Chapter 26 - A boring Sunday

― You seem very happy lately, I'm relieved to see you smiling genuinely.

Those were the words spoken the night before, which Leonardo could not forget. They returned in his mind like a gentle whisper, like a mother nursing her child's wounds.

In spite of their stormy ending, Leonardo always met Patrícia in the bar when she came to talk to him. All shy and delicate, as if she was ashamed to talk to her ex-boyfriend. Not that he would ignore her, although he preferred it, but it was hard to swallow the cake that always formed in his throat.

Leonardo hadn't gotten over the betrayal.

Even more so with Alex also becoming constant to make him remember the pains of that day.

Despite the gap between them, Patricia always came to ask him if he was okay. She seemed worried about his state of mind. Leonardo had imagined he had shown the true face of someone who had hit rock bottom and befriended the Samara of "the ring" when they had broken up.

If well... Leonardo was noticing something different.

When he met her occasionally at the bar, he felt that urge to run away or scream. Even if he kept control of his emotions to the point of pretending not to care about her presence, there was that thirsty little flame to create the biggest explosion of all time. However, the night before he hadn't felt it.

Even listening to her talk, he hadn't felt that urge to blow the world up. He was at peace.

He was happy.

Happy, in fact.

The big question was what exactly had made him that way.

Turning the blindfold key between his fingers, Leonardo sighed, rolling his eyes around the circus tent where he could see some performers rehearsing their numbers. Among them was a certain trapeze artist who was fondled by his colleagues without caring about his presence.

A vein jumped in Leonardo's head.

And to think that trapeze artist was always following him, talking about how much he loved him and so on. But now, because of a bet, he was smiling at other people. As if nothing had changed. As if his presence was nothing.

To piss him off even more, when they bumped into each other in the mansion the son of a bitch dared to ignore him. It was the first time Leonardo felt like a real ghost.

― There is smoke coming out of your ears.

Leonardo growled, turning his attention to the panel in front of him.

― No, it's not!

― What's wrong? Do you know the little star there? ― joked Barley, nudging the university student with his elbow. ― He's popular with everyone, I warn you.

― I have no relation with that idiot.

The foreman stifle his laughter as he reached out to pick up the panel pieces and hand them to the boy.

― So you know each other. Well, you helped him that time, didn't you? By the way, that was a nice kick.

Leonardo laughed and shook his head. So he had become known among the foremen because of that night. It was getting harder and harder not to attract attention in that place. There was always something to stand out.

― It's no big deal, we chatted a bit, but that's all.

― You were more like a jealous boyfriend looking after his own.

The boy had made a disgusted grimace at Barley's mischievous suggestion.

―'Jeez. It doesn't even come close to that.

― And what's the big deal? Even I, who am much older than you, know that times have changed.

― That's not what bothers me. It's him. If I had to be with another guy, I'd prefer someone like Aslan.

― Do you know the manager of the plazza? ― Leonardo nodded without noticing his superior's surprise ― Give up that one. Women say he is unreachable and has a great watchdog.

Could it be Ray? Well, the idea of Aslan holding a collar around the magician's neck sounded very coherent for their relationship.

― I'm not into him, I just stated my preference. Besides, I have no interest in getting into another relationship any time soon.

Barley stared at his trainee for a few moments before returning to work on the car. Although his hands were working fine, his mind was focused on another subject. He would like to offer some advice, but it wasn't as if he was an expert on the subject himself.

Sometimes the best advice is silence.

― Are the cars almost ready? ― A woman in dirty overalls had come up behind Barley, looking over his shoulder.

― A little more and we can deliver. You want to paint them already?

― I have to, actually. They're rushing us.

Barley grumbled and nudged his apprentice with his elbow. Leonardo finally came out of his concentration zone, noticing the woman with the pink hair in a braid.

― What is it?

― Are there any cars ready yet?

― I think two of them, back at the warehouse.

― Can I get it then, Barley?

― Let me get it, it's heavy for you to carry.

The man stood up leaving the tent. Leonardo had gone back to fiddling with the panel without concentrating again. Not when there was a woman staring at him so directly.

― What's that you're doing?

― A control panel for an open car.

― I didn't understand anything, but it's cool. ― She laughed, taking Barley's seat. ― You're new here, aren't you?

― New is relative, I've been here over a month.

― Definitely you. ― Laughed the woman leaning over to get a better look at the boy.

Frowning, the boy suppressed his own bad mood that might come out with his words. She was a co-worker and he was in the middle of his internship. He couldn't get in trouble on his cover.

― 'What have you been talking about me?

― They said you helped Ben, and that you're skilled with mechanics. I see they were right.

