The Other Mrs Hayes

by Ross Richdale

  After Stacey's arrival in Auckland she stayed with Jessica and the children for the two weeks since his death. The long wait was caused because the police would not release the body until after a coroner's report was released. This had happened three days earlier.

  Because of the situation with neither Stacey or Jessica wanting to expose that Brendon was a bigamist, not to mention the situation with Reyna, a private funeral was held in an Auckland crematorium. The legally required death notices in Auckland and Wellington newspapers just stated that due to the tragic events the family had decided to do this.

  Reyna had been invited to attend and arrived surrounded by two Filipino friends. Outside the crematorium after the brief ceremony she came up to where Stacey stood with Jessica. She took their hands and looked directly into their eyes.

  "Can I remain in touch?" she whispered. "You didn't have to do it but you both allowed me into your hearts. You don't know how this helped me through everything. I know now that it would have been impossible for it to have happened but only a few weeks ago I thought I'd be a happily married woman at this time."

  It was Jessica who stepped forward to hug Reyna before Stacey did the same.

  "You are welcome to come and visit any time you wish," Jessica said. "I'm sure you will love to meet Austin and Carla, my children."

  "Yes any time," Stacey added. "I live in Wellington so if you're down there you will be most welcome. If you have a mobile, I'll put my number on it."

  "Me too," Jessica added and they all exchanged mobiles to enter contact details.

  ACROSS THE LAWN, TWO police detectives studied the trio.

  "Aren't they a little chummy for two wives and a fiancée of the deceased, Sarge?" the woman said. "I would have thought they'd be spitting nails or at lease ignoring each other."

  "Nothing is what it seems, Audrey," Detective Sergeant Kevin Woodley replied. "We are here to observe and gather facts. Speculation about the reason for their behaviour can come later. At the moment I am more interested in those two men in suits standing under those trees."

  "Probably business acquaintances."

  "Possibly but get a discrete photo of them. We'll check them out on our data base."

  "Will do, Sarge," the detective constable replied and slipped around the back of the building.

  Kevin knew that she was good at her job and the two would never know they were about to be photographed. They already had a video of the mourning wives and a lip reading expert could probably read what they had talked about. The murder investigation was now in full operation.

  CHAPTER 10

  Before the late Brendon Hayes' body was released for the funeral, Professor Ivan Horakova, one of Auckland's most eminent forensic pathologists had been called in to provide a second opinion as the police pathologist wanted confirmation for a conclusion he had made.

  The professor pointed to the heart that was exposed on the slab and then up at the monitor that showed an enlarged version of the organ. "I agree with Doctor Gazi on both counts. The first that the stabbing was carried out by an expert in the human anatomy so was someone with a medical degree or knowledge. That fatal stab wound would not have been so, apart from the fact that the deceased had a slightly enlarged heart."

  He held up a remote and a red line encircled the heart image on the screen. A second white line to represent a normal sized heart for the body was added that followed the red one to change the colour to pink. However in one spot in the south ventricle the red and white lines remained separated to retain their original colours. There, the white line was slightly inside the other one.

  The professor added a black line to enhance the area where the knife had nicked the edge of the red line. "This is the stab wound. It just scratched the side of the heart that weakened the wall. This later burst and the resulting haemorrhage caused his death. Without a slightly enlarged heart this would not have happened." He glanced up at one of the other men standing by the slab. "May I congratulate you on your conclusion, Doctor Gazi for this was indeed the reason for this man's death."

  AMONGST THE MANY REPORTS that came back by his staff over the following two weeks about the murder, Toby Matthews received an interesting one. Detective Sergeant Kevin Woodley who had become quite an expert in the doings of the Auckland underworld found proof from blood, hair and saliva samples on the body and scene of the assault about who was responsible.

  "One nasty bit apparently spat on Brendon as he lay on the pavement. We have two matches, one on the body itself and another on the ground where he lay, Toby."

  "Someone on our books?"

  Kevin nodded and brought up a mug shot on a screen. "Eraesto Paulino is a particularly nasty character who has infiltrated the underworld here. He specialises in contract beatings and several killings for a fee."

  "A foreigner?"

  "Yes, he was originally from southern Philippines in a terrorist group but left after the military and police there successful in restoring government control over the islands where the terrorists ruled. There has been a largely unreported civil war there for years."

  Toby raised his eyebrows. "Filipino, you say?"

  Kevin nodded.

  "And wasn't the woman that Hayes was about to fake a marriage with Filipino?"

  "Yes. Reyna Aquino came from Manilla but that city is well away from these southern islands."

  "But worth checking out. Other reports I had state that she comes from a rich family there who actually bought that home in Botany Downs she lives in."

  Kevin glanced up. "Do you want Paulino brought in?"

  "Not yet. This is just one side of the enquiry. We know professionals attacked him but we need to know who employed them in the first place. He or she will also be charged with murder when they are caught.

  "And you want Reyna Aquino, investigated."

  "Yes. Also you can investigate all his three wives plus Chelsea Cromble, Jessica's mother"

  "Three; I thought there were two, Stacey and Jessica Hayes?"

