Circus of Shadows: A Deadly Performance

Chapter 6: A Mysterious Disappearance

Detective Connie Black, returned back to the circus grounds, refuelled on caffeine and her mind abuzz with the new leads she had gathered from Mrs Bellingham and Mr Edwards. She bumped into Madame Hattie once more in the trailer courtyard, she was sitting under a canopy outside her trailer, consumed with her crystals, but seemed surprisingly pleased to see Detective Black.

Madame Hattie's trailer seemed to stand out even more and she welcomed Connie back inside, she wore a somber expression however.

"Detective Black," Madame Hattie began, "there's something I've been meaning to tell you since your visit earlier today. After the commotion of last night, and the devastation that swept across the circus this morning i had another grim premonition. It was then we realised that the Bauer twins the acrobats were missing. Felix and Sofia have not slept in their trailer last night and asking around no one has seem them since their performance last night either.

Detective Black wanted to find out more "Is this behaviour normal for Felix and Sofia? Why was this not noted before or mentioned to me sooner?"

Madame Hattie glimpsed into her crystal ball, she then turned and drew the curtains on her trailer, which darkened her living space reflecting Madame Hattie's mood. She then reached out and held Detective Black's hand across the table.

"Detective, they are the final act, their stunt is so dangerous and breathtaking it's our showstopper. Ralph was so proud of this stunt he had helped to create he usually made his way to the floor to witness the stunned faces of the paying audience, and to take the applause with the acrobat twins, before all of us then joined for the encore."

Madame Hattie was turning over her tarot cards as she relayed the information to Connie.

"However they never got to perform this act last night, as Mr Ortiz's motionless body was uncovered before they began."

Madame Hattie got up and peeked through the curtains before turning back to Connie. She looked at her directly in the eyes and took a deep breath. It was like she was worried incase anyone would hear her tell Detective Black this detail.

"What really troubles me is they have to climb the ladder backstage to be ready just over there in fact, which is opposite my trailer. I always pass them my lucky charm before they begin and glance into my crystal ball,"
Madame Hattie looked deeply concerned and wiped away her tears "But they never showed, and the next thing I heard were the screams from the audience. This is when I came rushing in to see our ringmaster lay dead on the floor."

Detective Black's eyebrows furrowed with concern. "Do you know where Felix and Sofia Bauer could be?"

Madame Hattie shook her head. She stuttered "No, but they never miss a routine or any rehearsals, it's highly unusual for them to just disappear without saying a word. They are a tight knit pair, always looking out for each other. But on recollection they did seem slightly on edge all evening."

The news raised Connie's suspicion. Could these be the two people both Mrs Bellingham and Mr Edwards said they saw. "Madame Hattie, could you tell me more about Felix and Sofia? Were they close with Mr Ortiz, were there any frictions they were involved in?"

Madame Hattie sighed, she moved her tarot cards away and glimpsed at her crystal ball which was gleaming in the dim light of the trailer. "The Bauer twins were devoted to their craft, but they had their secrets. Ralph, like with Bella the Brave, had been pressuring them to take even greater risks and perform more dangerous stunts to help boost ticket sales. They were hesitant and there was some friction caused."

Connie realised that the disappearance of the acrobat twins might be very well connected to the murder of Mr Ortiz. It was a development coupled with what she found out in Haven earlier today that added a layer of complexity to the ever deepening case.

"Thank you for sharing this with me, Madame Hattie" Connie said. "I will investigate their disappearance as well, as I can see how important they are to you. If you have any more information, please don't hesitate to contact me."

As she left the fortune tellers trailer, Connie's determination deepened. The disappearance of the acrobat twins, Felix and Sofia Bauer, could hold the key to unraveling the mysteries of the circus. She was eager to uncover the truth as soon as possible, no matter how many layers of illusion and intrigue she had to peel back.