Once again the name of that trapeze artist was mentioned. Leonardo swallowed dryly trying to disguise the urge to look in his direction. There was no reason for him to do that, to look for him. He would be considered a weakness, a loser of the bet.

― They can only talk about it? ― murmured the boy as he lifted the heavy panel to look around him.

― Not for nothing, you were the only one who managed to go against that one-armed pervert. No one here would have the courage to pick a fight with a sponsor.

The girl formed a beak as she rested her arms on her knees, also looking at the panel without understanding exactly what the boy was evaluating.

― I didn't even know the guy was a sponsor. I just saw something weird, found out that it was really weird, and kicked him.

The girl let out a loud laugh.

― That's why the guys liked you. I'm Vivian, what's yours?

Finally looking at her, the boy noticed her pink hair and emerald green eyes. A pretty girl. But it wasn't as if he was attracted to her. Vivian held out her hand towards him, waiting for him with a playful smile on face. The boy sighed as he held her hand.

― Leonardo.

― Ah, I finally found out the handsome man's name. So, do you have any more information I can get?

― I thought you came here to get the car for paint.

― I was the only one from my department to have the courage to come here, and on behalf of my shy friends, I have come to gather useful information about you. What do you say?

Energetic and chatty. Vivian seemed like the joy of it. The boy laughed muffled and went back to fiddling with the panel.

― I'm not interested, you can pass it on to your shy friends.

― Careful, they like a challenge.

― Are you showing your claws yet, Vivian?

They both turned over their shoulders, finding Benjin with his arms crossed in irritation. Well, well, well, who had shown up then. Leonardo grinned as he noticed the slim chance of becoming the winner of the bet.

― What claws? I'm just meeting our colleague from production.

― He's not for you, get out.

Vivian squinted her eyes before turning to the trainee who was keeping quiet in that discussion.

― Do you guys have something?

― No ― Leonardo replied categorically, looking at Benjin. ― We don't have anything.

― Not yet ― Benjin complemented, turning to the girl. ― You've been warned.

When the trapeze artist turned his back on the pair, he left behind two young people completely confused by his words. They were in the middle of a bet where each one would stand on his side. The first one to make a move would lose. In that case, hadn't Leonardo won?

― It seems that you are the chosen one.

― What did you say?

Vivian smiled at Leonardo as he approached to whisper.

― Benjin hardly opens up to other people, and lately people have been saying that he has not been sticking to Sir Vincent. Now I understand why.

― Stuck up with Vincent?

― Yes, Sir Vincent always spoils Benjin. Everybody knows that. Some even say they could be a couple.

Leonardo had formed a disgusted face when he imagined the two of them looking so close. They didn't match at all. He could not even visualise Benjin doing the same things he had done to himself, but with Vincent. Or vice versa.

It was creepy.

― Impossible.

― I wonder. I think they go very well together. Watch out!

― All done!

Barley had arrived driving a small forklift, which was carrying one of the finished cars. Vivian jumped up to run to the car, looking at it and praising it. But that didn't matter to Leonardo. Something was bothering him.

He had never questioned it before, because he thought it was irrelevant.

But what would Vincent and Benjin's relationship be?

― Ah, next weekend a group of people will have a barbecue in the back of the circus. Come over!

― In this cold weather? What courage. But if there's a "quentão" I'll come.

― That would be good, right? ― Laughs the girl to Barley. ― You too, newbie.

Leonardo pondered and then smiled. It would be interesting to know how he could be treated by the other employees while nobody knew his little secret.

― But of course!

The rest of the afternoon was like the other days, hard work. However Leonardo was less concentrated than the previous days. It was as if he was missing something. A feeling of emptiness filled his chest and made him angry.

What could it be?

Maybe he was hallucinating Patricia's words about him being happy. Was he looking for his reason for happiness? Or else... Did it really matter? Leonardo messed up his hair in irritation.

― What the hell! Concentrate, you idiot.

― Having a hard time, kid?

― Oh, detective! ― Leonardo threw the pencil on the table going to the detective standing in front of Barley's shack ― Still talking to the staff?

― There are a lot of employees. And sometimes I need to stay at the police station to solve some things, which helps to delay.

He looked really tired, with dark circles under his eyes and stooped shoulders. Still, his presence was intense, as if he could crush a mere shadow with his gaze. Could that be the true meaning of 'always vigilant'?

― Being a policeman is really hard, I see. But I hope you're making progress at least.

― I wish I was. Nobody sees anything, knows anything. It gets to be annoying. But when I followed their day I realised that there are many children who get lost, as well as old people who also end up getting lost, every day.