  Toby grimaced. "Oh he was originally married to a Michelle. They were separated but never divorced. She goes by the name of Michelle Packwell and has two children by a new partner. She would not be as high a suspect as the other two but still needs a look at. However Reyna Aquino is now the top of our suspects list."

  "And Hayes' business acquaintances?"

  "They're still on the list. There are a couple that Team B are checking out."

  STACEY REALISED THAT the stress of Brendon's death and everything related to it including a long and somewhat exhausting interview with the police, was getting to her. She would wake up at some ungodly hour and not be able to sleep. Finally, she would and awaken in the morning feeling quite ill. However, as the day progressed she seemed to come right. Her life had slipped into a pattern with Laurie. He stayed at her place every weekend from Friday through to Monday morning but on the other weekdays she was home alone. This was when the nights were the longest. Again Laurie's comfort during the weekend made her forget about herself. Mind you, their rampant sex life helped.

  In the end she was persuaded by Laurie to visit a doctor. Her doctor was a young woman who reminded her a little of Jessica.

  Doctor Allison Kortay seemed to have all the time in the world as she chatted away to her, took several swabs and asked her to get a blood and urine test at the local clinic. Stacey did and a day later was in her office when Allison telephoned.

  "The results of your tests have come in, Stacey," she said. "Could you pop into our centre later today. No appointment will be necessary."

  Stacey frowned. "Is it that urgent?"

  "No. I'd just like to confirm a few items."

  It was almost closing time at six when Stacey arrived at the clinic and was met by Allison before she even sat down in the waiting area.

  "So there is a problem?" Stacey asked after being shown into the doctor's consultation room.

  The doctor smiled. "It was not the stress of everything that caused your problems, S
tacey," she said. "Though stress may have contributed to the severity of your symptoms." She slid a document over her desk that had a graph on it."

  Stacey glanced at the heading and gasped.

  "Yes," said the doctor. "You are pregnant and have been suffering from what is commonly called morning sickness."

  "Oh hell," Stacey gasped. "We took precautions."

  "Your husband?"

  Stacey shook her head. "No. When I found out Brendon had another pregnant wife, I ..." She felt her cheeks burn as she told Allison about Laurie. "When my period never arrived I put it down to the stress. This happened quite often when I was at university preparing for exams and so forth."

  "You are close to two months pregnant, Stacey."

  Stacey paled. "Then it could be either Brendon or Laurie. Is there a paternity test available?"

  "Yes." She explained the procedure. "The DNA in your infant's blood has half the father's DNA. The man or men who had intercourse with you will also need to have a blood test to determine who the father is."

  "Brendon's dead so we can't test his blood."

  "Have you had intercourse with anyone else?"

  Stacey shook her head. "Only Laurie. I'll ask him to take a blood test."

  A FEW MOMENTS LATER she drove into Laurie's driveway and walked in to find him cooking his evening meal.

  "It's your fault," she snapped. "Well, it probably is. You need to take a blood test."

  Laurie stared at her. "What are you babbling on about, Stacey?"

  Her chin shook. "I'm pregnant, Laurie and you need to take a blood test to prove you and not Brendon impregnated me." She was almost in tears and cuddled in as Laurie wrapped his arms around her. "I want it to be ours," she whispered.

  Laurie laughed and kissed her on the cheek. "My God. Think of the gossip that will do the rounds in the school staffroom about the office manager impregnating his boss."

  "Oh shut up," Stacey replied and thumped him on the shoulder.

  "Well at least we didn't do it over your desk," Laurie said in a deadpan voice.

  "You wouldn't dare," Stacey retorted before she turned serious. "I'm sorry Laurie. It's really the last thing we need at the moment."

  "Is it?" Laurie replied. He seized her again and deposited a kiss on the lips.

  "So you don't mind?"

  "Me! Mind? Hell no. I'm thrilled."

  "Even if it might be Brendon's?"

  Laurie laughed. "The odds are in our favour but even if he is the father, it won't matter. He's gone now and we can still be a family." He grinned. "We could get married, you know."

  Stacey stared at him. "Are you proposing?"

  Laurie looked sheepish. "I guess I am. I know everything has happened so quickly but..."

  "Yes," Stacey whispered. "But not yet. Next year after junior arrives..."

  A screaming smoke alarm interrupted them.

  "Damn!" Laurie rushed over to the stove. A pot of potatoes had boiled dry and blue smoke was hovering over the kitchen.

  JESSICA'S REACTION was completely different when Stacey told her by video link that she was pregnant.

  "My God you have a cheek," Jessica almost screamed. "You found out about me and decided to get Brendon to impregnate you in some crude attempt to get him to abandon me and just stay with you."

  Stacey was taken back and felt hurt. "Oh don't be silly, Jessica, you should know me better than that ..."

  "Now maybe but we didn't know each other then. You thought that if I could give him a child so could you."

  "It's probably not even his."

  "Oh hell, you were screwing Laurie before you even left Brendon. That's it, isn't it?"

  Stacey was now angry. "Believe what you want, Jessica. I shouldn't have even told you I was pregnant, not that it matters now. Brendon is dead so really we have nothing connecting us any more, do we?"

