The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 47

Zander Bernard

He stares at the grey walls of the prison cell uninterestedly. He had never really looked out of windows much in his life. Not while travelling in a car nor while on a flight. Oh yes, the beautiful French windows that graces most of the rooms in his dad's big bungalow. He had never really looked much out of the them either. He would give anything for a small window in his cell right now. He lies back on the narrow single bed, closes his eyes and takes a virtual tour of his home. He imagines himself walking in the corridors, the bedrooms and the living rooms. He tries to remember the décor, the furniture, his comfy armchair and finally the windows. He tries to remember the view outside the windows of the rooms. 

As he almost dozes off, a memory comes to mind. Something that had happened almost two years back. As a party was in full swing, his dad's favorite classical music playing on, he remembers looking out of a window and seeing a person standing under a tree across the street watching the house. Though he couldn't see the person clearly, it seemed to be a young thin man. For some reason, he has vaguely remembered that person from time to time. The person had stood looking up at the house for quite some time. There seemed to be such intent in his stance that he had actually sent a security guard to check on him. But by the time the guard had gone to check, the person had already left.

He wonders why that particular memory has come to him now. The prison guard informs his that he has a visitor. Zander goes down to the visitor room and realizes his dad is the visitor. He calmly takes a seat and picks up the intercom phone. Ryan Bernard looks as elegant as ever. There is no indication that he has been fretting over his jailed son. "How's my son"? Ryan Bernard asks. "Which one"?, Zander retorts almost immediately. There is just a fraction of a second that a surprised look comes on Ryan Bernard's face but then his face relaxes into a smooth mask again and he actually gives a wry smile "So you finally found out. It was like the worst kept secret ever. Almost the entire staff knew it. You seemed to be the only one who was blissfully unaware"! 

 Zander feels the bile rising up his throat, "Does Jackson know"? Ryan Bernard shrugs, "We haven't officially discussed it but the boy is sharp. Am sure he has done his homework. "His gaze hardens as he leans forward and puts his face closer to the glass barrier. "Jackson was an accident. But things have worked out well. You do know you can't be the face of my Illusion brand. The last thing I need is a gay son who has done time to take over my company." Zander actually laughs. They've been treading carefully around this issue for some time now. He is actually relieved they finally have it out in the open. "Jackson can be the son you've always wanted. He can also be the ideal poster boy for your company. I am fine with it. I don't want anything. I just ask for one last favor. If you can help me, get out of prison, I have no other demands." Ryan Bernard actually looks relieved as he hears Zander's words. "Don't worry. I will trace Kevin and sort this out." His piece said, Ryan gets up and walks away without another word. Zander looks at his father's receding back and says softly, "Yes Dad. I am fine. Thanks for asking."

Zander Bernard

The guard informs him he has a visitor. Zander looks surprised. Ryan Bernard visited him just a week back. He is not expecting anyone else. He is surprised to see Elijah Gray waiting to see him. Zander reluctantly acknowledges that the guy is really good looking. Eli Gray peers at him with those intense gray eyes and gets straight to the point, "Ryan Bernard is disowning you"? Zander shrugs. Eli persists, "So how will the rich boy live without the Bernard name"? Zander gives him a tired smile. "I'll take freedom over the Bernards any day." Eli looks at him impassively and continues with yet another question, "What do you remember about the Maris boy, Kas"? 

Zander looks down at his hands, "Every time my dad hit me; I took it out on that boy. Later as I grew older, the more I hated on my dad, that kid was around for me to vent upon. I am not proud of what I did. One day after my dad had sent me for my first so called conversion therapy session, that kid came to me and accused me of having something to do with that child's disappearance. I really hit him so much that day. All the anger of my miserable life was taken out on that poor kid. I am not proud of myself." Zander pauses and looks up at Eli, "I asked around for that boy. I really did. But it was like they had disappeared. I just wanted to say I was sorry and make up for it if I could". He gives a deep sigh and asks Eli, "You know too many things about that boy. You spoke as though it was you? I still can't comprehend that part?"

Eli shrugs "Good to know you looked out for him, I'll give you that. ". Zander gives him an enquiring look. "You came to asked me about the disappearance of that little kid? I absolutely know nothing about it." Eli Gray nods, "Come see me when you are released. Maybe we can work something out." Zander looks surprised as he watches Eli Gray leaving. He just can't figure out this strange guy.

Ryan Bernard

He keeps punching the boxing bag viciously, the sweat dripping down into his face, blurring his vision. His personal trainer hovers in the background nervously. Heaving, he finally flops to the floor. He stares up unseeingly at the ceiling. Agnes. He has spent time, money and all the resources available to him but she seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth. His mind wanders to Zander. The cold indifference in Zander's face during their last meeting. It's the first time Zander has behaved like that. It's always the fearful, eager to please expression. But not this time. The shock of being in jail, he reasons to himself. His mind moves again and rests on Elijah Gray. His boat has started rocking after that young man came into the picture. He needs to investigate Elijah Gray a little more thoroughly. There is definitely more gray to this Eli than just his surname.

He takes a quick shower and goes into his study. Jackson is waiting for him, pacing on the carpet. Jackson is usually the cool customer, nothing perturbs him easily, so his agitated stance surprises Ryan. "What's with the frown"? Ryan asks him. Jackson waves a sheaf of papers at him, "Business partners backing out of contracts, boys coming out of the woodwork, suing us and claiming Zander abused them. It's a complete circus out there ". Ryan shrugs "It's all part of the game." Jackson slumps into a chair before Ryan, giving him papers to sign. As Ryan starts signing the papers, Jackson gives him briefings about how business is suffering and they seem to be losing many of their VIP customers. Ryan grimaces, his mood getting darker. Jackson continues, pointing out cases which are urgently due in court thanks to Zander. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, a lady had called the office. She wanted to speak to you in person urgently, saying that she was a close friend." Ryan sneers, "must be one of the many, who want to take advantage of the situation". Jackson nods in understandingly, "that's what I thought. The name itself was so second world war", He laughs. "Agnes."