― You can't blame them. It's not as if we go to work thinking that someone has bad intentions. Only security would think that way.

Giovani crossed his arms leaning on the table next to Leonardo.

― It's a dead end, really. By the way, have you heard about the new owner of the park?

The question came so fast that Leonardo could only freeze in place. It took a few milliseconds for his neurons to transmit the answer, so he kept calm and put on his routine mask.

― To tell you the truth, I hadn't heard anyone comment on it.

― That's what I figured ― Sighed the detective lowering his head ― I noticed that the employees gossip a lot more about who is the new owner than the disappearances. I was intrigued.

― Isn't it common that when companies change ownership, employees are afraid of retirement? ― replied the boy as naturally as he could. ― They must be afraid of losing their jobs.

― It seems that this place is more mysterious than I imagined. ― murmured Giovani thoughtfully. ― So, what are you doing?

Leonardo looked over his shoulder where there were several plans on the table. Feeling the weight on his back due to tiredness, he turned slightly to show the detective.

― It looks like they are writing a new show. So we're building miniatures of some props and costumes.

― Eh, do you even take care of that?

― I'm an intern, I do everything and then some.

The detective let out a low laugh that surprised the university student. Whenever he saw Giovani walking from one side to the other in the park doing his duty he had a serious aura. It seemed that smiling was not part of his world. But now that saw him laughing in that nostalgic way he looked like an ordinary human.

Well, maybe more serious people could smile once in a while.

― It's really tough. When I joined the police academy they did the same thing. Xeroxing and paperwork and serving coffee.

― I'm glad you got promoted then.

― I can't stand paperwork to this day. ― Secreted the detective. ― I end up pushing the newbies to take care of it.

― Ara, what a vicious circle.

The two started laughing and talking more about the difficult life of a mortal trainee. They didn't even look like a detective and an intern talking, but an older brother returning from a long trip to visit the youngest of the family.

If Giovani opened up like that to the other officials, he would get the support he needed for his investigation. Should Leonardo help him in this case? That way he would rid Dreamland of the police as soon as possible.

A third presence approached the two, surprised to see them talking so friendly. Straightening his own clothes, the administrator entered the tent, already getting the detective's attention. Stopping right there, Vicente nodded his head.

― Detective Monteccello, I see you are getting along well with the Dreamland employees.

Giovani had peeked his eyes for a moment as he crossed his arms and resumed his attentive policeman's posture. Leonardo had come to find it strange that the detective had changed with Vincent's arrival. Could it be that they didn't like each other? Wasn't there that phrase "the saint didn't knock"? Probably that was what had happened with those two.

Surely he would hear a sermon later about not giving too much openness to someone like a policeman. Leonardo wanted to roll his eyes just imagining how much his ears would hurt with Vicente's long speeches.

― I am just making small talk while I rest a bit. I've been working alone lately and there are too many people to talk to.

― What a shame, you should bring at least one or two policemen to help you.

― Don't worry about me. So, did you want something?

Vincent smiled amiably as he turned to Leonardo, who remained as a mere spectator of that conversation. The young man crossed his arms, clenching his fingers in a disguised manner. Vicente was no fool, he would know very well how to disguise himself in front of the employees. Even so, a policeman that was already on alert just with his approach could be perceptive in the first comma found out of place.

― I must talk to young Leonardo.

― With me? Why?

― Your internship, of course. You haven't kept the agreed weekend hours today.

Leonardo had frozen. He had arrived late because he was too late from the bar. An hour and a half late, to be precise.

― Ah... Hahaha, that's right... Sorry, I had a really busy day at work yesterday.

― We will have to check your timetable again so that you can accompany Mr. Barley properly. ― sighed Vincent. ― Come to my office so I can sign your attendance sheet, you said you have to take it to the next supervision, right?

That damned clown was having fun playing the boss in front of the policeman, Leonardo growled. Watching him turning his back and waiting for him to follow, the young master disassociated himself from the table, not very encouraged to follow the administrator.

― Looks like you got yourself into a mess, kid.

― That damned clown doesn't even respect Sundays.

The detective let out a low laugh, stroking Leonardo's hair.

― Relax, you seem to be a hard worker. So you won't get a scolding from the boss or from his secretary.

Leonardo found it strange to receive this kind of comfort, but for his situation it was enough. He also ran to Vicente, a few steps behind him. Before leaving the tent he looked over his shoulder towards the detective with an enigmatic smile.

― Ah Giovani, if I see the boss I will be bold enough to ask him to come and see you. Maybe he's also eager to meet you.

Spinning on his heels, Leonardo ran to follow Vicente, leaving behind a curious and worried detective.