"This is Queen Toloache. Be careful, she does not let trespassers enter her realm easily."

Jacques stared at her, puzzled. "Hm... thanks for the warning," he replied with hesitation.

"Come," Imelda said, a sudden spark lighting her eyes.

"Wait, I don't—"

The woman grabbed his arm, and Jacques had to follow reluctantly, his mule clumsily turning around as he pulled on its tether. After a few minutes, Imelda stopped on a spot that seemingly had nothing special to it. She knelt slowly, and pulled on Jacques's sleeve to bring him down with her.

"Here," she pointed at a small hole.

Jacques looked at it with curiosity, unsure of what to expect. When he saw the tiny, delicate red flower, his eyes widened with excitement.

"This is incredible! I have never seen this rare species before! How did you...?"

Imelda shook her head with a smile and plucked the flower between her small fingers. "It will be here again, you can remember this place like I do," she said, giving it to Jacques.

"I'm afraid this 'place' looks like everything else around here," he smiled, accepting the flower. His eyes were shining. "Why did you give this to me?"

"A gift. From Healer to Healer," she answered with a soft voice.

Corporal Antoine was pacing in the cuartel's court, flipping his silver coin in the air while waiting for the Comandante to call him in his office. He was annoyed and angry, because either someone was lying to him, or he had really lost his pocket watch. When he had asked Mateo about it, mostly to determine if he was trying to hide something, the young man had merely frowned at him. "I don't understand. I vaguely remember seeing you playing with something at the tavern in Monterey. Is that the thing you are looking for?" he had said, in all honesty. Antoine could not see anything in the young man's face that would hint at Mateo lying to him about it. So, if Mateo knew nothing about the watch, then Antoine must have truly lost it during the duel with Martínez. However, he could not shake off the feeling that somehow, this is not really what had happened to it. He wished he could just let it go.

"Corporal, the Capitán is ready to see you," Sergeant Garcia called from the door as he walked out of the office.

Antoine distractedly nodded at his superior officer and walked inside.

"Corporal Garat," Monastario greeted without lifting his eyes from the paperwork sitting on his desk.

"Capitán."

"What is your relationship with the Escudero family?" he asked bluntly.

Antoine was taken by surprise. He had not expected this kind of question from the Comandante. Why on earth was he interested by... unless this was related to this morning's... The young man smiled inwardly , being smart enough to not let anything show on the outside.

"None, Capitán. I met Mateo Escudero for the first time in Monterey and he offered the ride back to Los Angeles. He was over there for business, he picked up medicinal plants from La Princesa. As to Señora Escudero, you presented her to me, Sir."

The Comandante finally looked at the soldier with a neutral face. Antoine was unable to read on his features what was going on.

"This is interesting. Are you sure you have never met someone from their family before?" he asked, softly tapping his chin with his quill pen in a pensive manner.

"I am pretty sure, Capitán." Antoine replied, avoiding to ask the obvious question that was burning his lips. He had absolutely no idea why Monastario was doubting his word.

"Hm. Señor Escudero was not expecting you in Monterey then?" he insisted.

"No, Capitán. We met at the tavern near the dock, by pure chance. We got involved in a... brawl, Sir."

"A brawl? Why would you hang out in places like that, Corporal? And what was Señor Escudero doing over there?"

Antoine was getting unnerved by the Comandante's insistence. He had no idea why he was being interrogated in this fashion. "There were no rooms available for the night. I decided to spend the night at the tavern. A man named Carlos Martínez was just looking for trouble, and he picked on Señor Escudero and myself. He's the one who ambushed me out of town and left me this little souvenir, Sir," Antoine explained, pointing to his shoulder.

"All right," Monastario said pensively after after a moment. He then stood up and circled his desk, stopping within a hair's breadth from Antoine. "Now, what would a young man like you be doing here? Explain yourself."

"I...do not understand your question, Capitán," Antoine replied, confused.

"Your curriculum is quite impressive, and there are infinite opportunities for your career in Europe, yet you end up on the new continent in a city barely put on the map. I am the one who does not understand, Corporal," Monastario smiled calmly. "There must be something interesting here, am I right?"

"If I may, Capitán?" Antoine requested boldly, feeling hot anger flush his cheeks.

The Comandante's smile disappeared at the soldier's reaction, and he nodded his consent after a short, awkward silence.

"I have absolutely no reason to be here, Capitán. If it had been up to me, I would never have come to Los Angeles in a lifetime. Except that my father requested me to, on his deathbed. We were not on particularly good terms, and I had not spoken to him in five years, but I followed his orders. Family duty. I have no idea what he had in mind, but I would like to put this story behind me and not discuss it further... Capitán. Will that be all?"

