The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 29

Kas

He stands there watching Dor in awe as she stands before him with folded arms in her littlebakery. It's been only three days since the briefing and Dor already has a lead for him. Alead where his expensive investigation agency has failed. "The big house", she continueswith a grim expression. "It seems there is a sick relative who needs constant care in that bighouse. The guest has been there for months and it's a woman". Kas is stunned. "Hasanyone seen this woman"? he asks with raw hope and urgency. "It's a patient who has notbeen seen outside the room. So, it's probably someone either bed ridden or", she pausesheavily, "a comatose person in all probability". Kas can't believe his ears. Would RyanBernard keep his Ma in the house where his wife Sierra Bernard and his son's family lives?What are the chances of that?. "Dor, can we get a picture of this woman"? Dor nods"Already on the job. It seems, Ryan Bernard who used to live separately in a flat has beenliving in the big house since the last few months. He also fired all the old staff. It's an all-newstaff there who report to him directly".Kas wonders if he will ever be able to understand Ryan Bernard. The last place Kas everthought his Ma would be is in the big house. Keeping the woman, he loves in the samehouse with his wife and family seems unbelievable. Ryan Bernard is a formidableunpredictable and dangerous man. "Dor, keep tracking and try to get proof it's her". Hefeels his heart swelling with hope. In all probability, it's his Ma in there and she is alive. Hefeels the adrenalin rushing through his veins and he pulls Dor into a hug. "What is going onhere?", there is a nasty rasping voice and he releases Dor to see the old man Drake leaningheavily on a cane watching them angrily. "Honey, its Kas's friend Eli. Remember?" Shequickly goes to his side. Drake links his free hand into hers possessively and glares at Eli butEli smiles at him cheerfully, his heart full of renewed hope and Drake gives him a reluctanthalf smile in return." Don't think this rich young man would be interested in you Dor", hetells his young wife jokingly. "Not in a million years. Don't worry", she laughs back. Kas justraises his eyebrows at her response.

Kas

Kas gives out his second hug for the day but the recipient is not Dor but Neil. "Are youcompletely sure?". Neil wipes his glasses and put them on again. He watches his young bossruefully. This new Eli seems a little naïve but totally lovable. Eli has started treating him likea brother which Neil finds very endearing. "Yes Eli. I did my research and made sure that Iran into Zander and Kevin at a gay bar. Those two are still together, I am sure of that". Neilwatches as Eli puts his points in a neat handwriting in a small book. "Do people still usenotebooks and pens? Especially you Eli. You hate writing". Kas looks up at Neil "The Doctorsaid the more I use my basic motor skills, the better the chances are of reducing any long-term ill effects of my accident." After lying smoothly to cover up his old habit, Kas wonders ifEli was a chronic liar. He's been lying a lot since he became Eli.

Chess

"You want me to do what"? Chess almost scalds his mouth with steaming hot coffee as helistens to Dor's request. He has been ecstatic after actually receiving a call from the titan tomeet up, that too without Eli. But he should have known better. Every meeting with Dor iseventful because she always has an agenda. "Look into Eli's past". She pushes a thickenvelope across the table which obviously has cash in it. "You're asking me to check what?Everything about the man is public knowledge"? She sighs looking at Chess as though shefinds him pitiful. "I want to know more about his relationship with Kas". He continueslooking perplexed. "Why would a rich brat like Eli want to do so much for someone he metin a hospital? He was overjoyed when I told him that I think Kas's Ma is in the big house. Hehad tears in his eyes! All this for someone he met in a hospital? There's something odd here.Find out which hospital Eli Gray was in after his accident. He supposedly met Kas there,didn't he? If Kas is dead, I want to see his grave." Chess stares at his titan admiringly. Thewoman is no one's fool. "I need to see to Kas", she adds quietly, almost talking to herself"either face to face or the ground where he's been laid to rest".As Chess walks back home, his mind runs through what the titan said. Such elaborate plansfor revenge on Kas's behalf. It does seem a little excessive for someone you might have meta few times in a hospital. His titan is as smart as she is gorgeous. She is definitely the onlyfor him in this lifetime. He wonders what are the chances of her becoming a widow any timesoon. The old man has been looking frail and sick these days.