The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 7

Kas aged 15.

"Well, "Dor says", open your gift. Kas clumsily tears off the gift-wrapping paper from the package and looks stunned "A cell phone!! Dor!!,"" he says in an excited voice. Kaya is jumping in excitement around them too. His face suddenly falls and he says in a quiet voice "This is too expensive, if Drake finds out you spent this money? Return it and get a refund Dor". "Hey, relax", Dor tells him. "It wasn't that expensive. What's a detective without a cell phone? It takes great pictures too. Wont' that be helpful.? Use it carefully. Happy birthday bestie".

He puts his arms around her. Kaya joins in too. Dor ruffles his hair, waves them good bye and goes back inside the bakery. Days later and Kas has mastered the art of using the cell phone. He also has a collection of pictures of Zander and his lover boy Kevin in his phone gallery. But there is nothing incriminating in those pictures at all.

The three little pigs have completed their college graduation exams and just returned from their ridiculously lengthy foreign holiday. Zander, Kevin and Jackson just spend their days loitering, going for drives and eating in fancy places while they await their results. Sometimes, they just sit around on the lawn chairs for hours. They just seem to exist drifting in and out of the summer days. All the pictures in Kas's phone seems to reflect one never ending day. Kas has cleared his ninth-grade exams with very good grades and has just one more year of school left. The final year in school before he can think of college. He has given up on the Zander investigation and delves deep into his studies urged on by his mother's constant worries. But his Zander bestseller plot still occupies his mind sometimes and he feels disappointed at the anticlimax of the entire matter.

Kaya in all the lively curious innocence of a nine-year-old gives Kas an important break in the matter in months. Its late at night and Kas is still studying at the corner with their room with a small torch that he uses to study late at night while his Ma and little sister sleep. Kaya's little voice breaks the silence as she whispers loudly. "Ma, when is the wedding in the big house"?? Can we go too? I need a new dress!" There is no wedding now ", Ma replies gently. "They are just planning a long engagement, that's all. It's going to be a family function, but we might get lots of goodies ".

"What engagement?", Kas asks absently browsing through his class book "Oh", says his Ma "A Miss Alice has come to stay at the Pine with her family for a few days. Informal word around the house is that she and Master Zander are to be engaged before they leave." Kas feels a cold shiver down his spine. "Engagement"? he enquires in a seemingly uninterested voice without looking up. "Yes, that's all the servants are talking about "replies his mother. "Alice is Mrs. Bernard's friends' daughter. They are close friends since their school days and both ladies are very keen on this proposal. "

By now, the words on the pages of his classwork book are swimming in front of his eyes and Kas is unable to focus. But his voice seems very detached from his excited mind and body. "What about Zander?" he asks, stretching out, giving a yawn. "Is he happy to be engaged to this Alice "? His mother shrugs, distracted by Kaya's antics around the room. He doesn't pursue the matter further. But the Zander case file has been officially reopened. That night, he lies wide awake staring up in the dark room. He has school all day and he needs to study but he is afraid to miss out on juicy inputs for his bestseller.

He decides he need a team. Dor can help only to the extent of information from customers at the bakery. He needs a guy on the field to watch Zander and his cronies. Also, Kas is an easy visible easy target for them. So, he needs someone who won't be noticed so easily. Someone who can take pictures and observe them. It's the right time to act as this Miss Alice is definitely going to stir things up in seemingly still murky waters of the three pigs.

Next afternoon, Kas is pacing with a frown outside the bakery while Dor watches him with amusement. He suddenly stops and stares at her. "30%", he tells her sternly in his young voice. "that's the final share I can offer you ". Dor sees the grim sincerity in his face. She remembers how naïve she was at fifteen with such high dreams and plans for life. Four years ago. It seems like a lifetime ago. "Kas, 40% and we have a deal "she says, "I will need to pay the extra member you want me to hire ". 

Kas's eyebrows are furrowed as he contemplates this additional 10% stake. "Ok", he says "40% for you from the best seller profits". Dor gives him a broad smile, looking pleased. "Give me your notes on the case" she says" I'll need to brief the new team member". Kas suddenly getting an idea, looks at her horrified." Is Drake our new team member"?? Dor rolls her eyes upward, "Don't be silly", she says. Kas gives a deep relieved sigh. "Dor, this project is really important ", Kas tells her.

"I can get my Ma and Kaya out of this place and give them a good life and you too can get out of here". Dor sighs at the sheer naivety of his statement. "I can hardly wait for the book", she tells him ruffling his hair. "Leave the new team member recruitment to me ".

Kas gives her a bright hopeful smile and tells her "Ma, Kaya and you are the most special people to me in all the world"! He gives her a quick hug and jogs away. Dor watches his retreating form and her chest tightens uncomfortably. Kas always makes the numbness go away, making her feel wanted and loved.