Chapter 72 - Distracting the detective

What the hell was that place?

Why was the feeling of being made a fool so strong?

Giovani stared at the board full of pinned papers and red threads going from one point to another leading nowhere. On the study table, paperwork and reports were scattered reflecting the chaos in his mind.

Why couldn't he get any clues?

Staring at the portrait of the suspect he saw the other night, Giovani felt in his core that he was following the right path. However, it was frustrating when he couldn't find anything concrete.

— There's nothing. You don't have an identity, you're like a ghost. But inside this place, do you exist? — The detective mumbled, massaging his sore temple — This is going nowhere.

Sitting down in the chair, the man pulled out the dark folder and reread the document it contained. Thanks to the cooperation of the police stations in other regions of the city, Giovani found that there had been no other disappearances related to Dreamland in recent weeks.

At least in the other regions.

As for the region where he had been assigned when he joined the police, that was another story.

— A show director and a mechanical engineering student, both directly related to the boy. But I kept an eye on him the whole time and he didn't have any suspicious activity....

Ah, your head would explode.

He had been watching Leonardo closely. Ever since the staff became agitated by the discovery of the park's new owner, the boy had been in the spotlight. Giovani spotted him easily during his rounds, and at the mansion he was always holed up in the office with his secretary. He didn't leave until the early hours of the morning.

Precisely because he knew well where Leonardo was, it became frustrating to know that the last two victims were related to him. It was definitely as if he was being deceived so blatantly, that it became increasingly frustrating not to be able to get out of that vicious cycle.

— Hmm...

Looking over his shoulder, Giovani remembered the second presence in that room.

Hidden under the pile of blankets, the girl was stirring and scratching her eyes, still drowsy. Had he woken her up accidentally?

Viola had sought him out that night because she was afraid to sleep alone, the problem was that Giovani was sleep deprived and wanted to see the details of the case. He had left the study table light on, hoping it wouldn't disturb her, but perhaps it was his endless grumbling that had woken her up.

— Woke up? Did you sleep well?

Viola sat up in bed, scratching her eyes and then nodding. The detective stifled a laugh at how adorable a sleepy girl like her looked. The knocks on the door were enough to let that smile go away, especially seeing Vicente on the other side of the door.

— Mr Monteccello, I see you're awake already.

— Have you come for the girl?

— Yes, sir. I believe it will be your shift at work soon, so I must look after her in your absence.

There was something else that bothered him incessantly.

Those amber eyes seemed to mock him. And the constant feeling that he was letting a poor victim near a predator was also a nuisance. However, there was no concrete proof that he was right.

Quite the contrary.

Vicente seemed too perfect.

Even when he was at work making rounds in the park, Giovani would see the two of them passing back and forth. It was as if he was doing it on purpose so that the detective would see him and be sure that they were really protecting her.

Viola came up behind Giovani, holding his hand as she stared at the secretary in her constant silence.

— What is it, Viola?

— Viola?

— That's the name the young master gave her, since we don't know her real name.

Had the boy given her a name? Lowering his eyes to watch her carefully, he pondered if it suited the girl, however the smile she gave when her name was mentioned already answered the question.

She had liked her new name.

— Would you like to stay with the detective a little longer? — The girl nodded even as Vicente crouched down in front of her — But he needs to work now, we can't disturb him.

The girl raised her eyes to the detective, longing for some answer from him.

Ah... What was he supposed to do when a child looked up with those round eyes full of hope? Giovani had never been good with children, and he had no idea how to act around her. I mean, he'd protect her, of course, but that didn't mean he understood between the lines or dealing with childish tantrums.

— Huh... What do you do while I'm at the police station?

— What do we do? Well... I stay here with her, but if I need to take care of things in the park, I take her with me and two other security guards.

— But can you stay at the mansion instead of going to your office?

Vincent smiled as he stood up.

— Thanks to the fact that the young master is on holiday from college, he has been keeping Viola company when I have urgent matters. However, I prefer to take her with me to avoid distracting the young master.

What should he do?

Actually, he should find some time to rest, except he knew himself well enough to know that he wouldn't relax so easily. Not when a case like that was right in his lap.

Maybe he should use it as a chance.

— What do you want to do, ham... Viola?

For a moment the girl's eyes lit up at hearing her name, and then she thought for a moment.

— Circus. To see the young master.

— Young master? — Giovani was surprised, then looked at the administrator who seemed pleased.

— Ah, that's a good idea. The young master must be watching the rehearsals at the circus. Would you like to see it too?

The girl nodded in agreement, holding the detective's hand tightly. Then both Viola and Vicente looked at the detective waiting for his answer.

He still hadn't digested the situation of her calling the boy a young master. Was she spending too much time with them to copy their way of speaking? Only the trapeze artist and the plaza manager used to call him by his nickname. Well, children are like that, aren't they? They copy what they see adults doing.

Scratching the back of his head, unsure of what to do, the detective realised that a new weakness was emerging at that moment. Not knowing how to deny a girl's request.

— All right, if you want me to come along, I don't mind.

Viola blushed, looking pleased with the answer.

— Very well, I should take you to your room to get ready. And then we can have something to eat while we watch the rehearsals.

And just like that, the two of them left the detective's room. The sudden silence bothered him a little. He even felt a little cold and empty, that it felt like a pair of strangers made him slightly sad.

