Circus of Shadows: A Deadly Performance

Chapter 40: Silent Witness: The Fingerless Clue

Detective Black decided to take a break from her enclosed office, full of suspects, motives and case notes surrounding her. She felt some time out to gather some perspective was required. Connie crossed the road from the station and grabbed a coffee from the quirky little coffee cabin truck, exchanged pleasantries with the owner, and made her way to the local park.

The tranquil ambiance here offered Connie a momentary respite from the labyrinth of the case that she was diligently unraveling. Lost in her thoughts she pondered the clues that were presented to her and contemplated her next move with the backdrop of Haven's serene beauty surrounding her.

Armed with the newfound revelations from her conversation with Madame Hattie and the intriguing details from the historic newspaper clippings from the Circus Chronicle. Detective Black was strategising her next steps in her mind.

Rosa, the elusive key figure in the circus's complex history, who had some how evaded Connie in her investigation had become a top priority. The history between Rosa, Lorenzo and the Lombardi-Ortiz family seemed pivotal and Detective Black was determined to untangle it.

She sketched out a plan in her mind to approach Rosa carefully, hoping she might shed light on the past, the family dynamics, and any underlying tensions that could connect to the present murder case.

Simultaneously, Detective Black intended to have a sit-down conversation with Marco the Magnificent, the centre of the stepbrothers' rivalry. His involvement in the circus, coupled with his familial history and the tense relationship with Mr Ortiz, made him an extremely crucial piece in the puzzle. Especially as it appears that he has taken over the reins of the circus since the demise of Ralph. With the murder weapon found and in her possession, most likely one that belonged to Marco, questions needed to be asked to identify the truth behind who came to use it with fatal consequences.

She had already made plans to speak with Ms Delights today which she had hoped would provide the answers she required. There was something that Connie couldn't quite place her finger on when it came to Ms Delights, a curious aura loomed around her and this is what troubled Connie the most.

Detective Black was still awaiting two key findings from her request to Harrison and Hyde, Haven's local solicitors who were looking into the deeds of the circus to see the legitimacy and who owned the deeds. While she also was awaiting the inspection report of the murder weapon. She was hoping it would reveal either finger prints or DNA that would provide her strongest piece of evidence to solve the case.

As she turned the corner and headed down an alley of trees, their golden brown leaves glowing in the dappled sunlight that was peaking through, a chance encounter awaited her. It was a familiar couple, Richard and Elizabeth Jones, accompanied by their two bounding dogs. A polite exchange of pleasantries ensued, Detective Black's mind shifting from the enigmatic thoughts that had consumed her mind moments earlier.

"Detective Black," Richard began, a tinge of curiosity in his voice, "I wonder if the Fonseca Circus, in Portugal, holds any significance in your investigation. A female performer has been frequenting our post office, sending and collecting parcels and letters from there quite often over the past few weeks."

Detective Black's interest piqued at the mention of the circus. "Fonseca Circus?" Connie repeated back to the couple to ensure she understood. Quickly she was very aware of this place as it's where Bella the Brave wishes to return, to be reunited with her family. "It certainly does, Mr Jones I appreciate this information. Do you recall anything about the performer more specifically?"

Elizabeth chimed in, her expression thoughtful. "She was a striking woman, Detective Black. Not that tall, with dark hair, always seemed in a rush and sometimes on edge when visiting our shop. Seemed preoccupied especially her last couple of visits since all this has been going on."

Detective Black made a mental note of the description, recognising it was Bella Fonseca straight away. "Thank-you for sharing this, Mr and Mrs Jones. It might indeed hold some relevance to my inquiries. Your help is greatly appreciated once more."

The couple bid the detective farewell, their dogs happily wagging their tails as they continued their leisurely stroll through the park. Detective Black, however, was jolted into a renewed sense of focus, the revelation of Bella's visits to the local post office and her unease at being there intrigued Connie. She was eager to identify what the parcels and letters contained but for now, a visit to see Bella the Brave, to understand her mindset and reasons for these multiple appearances was essential.

Detective Black's renewed optimism after her walk in Haven's peaceful park, soon came to an unexpected downturn. On her return to her office the shrill ring of her office phone shattered the stillness of her investigation. With a sense of urgency, she answered, anticipating a breakthrough or a lead in this perplexing case.

"Detective Connie Black, speaking."

The voice on the other end delivers a blow that had reverberated through her bones. "Detective, it's Charley Harper in forensics. We've analysed the murder weapon recovered from the circus. It indeed contains traces of blood from Mr Ralph Ortiz, confirming it as the weapon used in the crime."

Her heart sank at the conformation she had dreaded, the weight of the revelation settling heavily upon her. "And the fingerprints?" she asked, Connie's voice betraying a faint glimmer of hope.

There was a moment of silence before, Charley Harper the forensic expert continued, "I'm sorry, Detective. The murder weapon had been meticulously wiped clean of any identifiable prints. There's nothing we could retrieve."

A veil of frustration and disappointment fell upon Detective Black's features. The absence of fingerprints on the weapon was a damning obstacle in her pursuit of the elusive truth. A stark reminder of the meticulous planning and intent behind the heinous act or a horrific accident, being covered up with astute detail and attention.

"Thank you Miss Charley Harper," she managed to respond, her voice tinged with a bitter sense of defeat. The shadows of that awful night now loomed larger than before.