  There was a stunned silence but she saw Jessica flush in the video image as she glanced up and wiped a hand across her mouth. "Sorry, Stacey. I didn't mean it that way. You have been a real friend and still are. My last remark was below the belt. Your news just came as a shock, that's all."

  "That an old girl like me could become pregnant?"

  "Hell no. Some women over forty have babies now-a days."

  Stacey calmed down a little. "The chances are that Laurie impregnated me. Brendon and I didn't do it very often."

  "Too many other women to screw?"

  "Your words, not mine," Stacey replied. "I'll tell you who the father is when I find out but even if it was Brendon, does it matter? After all I thought I was his legal wife, you know."

  "Can I tell Mum?"

  Stacey grinned. "Yes, why not. I guess I'll begin to show soon anyway."

  AN HOUR LATER STACEY's mobile beeped. It was Chelsea.

  "Hi Stacey. I believe congratulations are required. I was going to call you anyway but I'm thrilled to hear of your condition."

  "Condition?" Stacey replied.

  Chelsea laughed. "Okay, wrong word. Jessica called me and thinks she reacted badly when you told her the news but you are both still are connected in another way."

  "How?"

  "Carla and Austin are your step-children and Carla is always talking about you. 'Stacey lets me watch the kids' programs on her iPad, Stacey cooks yummy food, when are we going to visit Stacey again?' etcetera."

  "Does she? I never knew."

  "Just don't abandon us, Stacey. With the cops interviewing everyone, we need to stick together."

  "I won't," Stacey replied. "So you've been interviewed by them too."

  "Yeah... over an hour down at the local police station. Jessica was in tears after her interview. It gets to us all, I guess."

  "So who do you reckon had him attacked? Could it have been Reyna?"

  "I doubt it. She took the news worse than any of us. Poor girl even had her wedding gown half made. I could be wrong, of course."

  "Anything from Doug McCann?"

  "Not really. I thought he might have contacted you."

  "Not for a while. Have you still got him working for you?"

  "Yes. He seems to really want to help and doesn't charge me for all the extra things he does. I think he is as curious about everything as we are."

  "Perhaps I'll call Jessica back."

  "Wait until you find out who the father is. If it's your boyfriend, it'll clear the air, otherwise she'll just have to accept it, won't she?"

  Stacey grimaced. Chelsea was being blunt again. "Guess so but thanks for calling. I'll keep in touch. Bye."

  She clicked off and called Laurie to report about the pair.

  DOCTOR ALLISON KORTAY called her back at school the following morning.

  "The results came though," she said. "Laurie hasn't been told yet but I can confirm that he was the male who impregnated you. Would you like me to tell him?"

  Stacey grinned to herself. "No, I'll do it, Allison. Thanks, it is a relief, you know."

  "Is it? I wasn't sure how you'd react. Would you like me to recommend a midwife? There are a couple that we work closely with. "

  "Yes please," Stacey replied.

  She clicked off and walked through to the outer office where Laurie was on the school computer. "It has just been confirmed that you're going to be a birth daddy in seven months. Congratulations!"

  Laurie glanced up and grinned. "And when do we tell all and sundry?"

  "Just wait until after I begin wearing a maternity smock, shall we?"

  "And let the gossip spread?"

  "Why not. That's half the fun isn't it?"

  She retreated back to own office before he could react and sat down to gather her thoughts. It was Laurie who had impregnated her. How wonderful! Now all she had to do was to carry her infant for the full term. But with Laurie's love rather than a cynical Brendon, she hoped everything would turn out right.

  "SO WHAT DO I DO, MUM?" Jessica asked her mother. "At least Brendon was a good provider but with his accounts closed or missing, I have no money
coming in." She grimaced. "No, I am not hinting at another handout from you. I want to make it on my own."

  Chelsea smiled. "Well, you have several choices actually. You could sell some or all of your shares in Hyde and Hyde or name yourself as a director and create an income for yourself..."

  "I know nothing about accountancy and it rings of being dishonest."

  "So sell some of your shares. I believe they have actually gone up in value since Brendon died."

  Jessica shrugged and remained pessimistic.

  "You're a qualified teacher. Apply for a job at a local school. With Christmas coming, many are looking for staff in the new year."

  "And my own kids?"

  "They're doing well at the day care. If you get a full time teaching job you could extend their hours a little.'

  "One other thing, my mortgage has gone up. I reckon it's to do with Brendon's death, you know less security now. The letter never said that but I can read between the lines."

  "Perhaps ask Stacey to buy you out of Hayes and Hayes and use the money to pay off your mortgage. You should even have some money left over."

  "She probably won't be interested. She hinted that she also had quite high mortgage payments due. Apparently Brendon got behind on the payments on her house."

  "But she has a principal's job. It pays a good salary."

  "But all that is long term, Mum. I need money and now."

  "So get onto those teaching vacancies."

  IT WAS ON TUESDAY MID-morning in late November when Laurie walked into the office at school with a folder under his arms.

  "You're not going to believe this," he said. "You know those three vacancies that closed this morning?"