Was he getting used to the racket of that place?

— I'd better get ready too… — he whispered as he closed the bedroom door, staring at the analytical board that was next to the wardrobe.

Half an hour later, the three of them were already leaving Dreamland Mansion and following the hidden trail that would take them to the circus.

In fact, it was very strange to walk next to the administrator. Even more so with a girl between them, who held their hands as if they were family. He was definitely not used to such... familiarity, yet it didn't seem so bad.

But...

Why did it have to be with that administrator? He couldn't get comfortable with the situation he was so naturally putting himself in next to him.

Out of the corner of his eye, Giovani spied Vincent.

He looked like a young man in his late twenties, was considerably handsome and his cavalier manner easily captivated people. At least in his investigations, there was not one employee who complained about Vicente, everyone held him in high esteem. A respect that Giovani had never seen so openly in a work environment.

Why would a young man like him choose to dedicate himself to his work like that? Did he not go out? Didn't have friends or a relationship?

What a waste.

— Do you have something to tell me, Mr. Monteccello?

Looking away quickly, Giovani found himself embarrassed to have been caught staring at him.

What the hell!

— I was just wondering if you don't go out like your... young master.

— Go out? Out where?

— He once remarked that he had a band. So you must go out with your mates and see gigs... The rest of you don't go out. It's strange.

Vicente let out a low laugh, which surprised the detective. For the first time, Vicente seemed to be an ordinary guy.

What a surprising sight.

— I believe I have a show right in my backyard, why should I go out and get something else?

— You're young, you should enjoy life more.

— Hahaha, I enjoy it, you bet. To me, nothing is more precious than Dreamland.

A workaholic, definitely.

And one of the worst.

When they arrived at the circus, Giovani noticed that it was a complete mess. The coming and going of employees and the din of machinery was impressive. As they entered the backstage, the mess became more present. Hangers full of costumes passed in front of them. The sound of the band rehearsing was also audible outside. The sound of tools also made it clear how much preparations for some new show were in full swing. It was completely different from the organisation they had when the puppet show was still on.

So this was what a circus looked like while it was preparing for a new attraction.

— What do you want to eat? Since we don't have breakfast, we can have something light.

— Hamburger! — Viola asked determinedly.

— Haha, I wasn't really thinking about that when I mentioned something light... But do you really want a burger?

— Yes, I do.

— That's fine. And you, Mr. Monteccello?

He wasn't hungry, but he was tired. And he needed to be alert since he was at the circus.

— One coffee is enough.

— Are you sure? You don't look very well, don't you want something to eat too?

— I'll be fine.

Vincent nodded before leaving them and disappearing from sight. Meanwhile, Giovani took Viola inside the circus where he found an even bigger mess. Staff everywhere, even at the top of the tent, walked around the scaffolding looking after the lighting there.

And the only person sitting was Leonardo, who was watching everything attentively in the middle of the auditorium. With his arms crossed and his gaze focussed, he looked more mature compared to when they first met.

— Oh, I didn't expect to see you two here — smiled the boy as Giovani approached.

— She wanted to see you and asked me to come along.

— Haha, consider this a break from your work, Giovani. You have huge dark circles under your eyes, did you not sleep well?

— You look awful too.

Leonardo let out a low chuckle.

— So you slept late too? I only had a few hours of sleep until my mobile rang — Turning to look at the stage, Leonardo sighed, looking tired — I had promised to follow the show's practice as soon as the theme and script were approved.

On stage, a producer was talking to the artists and some foremen, pointing to parts of the stage as if they were discussing something. Meanwhile, another group was on stage and warming up as if they were about to start a series of exercises.

— Is this a new circus show?

— No, it's a performance for the opening of Winter Flavour. We decided to do an acrobatic performance along with musical numbers, and since the stage in the food court is similar, although smaller, to the stage here at the circus, I borrowed it for rehearsals.

— Hm... Got it.

— Here's your coffee, detective. And here's your burger, Viola.

Vicente arrived suddenly holding a bag and the coffee. Giovani thanked him with a nod and took no time in taking a sip, feeling his chest warm with the hot drink. Viola was also quick to start eating, with Vicente standing next to her.

— You two seem very close, like two dads walking with their daughter.

Choking on his coffee, Giovani coughed at the sudden observation.

— Careful, Gi! — Viola warned, patting the detective on the back, or at least where she could reach.

— I'm fine, thanks. I was just surprised.

— I see — Leonardo smiled sideways, arching his eyebrow.

— I don't know what you're thinking, but I hope it stops.

— I did, I swear.

Wiping his face, the detective took a deep breath trying to dispel the sudden shame he felt. What made the situation even more embarrassing was the fact that he himself had thought the same thing just minutes before. So other people might have thought the same thing when they saw him walking through the park to the circus?

He wanted to crawl into a hole.

The music had started to blare through the speakers and the performers had organised themselves on stage starting to rehearse some choreography. Sitting next to Leonardo, the three of them also watched, interested in the birth of a show. Although the detective did not understand much, it was curious about the daily life of the circus staff.

To his surprise, he felt comfortable in the atmosphere.

With his arms folded and relaxed, Giovani watched the rehearsal completely forgetting his purpose in going to the circus.

And so he did not see the unpretentious smile that appeared on the faces of Viola and Vicente.