Circus of Shadows: A Deadly Performance

Chapter 26: Narrowing the Focus

Detective Black returned to her desk, leaving Felix in the interrogation room to ponder what she had laid before him, she also knew that Sofia being left longer on her own would unsettle her.
As she sat down to review all her notes and evidence gathered so far, she knew there were intricate connections and untold secrets between all the performers she needed to consider.

She made a quick phone call to the forensic department to see if anything could be located on Mr Ortiz diary. She knew the diary would reveal some key dates and information but wanted it scanned for prints and any other clues before she began to fully investigate the secrets that lie within.

Last night back in her humble living space of her quaint little bungalow she was making notes and running scenarios through her mind of the performers actions and whereabouts. Connie wanted to open up her case notes before heading to update her suspects board with this information.

1. Bella the Brave: Bella had expressed her desire to break her contract. She indicated potential motives for Mr Ortiz's murder. There was the statement about "something really bad will happen sooner rather than later." This coupled with wanting to head back to her family's circus back in Portugal and being forced to remain. Connie just needed to connect this back to the crime.
2. Madame Hattie: Her relationship with Mr Ortiz was much closer than Connie had initially thought. The photograph she discovered hinted at a shared history that might hold further clues and motives, especially with the second young boy unidentified.
3. Felix, the Acrobat Twin: Given that they have been on the run for the past three days, and a heated argument with Mr Ortiz and now the revelation that Felix was the father of Luna's unborn child, he has become the prime suspect.
4. Sofia, the Acrobat Twin: Sofia, as Felix's sister and close companion, she might hold key knowledge related to the circumstances surrounding Luna's pregnancy and her secret relationship with her brother. This made her a strong person of interest with a motive, as she, like Felix could not explain their whereabouts at the time of the murder.
5. Victor Miguel: Victor had initially been a strong person of interest when Luna herself was considered a prime suspect. This was due to their close relationship and his protective nature. By eliminating Luna as a suspect for the time being, the suspicions of Victor waned also - but at the back of her mind was his over protective nature and responsibilities towards Luna who was being unfairly replaced. Was this his driving force in wanting revenge.
6. Luna Alvarez: While Luna had been prime suspect for some time based on her confrontation with Mr Ortiz, missing training and performances and being replaced at the circus gave her multiple reasons to be make her the likely murderer. Although her relationship with Mr Ortiz was very complicated, the revelation of her pregnancy made all suspicions fade away. As more information is being gathered it appears her primary concern was the baby's well being.
7. Ms Jessica Delights: Never really been under suspicion and although recent findings have raised her higher up the list of suspects for Ralph Ortiz's murder. This is based upon her being the former trainer and choreographer along with evidence to suggest a romantic connection to Mr Ortiz. She is a key witness who could hold valuable information on suspects with greater motives.
8. Marco the Magnificent: Marco's suspicious visit to the town's doctor with his mother, Rosa Lombardi, raised questions about his involvement in the case. When this is added onto the weak alibi at the time of the murder, the power battle between himself and Ralph, it provides a compelling case. For now there just is not enough evidence to suggest a strong enough motive so remains under review.
9. Gabriella Giggles: Gabriella had an airtight alibi, she was seen by multiple witnesses performing at the time and has been fully excluded from further investigations. Gabriella is a key witness and like Ms Delights holds valued information.

Detective Black's board was smothered in theories and revelations, motives and alibis. She knew each of them held unique details and connections that were slowly being unveiled. Especially as Connie felt her murderer was sitting in the room just next door.

Connie headed back into the interrogation room, Felix still reeling from the accusations landed on him from Detective Black's examination just before lunch.

She wanted to first confront Felix and demand more information on his argument with Mr Ortiz, where she had witnesses hearing Mr Bauer threaten the ringmaster. She wanted to obtain from him his motives behind this heated exchange.

Felix hesitated at first and reluctantly admitted "Yes you are correct, Miss Alvarez and I were in a secret relationship." He explained with a reluctant tone. "Mr Ortiz had very strict rules that no performers can be romantically involved."

The heated argument was briefly over this matter as well as the twins commitment to him and his vision. He had an inkling that they could be breaking this rule, and was actually threatening to have them both exiled from the circus if this was true. Inadvertently by sharing this Felix had now admitted to another motive for killing Mr Ortiz which was to protect his contract at The Carnival of Curiosity.

In a neighbouring room, Connie was also interviewing Sofia, Felix's twin sister, to gather more information about the argument and what her recollections of this exchange with Mr Ortiz were.
Sofia repeated what her brother had informed Connie about the strict rule, "Mr Ortiz had forbidden performers engaging in romantic relationships, fearing that they would affect performances and disrupt harmony in his community." Sofia explained that Felix had lost his temper and threatened Mr Ortiz when confronted about his relationship with Luna as he passionately denied it.

Returning back to interview Felix, Connie was now beginning to piece together a clearer picture. Mr Ortiz had unearthed their secret relationship, and threatened to expel them both, tensions escalated and erupted.

Her intense questioning continued. "Tell me more about your relationship with Victor Miguel" Connie pressed, suspecting that Victor might have known about his relationship with Luna. "Was he aware of your secret, and did it contribute to any tension between you and Mr Ortiz?"

Mr Bauer hesitated for a moment again but then admitted that Victor had been like a father figure to Luna. "Yes, Detective. He was aware of our relationship, he never really approved, due to the circus's strict rules. He did come to accept it." Felix concluded.

Detective Black then returned to their sudden disappearance, Felix then explained, "We heard a commotion, and then the news that Mr Ortiz was dead reached us. Sofia and I panicked thinking we might be blamed for something we didn't do. It was a mistake to run, so we came back and have been hiding in the trailer ever since. I knew how it looked, what I said to Mr Ortiz, the heated exchange and what he found out and how he threatened us. Someone told us he had found out about me and Luna, he was angry and wanted to see us after the show."

Connie had no supporting evidence that Sofia had clear motive to remain a suspect, her actions were very suspicious but decided to release her from custody. By retaining Mr Felix Bauer and releasing his sister it might just unnerve Felix, and even Luna, perhaps leading them to reveal more information.

As Sofia left the police station, Connie knew that she was closing in on solving the case, all she needed now was to find a murder weapon that could link Felix to the murder to close the case.