The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 31

Kas

Chess, Dor and Neil watch as he draws a flowchart on the whiteboard. They are in Eli's officeas Kas does not trust any talk or discussion in Dor's bakery anymore. According to hisreports, Ryan Bernard is going to be out of town to try and secure an important deal. Thedeal has been finalized with Kas's help in the shadows. "You are helping him get a deal"?Chess jumps up from his chair. Dor pats Chess's shoulder and signals him to sit down. Kasnotices how affected Chess is by that simple touch. He takes a deep breath and focuses onthe task at hand. "You have to bait the fish with food first if you want to catch it. We have tomake sure Ryan Bernard is hours away physically from the house. Hence, the deal, which isa day away from his home. The timing is important as Sierra Bernard is refurnishing somerooms and there is lot of movement of furniture, other large stuff and workers in the house.

We already have Agnes Maris's day nurse on our payroll. She said it's safe to move Agnesand travel with her for a while. Chess, I have the movers sorted out but you are the primaryperson for the actual shifting out of Agnes Maris."

Chess nods earnestly "I'll give it my best shot. I owe it to Kas." Dor gives him a reluctant nod of approval and Chess looks like he is in heaven. Kas notes how Dor is slowly warming up to Chess but he has much more important tasks in hand. "Neil will be with you at all times. Make sure your faces are not seen. Neil, make sure their CCTVs are down the whole day. That includes the road facing cameras too. Ryan Bernard needs to be taken by surprise."

Dor

"I wish I had been in there", she whispers on the phone to Eli Gray. Eli Gray has instructedher to remain in the bakery at all times during the 'kidnapping' of Agnes Maris. Eli's deepvoice comes softly into her ear. "Dor, you are too familiar to be in that house. Everyone inthat locality knows you. Chess in overalls and a face mask can pass off easily as a worker butyou", she hears his velvet quiet laugh, "are too distinctive a woman, that too an incrediblysexy woman to disguise. Be good. I'll be in touch soon. Remember, you discuss this with noone, that includes your cranky old husband. Got it?". He disconnects the line. Dor spendsthe whole afternoon working like a possessed woman, her heart fearful. She looks at thetable near the window, imaging her beautiful little Kas writing neatly in his little notebook.Kas... If only she could see him just one more time. "Kas, your friend Eli keeps his promiseswell. Rest well, my little one" she tells the empty table. Two hours, later, she gets a call fromEli. Agnes Maris has been successfully evacuated from the big house.

Dor

She shuts the door gently behind her. She has just seen Agnes Maris settled in her newbedroom with the doctor and nurse checking her vitals and giving the all-clear thumbs up.Eli is still inside the room with the Doctor fretting over Agnes Maris. "You just lay her on thesofa, covered the sofa with a cover and moved the sofa out of the house into the movingvan??". Chess nods "Those were the clear instructions from Eli. Make everything seem casualand almost lazy. Mike and I even paused with the sofa in the hall way to admire one of thepaintings on the wall. The staff did not suspect a thing." Chess stops talking when Eli comesout. Eli's eyes are red and his face grim. Chess had mentioned to Dor earlier that Eli hadcried silently all the way in the truck holding Agnes Maris's hand. Eli had set up anemergency medical facility at the back of the truck with a doctor ready and waiting. Eli hasbeen very emotional through the entire evacuation as they call it. 

Dor stares curiously at Eli. His obsession with Kas's life and Kas's Ma is really odd. They are in a beautiful private apartment which belongs to Eli. She watches the tight security and staff arrangement. The elaborate set up is all for Agnes Maris. As Eli goes into the kitchen, she follows him. She watches him remove a juice can from the fridge and drink. She goes up to him and whispers in his ear "Were you in love with Kas"? She watches as he chokes on his drink and the can slips from his hand to the floor. He turns to her, wiping his mouth on his sleeve and gasping.

"What did you say"? Dor pokes her finger into his chest and repeats, "You were in love withKas, weren't you?." He stares at her, his eyes deep gray pools clashing with accusingchocolate brown eyes. He tilts his head towards her and touches his forehead to hers. "DearDor. Nothing escapes you. Yes, I was in love with Kas."