The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 32

Kas

He gently pats her hair. His Ma looks peaceful and just deep in sleep. He has just finishedreading to her. It's been a week since he has managed to bring her out. His sources tell himthat Ryan Bernard has gone berserk. There has been absolute mayhem at the big house andRyan Bernard has people searching everywhere for Agnes Maris. He as Elijah Gray has filedKaiser Maris's will with the authorities and is now the sole legal heir not only to Kas's paltrysavings but also the guardian to his comatose Ma. He smiles as he remembers Dor'saccusation. He decides to play along with Dor to justify his actions. Enough with RyanBernard for now. Next stop, Zander Bernard.

Kas

Neil nudges him as they sit at a private VIP table at the elite gay bar. Kas watches Zander saysomething to Kevin and both laugh. Kas has been watching them carefully for the past halfhour. Nothing seems to have changed here. It's still one-way traffic. Zander still seems to bebesotted with Kevin but Kevin still seems to be pretending most of the time and is definitelynot reciprocating Zander's feelings. "Source the hottest guy that you can here and hire himfor a long-term seduction game. Let's play the dad's little blackmail game on the son." Neillaughs. "That's high respect for Ryan Bernard. The son seems desperate for love andaffection. Most of the guys here are expert in this sort of gameplay. It's going to be easy totrap Zander". Kas shakes his head. "Nope. Not Zander. Find a guy to seduce Kevin. Let'sbreak the rich little pig's heart." He stands up gulping down the last of his orange juice."Also find a way to do a DNA test on Zander's daughter". Neil nods." Doesn't seem like sheis his biological daughter." Kas puts his arm around Neil's shoulder. "Not Zander. Run thetest on the child to check if she is Jackson's daughter". Neil just gapes at Kas speechlessly asKas grins at him.

Kas

Kas keeps scrolling through pictures and videos as Chess, Dor and Neil watch him warily. All theDNA reports have come back negative. They have spent days collecting samples and doingtests. Jackson is not the father and neither is Zander. Kas stares at the image of AliceBernard. She is a stunning young woman and is flawlessly groomed in every image. But henotices that her eyes seem lifeless. She seems to be battling an inner hell which no one cansee. But he knows that expression. He has seen it before.... in his Ma's eyes. He gets upabruptly, "Neil, what about the guy who is to seduce Kevin". Neil looks at Dor uncomfortably,as though hesitant to speak. Dor sighs impatiently, "Just consider me one of the guys". BothKas and Chess shake their heads and almost say simultaneously, "No way!!" Chess glares atEli and Neil murmurs "Am I missing out on something here?". Kas just smiles at Dor and tucksa finger under her chin, "I just have to see your face when I am stressed and all my problemsseem to melt away". Dor shoves his hand away teasingly and Kas stands up. He turns to Neiland says roughly "We can share all reports and information before Dor. Go ahead". Neilshrugs "My man made a major move on Kevin. I believe they are already friends withbenefits now". Kas nods, "We need to know why Kevin still tolerates Zander. Let's find hisweakness and make it our strength. Get Kevin to spill the beans. Zander is obviously stilldeeply in love with Kevin. Let's take Kevin away from him." Kas goes to the window and thetrio stare at his back with horror as he adds "Collect samples and do a test on the child tocheck if she is Ryan Bernard's daughter".