The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 41

Kas

The old man snorts, his reaction not as volatile as Kas expected. The two are sitting at a table in Drakes Bakes. The place is quiet and lifeless without Dor behind the counter. "So, Dor sent you?" The old man grins almost maniacally making Kas uneasy. "Yes. Give her the divorce, Drake. I'll make sure you are set for life. You can live the rest of your life as one long vacation". Drake chuckles and the sound sends a shiver down Kas's spine. He suddenly wishes he had brought Neil with him. He straightens up, annoyed at being intimidated by a man who cannot even walk without support. Drake is still smiling, looking at Eli. "I don't need money, Young Eli. Do you know I have enough money in the bank to not even need this place?" He swirls his pudgy hands around the bakery "I just like to see Dor slaving in my bakery, day in and day out. I keep her busy and tied up in my bakery like an animal performing in the circus for my entertainment". 

Kas's hands tighten into fists and he clenches his jaw to control himself. Drake peers at him "You are getting angry, aren't you? Don't tell me"?? "He laughs maniacally again, "Eli Gray, the rich young heir to the mall kingdom, also has a thing for my big clumsy wife? I can't believe it. Two young good-looking boys both in love with Dor? She looks so big and ugly. Where 's the attraction?" Kas stands up and slams his hands on the table. "What will it take for you to give her a divorce"? Drake inspects his fingers carefully and then casually looks up at him, "I can tell you about the little girl. I know where she is. "Kas looks at him, stunned, "Little girl? You mean Kaya"? Drake nods, "Yeah, the girl who went missing all those years ago. I know where she is." Kas's head is reeling, all his poise and strategy forgotten. "Tell me", he yells, clutching at Drakes shirt. 

Drake looks unaffected by the violent gesture. "Move your hands, boy". Kas hurriedly releases Drake, "Please tell me where Kaya is". Drake looks at him thoughtfully, "I can answer all your questions but only when you meet my condition". Kas is now desperate. "I can do whatever you want". Drake gives him a kind smile, "I haven't got much time. I am terminally ill. But I want to still have some fun before I die. Get Dor and me divorced quickly. I will agree and we can get a mutual consent divorce." Kas looks surprised. "But that's what I came to ask you for"? Drake raises a hand, "Patience, boy. Once the divorce is final, you marry Dor. The day you two get married, I will tell you where to find that girl". Kas is speechless. "I can't let Dor marry the one she wants, can I?" Drake continues. "I want all three of you to be miserable. And you better hurry, rich kid. I am already living out my last days." He hobbles away, leaving Kas alone in the quiet room.

Kas

As he hears the door close, Kas turns to Neil, "Make it ironclad, make it public and make sure, it creates a mess". Neil gives a sad smile. "Money is the new soul in people now. It's crazy how much power it has. Yes, Kevin will do it. He just asked us to make sure that he gets protection from Zander." Kas nods. "Make it quick. It needs to happen before the divorce. Zander needs to look dangerous enough to not even get visiting rights to the child." Two days later, Kas is browsing the internet. The local business circle is abuzz about Ryan Bernard's gay son having had sexual relations with a boy who was still a minor at the time. The then minor Kevin has now come forward with his story as to how he was constantly blackmailed and harassed by the Bernard's to be the toy boy for their rich brat. Neil taps on the table. "Zander has been taken in by the cops for questioning", Kas gives a satisfied sigh. "Keep the gossip pages on fire. Now that the Bernard men are busy, time to tackle Dor's old man".

Chess

He pauses outside the bakery. The buzzing, cheerful bakery looks desolate and dark from the inside in spite of the bright afternoon outside. The "Sun" that lights the bakery is currently at Eli Gray's house, the place where Kas's Ma is being taken care of. Dor had been painting her nails with a bright green face mask covering her lovely face. The thought brings a smile to his face. Eli has strictly forbidden Dor from ever going back to the Bakery, offering his home to her for as long as she needs. He knocks on the door, seeing the closed sign outside. 

"Come in", door's unlocked", a raspy voice says from inside. Chess looks skywards, as though seeking divine protection, takes a deep breath and goes in. Drake is sitting at one of the tables in the quiet bakery. All the lights are shut off. The counters are empty, the fresh aroma of baked goods has been replaced by the musty smell of an old abandoned house. Drake sits in the middle of the room. The scene looks quite creepy and fearful but Chess walks confidently up to the old man, not taken aback by the view at all. He switches on a couple of lights and pulls out a chair next to the man, the dust clinging to his fingers. Dor used to keep the place sparkling and spotless. He is taken aback to see how haggard Drake is looking. The old man's eyes have sunk in their sockets, his skin is ashen and he looks gaunt and just very sick. "Thank you for agreeing to see me", Chess tells Drake. Drake just snorts. "I won't beat around the bush, I've got the divorce papers with me. If you will just sign them, I'll be on my way." Drake gives him a broad smile. His expression with that smile is so chilling, a woman or child would have screamed and ran for their lives. Forget a woman or child, most men would have run for their lives. But not Chess.

He has been beaten up by his drunk stepfather enough as a child so as to not fear such smiles. Drake is a poor watered-down version of his stepfather. "So, has Eli Gray spoken to you?" Chess stares at him for a moment and then makes his most grim face "About Dor marrying him? Yes. Dor is crying her heart out somewhere right now". Drake has an almost gleefully satisfied look on his face at Chess's reply. He then peers at Chess "You don't look heartbroken". Chess controls his impatience. "I am a poor man. Yes, I fell in love with Dor but past her initial resistance, she fell harder. I am sad but I am not heartbroken. I can't lose my job over a girl. It's Dor who can't deal with it. Eli, my rich arrogant Boss, who wants to do everything to find his dead friend's young sister has given this unpleasant task to me. I have to deal with you and Dor and help him marry Dor. In return, he has promised me some decent cash incentive. A poor man like me who used to live off the freebies that Dor used to give me, can't afford to turn it down." 

Drake looks confused "So, what you are telling me is that you will help Eli and Dor get married"? Chess gives him a grim nod, "Unfortunately, you and Eli Gray have not given us a choice. I am not a knight in shining armor. I would not be even able to afford the armor and horse, forget taking the princess to a castle. Sign the papers. I will convince Dor to marry Eli. She is desperately in love with me and can make sacrifices for me." 

Drake is scowling as Chess hands the papers over. "I will attend the wedding, "Drake says hoarsely "Actually, I am doing my lovely Dorrie a great favor, don't you think? I am saving her from a beggar like you and helping her marry a rich kid. That kid looks much better than you. I checked him out. He seems to have had many girlfriends. With his experience, am sure, he can make Dorrie much happier than you can". He continues chuckling as he peers over the papers.

 Chess puts his hands in his pockets to control the anger surging through him over Drake's sick innuendos. He shrugs. "You are the puppet master." Drake looks mighty pleased at the term. He signs the papers carefully, his hands shaking with involuntary tremors. Old man is really very sick, Chess thinks. "Tell the rich kid, once the wedding is over, I will tell him where the girl is. "Chess takes the papers and is about to leave, when he turns back and tells Drake hesitatingly, "Dor is heartbroken. She is miserable at the thought of being separated from me. Are you sure, you won't change your mind, Mr. Drake." Drake raises his eyebrows at Chess's obvious attempt to be polite. "Dor's misery is my medicine and it's been keeping me alive. I am so looking forward to seeing the beautiful bride on her wedding day. As I told the rich kid, make it quick. I don't have much time. Am sure he doesn't want me dead and buried with all my secrets intact." He chuckles and looks lost in his thoughts as Chess hurriedly leaves the bakery.