Chapter 46 - Invitation from Dreamland's owner

There are times when the mind plays tricks on us, leaving us confused. Is it a dream or reality that I see? And if it is imagination, why does the human brain play tricks like that? Leonardo was in that dilemma, trying to distinguish what was true and what was fantasy created by his mind.

It had been a few days since he thought he saw something strange in Benjin. Black eyes and yellowish irises, like a monster in a horror movie. A sight so fearsome it had paralyzed him in place making him break out in a cold sweat unable to reason straight.

It was one thing to deal with the trickery of the trapeze artist, and his games of seduction, it was another to deal with his own fantasy in turning Benjin into a monster. As soon as the taller one blinked and looked at Leonardo, the green eyes were there as bright as ever.

All in all Leonardo could not say for sure what he had seen.

And since that day, Benjin had not changed at all.

― I know you brats go headlong into relationships, but focus here stinks.

Barley had given Leonardo a light slap on the head, waking him up from his thoughts. When he realised that he was watching Benjin training with his friends from the circus, the brunette was ashamed and turned his attention back to the machinery in front of him.

― It's nothing like that. I'm just impressed with these... Spins they do.

― I may be older than you, but I'm not an idiot ― Laughed the employee grotesquely ― When you start to have a crush on someone, you want to do everything at once. Even to stick like glue.

― I'm not like that... ― Leonardo glanced at the group of trapeze artists practising on the circus's main stage ― But he is.

Barley laughed with the rhythm of that conversation. While he was fitting the pieces into the machinery, managing to divide his attention wonderfully, he didn't miss the chance to cast a corner glance at Leonardo's embarrassed expression.

― No wonder the little brat is popular with the youngsters here. They say he's handsome, but I'm past the age of understanding your fashion.

― Yeah... He's handsome...

Barley let out a low laugh.

― And then you say you don't like him.

Leonardo sighed, rolling up the sleeves of his red jumpsuit. He was getting warm in that tent, or it was just his impression.

― We are not in this kind of relationship. I mean... I don't really know what's going on.

― You like each other, what's wrong with that? Are you trying to run away from something more serious?

Making a face, Leonardo shook his head. His last relationship still gave him a headache. Besides that, the fact that he was learning how to manage the park made this new reality a little scary.

Dating a guy for the first time could also be.

Especially with a trapeze artist from a circus.

― Ah... I'm gonna go crazy.

― Good afternoon.

Barley and Leonardo looked over their shoulder at the detective who arrived at the tent.

― Hey, Giovani. Keeping up with your investigations?

― Yeah... That way ― The detective smiled, greeting with his head the foreman who was just behind Leonardo.

Perceiving a certain strangeness, Leonardo turned to the foreman.

― This is detective Monteccello, he is helping with the security of the park lately.

― Oh, right. It's a pleasure, I'm Barley.

The two men shook hands.

― Pleasure's mine.

― Are you questioning any employees today?

― No, I'm... Actually, I wanted to talk to you... In private.

Barley looked at the clock on his wrist and got up from his stool.

― Well, I can leave for my break a little early. Make yourselves at home. Don't take too long, stinky.

― Yes, sir.

As soon as the foreman left the tent, Giovani and Leonardo could be alone in the corner of the tent. Even if there were artists doing their rehearsals and training, nobody would hear their conversation.

― It seems that he does not know about your position here in the park...

― None of them do. Only those who live in the mansion.

Giovani arched his eyebrow as he leaned against the messy table.

― Why hide it? Everyone seems quite eager to meet their new boss.

― Of course they are ― Laughed Leonardo as he sat back down on his stool to continue setting up the machinery ― But that doesn't mean I'm ready to be their boss.

Agreeing with his head, the detective hadn't dared to ask for more. Leonardo was grateful for that, since even he himself didn't understand his motives for hiding his position.

― That secretary of yours must have warned you about today ― he began, and Leonardo looked at him curiously ― The girl and I will stay at the mansion for a while.

― Ah... is it today already? I got lost in time, sorry.

― I came to thank you for allowing me to come too.

― That's ok, there's no need. I was surprised by Vicente's request for the girl to stay with us, but I am relieved that you are together with her.

The boy had occasionally commented, smiling as he turned a spanner in the machinery. His concentration had prevented him from seeing the surprise of Giovani, whose eyes were wide open.

― Why?

― It doesn't make any sense for her to stay here, where everything happened. But if she has nowhere to stay... Well, we can offer her a place to sleep and some food until she can get back to her life.

― No, I mean why your secretary asked for it. Wasn't you?

Leonardo had raised his head and shook it sideways in denial.

― It didn't even cross my mind. It was Vicente who said it since she had no family. Then he must have been worried.

Giovani had swallowed, blinked a few times and stroked his sore forehead. Leonardo tilted his head, not understanding his astonishment, but shrugged and went back to fixing a metal part in the machinery.

― The mansion is like a legend for the clients. Only we who live there know of its existence... Well, now you and that doctor. You don't have to worry.

― I don't really like the idea of keeping that girl around someone who's done something bad with her. Even if I'm around, or my task force...

Leonardo raised his dark eyes to the detective.

― But you can use this as an opportunity to get him, right?

― Yeah... ― the detective begrudgingly agreed.

― Well... She's still recovering, so we can't just keep her hanging around. So we can keep her only in the mansion... We have a library full of books that can entertain her.

― That sounds like private imprisonment to me.

― If no one else knows that she is with us, then the guilty party won't know either.

Giovani still looked annoyed, but he didn't say anything back. Leonardo was grateful for that. He couldn't argue with a detective, although he also found the situation absurd. But he was really tired of that story, so he hoped that Giovani would catch the damn culprit.

― In the meantime he could continue investigating the employees. Have you talked to all of them?

― More than half. I haven't talked to the one with the scar over his eye yet.

Leonardo looked over his shoulder in the direction of the stage, where Benjin was continuing his rehearsals high above falling over a net.

― Benjin? The circus people in general are usually pretty busy because of rehearsals. I hear we're starting a new show soon, so things have been busy here.

― A new show? I think one of my men talked about it... That the show is ending now...

― The puppet ― whispered Leonardo, feeling his chest tighten ― It's an old show, but the clients love it. They are thinking of making an annual season of presentations.

― I see. It must be good then.

Breathing deeply to dismiss that anguishing and uncomfortable feeling.

― Have you never seen it?

― No ― promptly answered the detective ― Since I joined the police I haven't had much time to explore this place.

Laughing low, Leonardo supported the elbows on his legs, raising his head to the detective.

― How about watching it tonight? We can watch from the front row.

Giovani arched his eyebrow, smiling.

― The owner of Dreamland inviting me to his most successful show? I'm touched, stinky.

Laughing, Leonardo went back to work while chatting with Giovani. What the two of them didn't know was that they were being watched from two different points.

Behind the curtains, camouflaging their presence, amber-coloured eyes shone in the detective's direction. And high up on a pole, among his fellow trapeze artists, a pair of green eyes coldly glared at the detective who dared to steal his young master's attention and smiles.