Circus of Shadows: A Deadly Performance

Chapter 24: Photographs and Revelations

Detective Black feeling she had covered the entire trailer, began to look through the stack of letters she found on his desk. Some of these documents contained revelations she wasn't expecting.

One letter, in particular, instantly stood out. It was a handwritten letter from Luna's mother, Marilena Alvarez. The date at the top of the most recent was only nine days ago, the content of the conversation between Mrs Alvarez and Mr Ortiz was in reference to Marilena Alvarez requesting Mr Ortiz to release Luna of her contract at the circus with immediate effect. The conversation in the letters also spoke of Luna's delicate condition and the need for her to return home and be with her mother and family in Costa Rica. It was clear that Marilena, Luna's mother was deeply concerned about her daughters well being.

This conversation added a grave complexion to Luna's illness and began to make Detective Black feel something was seriously wrong with Luna's health. However quickly to her relief she read Mr Ortiz congratulated Marilena on Luna's pregnancy.

Luna's pregnant Detective Black realised, everything all of a sudden fell into place. The bouts of illness and not being able to train, the reason Madame Felicity Fontaine was on her way to replace Luna. The motive for murder suddenly evaporated. However why was this a secret and why did Luna not tell Connie she began to wonder.

She read on but what struck Connie as even more surprising was an added hand written note on the top of the page in Mr Ortiz's handwriting which read "Keep Secret" and this was above the line that identified Felix Bauer as the father.
The final revelation went on that Marilena had made a request that Mr Ralph Ortiz did not reveal that they had spoken. Also demanding that Marilena had never requested her daughters release from the circus. She politely asked if Mr Ortiz could cite that Luna in her condition couldn't continue in her role as a contortionist, which he duly accepted.

Connie couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy for Luna, she had been in a difficult position, and it appeared that Mr Ortiz had been aware of the complicated dynamics this story contained. What was even more surprising was according to Luna's mother, she wanted to keep the news secret from Felix Bauer, the very man involved and father to be. It was clear Marilena wanted to protect the secret, and Mr Ortiz clearly respected her wishes.

This unexpected twist in the case had for now satisfied Detective Black that Luna was no longer a suspect based on these new revelations. Although why Miss Alvarez had not informed Connie of this information did still arouse some suspicion.

Detective Black fresh off this revelation, still eager to find more, soon stumbled on a formal letter typed from Mr Oscar Harrison, from Harrison and Hyde solicitors revealing the finer details of the contractual dispute and Miss Fonseca's determination to break her contract. It was clear she had her own reasons for wanting out, where the letter outlined her concerns and grievance's towards Mr Ortiz.

It referenced in bullet points some of the key reasons for her wish to break her contract, one bullet point stood out.

"Unfair dismissal of Ms Jessica Delights formerly known as Mrs Jessica Ortiz as our trainer"

This leaped off the page as it clearly suggested a relationship between Ms Delights and Mr Ortiz. Detective Black was unaware of any relationship between the pair as this was not mentioned by any of the performers. It highlighted a possible friction between them that needed to be investigated further.

The final key piece of evidence captured Connie's interest was a photograph displayed above Mr Ortiz's desk. In the picture, Madame Hattie was standing alongside two young boys who were hugging her. One of them was unmistakably Mr Ralph Ortiz. His youthful face, full of dreams and aspirations, was a stark contrast to the man she had known and was investigating. The photo provided a glimpse into Mr Ortiz's past and the close bond he shared with Madame Hattie.

The other boy in the photograph, however, seemed familiar to Connie but she couldn't place his identity. There was something about the boys features that hinted at a connection to the circus, but the details remained elusive.

As Connie examined the photograph, she couldn't help but wonder about the significance of the photo. The photo was clearly important and precious to Mr Ortiz as it was in pride of place above his desk. Madame Hattie and Ralph Ortiz and a mysterious boy shared a connection that went beyond the confides of the circus. A deep routed history that bound Ralph and Madame Hattie before their time at the Carnival of Curiosity and what hidden secrets lay within the photo frame with a hidden relationship.

Madame Hattie became very important once again in the investigation as she was the only one who could identify the mysterious boy in the photo and the connection they share. The intricate puzzle and its inhabitants increased the level of intrigue and she was steadfast in her beliefs to uncover the truth no matter how enigmatic it might become.

Could Madame Hattie be related to Mr Ortiz in some capacity explaining her allegiances to her former ringmaster and why she appeared so sad and reluctance to speak about Mr Ralph Ortiz the detective wondered with great intrigue.