"Yes," the Comandante finally said. "Welcome to the cuartel of Los Angeles, Corporal Garat. I look forward to seeing you in action."

Monastario extended his hand and smiled warmly, the cold attitude gone in a blink.

"Capitán?" Antoine said, clumsily shaking the hand in return. He had expected his commanding officer to be angry after his somewhat brash outburst. Was this simply some sort of test he had subjected him to?

"I am sorry for the blunt interrogation, Corporal. Security reasons. I am investigating another trivial issue involving the Escuderos," Monastario explained. "Forgive my perseverance on your case."

"Sí, Capitán." Antoine hesitated a moment, and then took a deep breath. "I would like to know what are my orders, Sir. You must have soldiers assigned to catch Zorro, and... I would like to join them, Capitán!"

"Zorro!" the Comandante almost yelled, the flare of anger making Antoine jump. It took Monastario a few deep breaths to get his countenance back, but when he did, he smiled broadly. "Corporal, you have carte blanche in this matter! If you do catch this outlaw, I will make sure you get a promotion!" he finished, heavily patting Antoine on the back.

"Gracias, Capitán. You will not be disappointed!" the young man smiled back.

Now, here was something interesting to set his mind to, and forget all about the horrible few months he had just gone through. There was a fox to catch! And what better way to catch a fox than set a trap.

"I am afraid I will have to take my leave of you, Señora," said Diego, trying to stifle a yawn for the hundredth time as he stood up. "I was not really supposed to be in town this morning, I have some duties to attend to back at the hacienda."

Señora Escudero was such a strange woman. She was so talkative it was almost impossible to put a word in the conversation, and while she always seemed to speak of trivial matters that would bore anyone to death, there was something in her eyes that spoke of a greater intelligence and an entirely different personality. However, Diego had no energy to spend on understanding the mystery behind the Señora, and there was something else on his mind that was bothering him. He had to sneak into a house, for god knew what reason, and he has better get rid of that 'duty' to his friend while the Señora and her son were in town.

"Diego, you make me sad. You should not displease ladies like this. This is bad for your reputation! That would explain why you are still single as of this day," she teased the caballero.

"Señora! I—Not you as well, please!" Diego begged in a blush. "I have my father bugging me about my marital status since the day I came back from Madrid"

"Now, if I weren't so fond of Enrique," she continued, duly ignoring his plea, "I would totally be on your case, young caballero."

Diego's eyes widened in fear, and he felt a sudden compassion for the Comandante. Before the Señora could continue on this topic, Diego hurriedly picked her hand up to kiss it.

"Ow, Diego, you are a spirited young man!" she said, reflexively pulling it away. With a pout, she slowly removed her laced glove and massaged her hand.

"I am sorry, Señora Escudero," Diego mumbled pitifully, noting how red and slightly swollen the top of her hand was. Had he been that careless?

"Don't be, dear Diego. I am playing with you. My clumsy servant spilled boiling water on my hand, nothing to worry about," she chuckled.

"Well, I... have to go. Hasta luego, Señora!" Diego left in a hurry. Why did everyone have to make him feel uncomfortable today?

In Monastario's heart, there was hope. Hope that Corporal Garat stood a chance at catching the elusive Zorro! He was a skillful young man, and he had the spirit for the task in front of him. The officer would probably never admit it out loud, but he was already fond of the young lad. His straightforward, impetuous attitude reminded Monastario of himself, and he was not afraid to speak his mind, while still keeping himself in check in front of his superior. He could be a good example for the rest of his troops, who could definitely use a good kick in the butt.

And if Garat took care of Zorro for the time being, the Comandante could focus on trying to figure out what had happened to him last night, and what Señora Escudero really wanted from him. What had possessed him to embrace this woman? Why could he not remember anything at all, except the kiss? How did he end up at her hacienda... and in her bed? How ashamed he felt, losing control of himself in this fashion. It was also strange that Garat had no idea who she was, and he seemed pretty honest about it. He really had no idea what was going on, or he was very, very good at hiding his cards. Monastario was still stuck in the same position. The Corporal had offered no clue at all.

The Capitán distractedly fumbled in his pockets as he tried to make sense of these strange events. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he felt something odd on his right side. He slowly pulled the object out and stared at it.

He didn't own a watch, he pondered.

With a shrug, he opened one of his drawers and threw the worn object in, not giving it a second thought.

"Let's finish dealing with those bandits now," he spoke to himself, walking out of his office with decided steps toward the cuartel's prison.

Next: hmm, I dunno. What do you want to see next? So many things to untangle. Pick something, ahah. :)

Note: I don't know where the song Sergeant Garcia is singing comes from, but it's just a cute, traditional song I happened to know, named "El Costillar". You can easily find some videos of people playing it on guitar, or dancing on it.