Circus of Shadows: A Deadly Performance

Chapter 20: Marco's Elusive Mystery

As the sun was rising over Haven and the Carnival of Curiosity for a third day since the death of Mr Ralph Ortiz, it casted long shadows over the circus grounds. As Connie had marched across the courtyard after spotting the elusive escapologist, Marco the Magnificent Lombardi to use his full name, from Luna Alvarez's trailer she knew he had proven a great challenge to track down. His evasive movements had incensed Detective Black, she approached him, determined to uncover the enigma surrounding his actions.

"Marco," Connie called out, her voice firm but not accusatory. "I've been looking for you. It seems you really do take your act seriously. It seems you've been avoiding me. Care to explain?"

Marco turned, his expression a mixture of allure and apprehension. "Detective, I assure you, I haven't been avoiding you, I haven't been avoiding anyone? The circus keeps me busy, I was just fixing the steps on the helter skelter. I'm even busier now after the devastating incidents that have occurred here. I've been working with Ms Delights on new acts, and how to reshape our show and keep the circus moving forward as we have been told we can begin performances again in a few days."

Detective Black could sense that Marco Lombardi was holding something back, a secret or an unspoken truth that he was reluctant to share. She decided to tread carefully as she didn't want Marco, who has trained all his circus life how to escape any situation, wriggle free from the squeeze Detective Black was applying.

She then addressed the underlying tension between him and Mr Ortiz and where it had began.

"It's come to my attention that the significant rivalry for the spotlight that you and Mr Ortiz contested on every performance was indeed more intricate than that." Detective Black proposed, considering her words thoughtfully once more, "Can you tell me in your words more about this? Where did the rivalry stem from, and how has it affected your relationship with Ralph?"

Marco's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, revealing the complex layers of his history with the former ringmaster. "Ralph and I, we've always had a competitive spirit. We both sought to shine in the spotlight, it's where we came alive, and this rivalry intensified over the years. He was relentless in pushing us all to take that greater risk, to outperform each other, all for the greater good but to deliver bigger performances."

Connie noted the passion in Marco's voice and was also swept up in the emotion and facade he was creating. He continued. "It created tension as I am sure you would acknowledge, but at the same time, it pushed me, all of us to excel. The circus is a world of ambition and dreams, Detective. Sometimes, those ambitions clash."

Connie had realised that the rivalry between Marco and Mr Ortiz was fuelled by the shared passion for the circus and unquenchable desire to captivate audiences. Yet, beneath the tension, there was an unspoken connection that bound them to the art of performance that was deep rooted in their history.

As Connie followed Marco the Magnificent into his trailer for further questioning, she understood that, like the rest of the circus performers, the escapologist held deeper secrets and darker desires. The shadows of ambition, and rivalry that loomed over the Carnival of Curiosity would continue to reveal their truths, one revelation at a time.

Now inside Marco Lombardi's trailer, the detective continued her conversation, trying to unlock the complexities of his relationship with the other performers and the impact vying for the spotlight with Ralph Ortiz had caused.

"Mr Lombardi," Connie inquired, "how did your rivalry with Mr Ortiz affect your relationships with your fellow performers? Did it cause divisions within the circus?"

Marco's expression became contemplative as he reflected on the question. "It's true that our rivalry created a certain tension within our community. Performers had their loyalties, and there were moments when they had to choose sides, so to speak. However, we're like a family, detective. Despite the competitiveness, we always supported each other when it truly mattered."

As the conversation moved forward and unfolded, Connie's next question revolves around Marco Lombardi's whereabouts at the time of the murder. She needed to establish an alibi, as his rivalry with Ralph might have raised suspicions.

"Can you provide an alibi for the night of Mr Ortiz's murder? Connie asked, her tone measured.

Marco hesitated for a moment before answering, I had climbed into the cannon backstage ready to be wheeled on for the grand finale. I had began to wonder why I hadn't moved when the deafening shrieks from within the big top filled the air just before the discovery of Ralph Ortiz.

Detective Black knowing that this needed corroborating, "How convenient," Detective Black enquired "can anyone confirm this as Bella claims she was with you at the time."
Marco quite assured in his response "Yes, Bella, Victor most of us backstage were there!"

Connie shifted gears to address a different inquiry in the investigation. "I've heard you visited the towns doctor, Dr Roundhouse recently. Why didn't you use the medical team here at the circus? And who was the lady you were with when you headed into Haven?

Marco the Magnificent sighed, as if weighing how much to reveal to Detective Black. "The circus doctor is more than competent, but I needed a second opinion on something that was a personal matter. The lady I was with if you must know is my mother, Mrs Rosa Lombardi. She's a stickler for health and insisted we visit Dr Roundhouse for further assessments."

Detective Black nodded, considering this new information. She wanted to probe further as to why he needed a second opinion and how true this omission was but didn't want to raise suspicions just yet. However Detective Black recalled from an earlier exchange with Ms Jessica Delights that a lady by the name of Rosa ran the ticket booth. With how closely the circus community are interlinked, Connie was quietly confident that Marco's mother, Rosa, was the ticketmaster she had been hoping to speak with.

Connie couldn't help but ponder how these dynamics might connect to the murder of Mr Ortiz and how the intricate web of relationships that enveloped the performers would come into focus.