The Other Mrs Hayes

by Ross Richdale

"Of course," Stacey replied. "When I last looked there were quite a few applicants."

  "There were but look at this one." He held out a printed copy of an online application. "She applied for all the jobs including that senior teacher's one."

  Stacey stared at the sheet. "And has she any chance of being shortlisted?"

  "That's up to the appointments committee and yourself, of course but look at her qualifications. Okay she's been out of teaching for a while and hasn't had that much service but she is as good as if not better than the other applicants."

  Stacey blew out through her mouth not once but twice before she looked up at Laurie. "I need to withdraw from the appointments committee. I'll tell Kim Tanner to replace me." This was her deputy principal.

  Laurie raised his eyebrows. "For all the positions?"

  Stacey nodded. "She applied for them all, didn't she?"

  "I guess."

  "We not only have to be fair but must seem to be fair to all the candidates, so any possible appeals are nipped in the bud. Understand?"

  Laurie grinned. "Want me to look up the regulations?"

  "No. Just do it." Stacey stood up and glowered at Laurie. "Okay, my bulge can't be hidden any longer. I have already told the Board of Trustees and I'm going to tell the staff you're the father at tonight's staff meeting." She grinned. "That wiped the smirk off your face, didn't it?

  "Not really. Just about everyone knows about us, it's just the small details that are being speculated upon."

  "Like what?"

  "You don't want to know," Laurie replied.

  "That one that we've been screwing since last year's Christmas party or the one where I told Brendon to get out when I heard he'd shacked up with Jessica?"

  "You heard?"

  "I'm principal here. It's my job to know."

  Laurie nodded at the sheet on Stacey's desk. "But this was news, wasn't it?"

  Stacey stared at him. "Nobody's perfect, Laurie," she whispered.

  "MUM," SCREAMED JESSICA over her mobile. "I got an interview for two jobs at Lexington Avenue School. "They want to interview me next week."

  "So Stacey pulled some strings?"

  "Doubt it. I didn't even tell her I was applying. The email message was signed by a Kim Tanner, Chairperson of the Selection Committee and Deputy Principal at Lexington."

  Chelsea laughed. "Sounds like Stacey. She declared herself having a conflict of interest and withdrew from the appointments committee."

  "For me?"

  "Apparently."

  "Oh my God," Jessica replied. "One is for a senior teacher to lead the Middle Syndicate."

  'It's your degree that helped. Aren't you glad I pushed you into all that honours stuff?"

  JESSICA AND THE CHILDREN were staying with Stacey for the week of the interview. It had been very thorough with many difficult questions, mainly about her time out of teaching and the latest curriculum revisions. She had researched everything but stumbled on her replies. Not wanting to offend Stacey she said little but doubted if she was even successful for the ordinary teacher's position that wanted somebody musical, something that wasn't one of her strengths.

  She was at Stacey's home and alone the day after the interview, for the kids were back as guests at the original early childhood group they had attended. The landline telephone rang and she answered.

  "Hello Jessica," said Stacey in a formal voice.

  "Okay," Jessica replied miserably. "I came close but they wanted someone with more practical experience. They really hinted at that in the interview."

  "Yes," Stacey said continuing to sound formal. 'That job including the music wasn't really you, was it?"

  "Guess not."

  "Cheer up," Stacey laughed. "The other Mrs Hayes has been appointed as Senior Teacher at Lexington Avenue Primary School. Congratulations Mrs Hayes."

  "What!" gasped Jessica. "Me!"

  "Yes you," Stacey said. "You have ten days to accept or decline the position."

  "Oh my God," Jessica couldn't believe the news. "Oh my God!

  "Careful," Stacey said. "This is as state primary school with secular rules, you know."

  Jessica was almost in tears but these were tears of joy not the distress of most of the year so far.

  "Thanks Stacey," she sobbed. "If it wasn't for the kids I'd shout you out for a meal tonight."

  "So bring them, too."

  Jessica smiled. "One condition."

  "And that is?"

  "You bring Laurie."

  'It's a deal. See you later!"

  The line went dead and Jessica just sat there deep in thought.

  CHAPTER 11

  The last week in January was when New Zealand children returned to school for the first term of the new school year. Stacey had insisted on returning for a month even though as an expectant mother in her third trimester she was well proportioned as a kind Laurie described her rotund tummy. Unlike her previous pregnancies, there had been no problems but both her midwife and Doctor Kortay kept a close eye on her. Laurie had moved into her home on a permanent basis and had rented his own place out to Jessica. She had sold her Auckland house and bought one in Wellington. However the final takeover wasn't until early March. With the prices of Auckland homes higher than in Wellington she had found a nice home equivalent to her one in Auckland but there was a lower mortgage to service.

  There were several changes in the teaching staff with not only Jessica arriving but three other teachers. When Stacey had maternity leave. all the senior staff would move up a position so Jessica found that she would be Associate Principal in the shuffle at the end of February. This included the eleven to thirteen year old senior girls' welfare.

  Stacey in her usual manner welcomed the new staff and followed their progress in their first two weeks at school. She was particularly pleased with Jessica who showed confidence in the middle school of seven to nine year old children and handled the four other teachers in her syndicate with a mature attitude. One of these was their first male teacher who had won the position that had the music tag. Wyatt Keech was about Jessica's age and was keen to start a school choir that had been discontinued before Stacey's time at the helm.

  Carla had begun school and was enrolled at Lexington Avenue along with twenty or so other five year olds; the age children in New Zealand start school. Meanwhile, Austin who was beginning to crawl was enrolled at a local early childhood centre between eight and four-thirty and like his sister, blossomed over the summer.

  The investigations into Brendon's murder seemed to have gone into limbo with even Doug having little to report. Chelsea had helped Jessica with real estate agents but had said little about Jessica's shift to Wellington. Stacey suspected that she would be missing her daughter being close. They had seen Reyna only once back over Christmas and she told them she had her work visa extended until the end of the following year.

  BY EARLY AFTERNOON on the third Wednesday back, it was a hot thirty degrees Celsius but the air conditioning coped well so the classrooms were cool. The children though became reluctant to move out into the sunshine, except of course when it was their class's turn to use the school swimming pool. Stacey had just returned to her office and plonked herself down in her office chair. She felt tired after continuing on her somewhat hectic programme since arriving at school at quarter to eight. When she stood up, she felt dizzy. She grabbed her desk, sat down again and waited until the spinning walls around her returned to normal.

  Laurie walked in. "What's wrong?" he asked. "You don't look too good."

  "I just felt a little woozy when I stood up too quickly."

  "Go home, Stacey," he said. "Let Kim do more. The school is not going to collapse because you aren't here."

  "I guess I could," she whispered.

  "So take Allison's advice and start your maternity leave earlier. We've been back two and a half weeks and you have hardly stopped. The last thing we want is something to go wrong now."

  Stacey stared at him. "I guess I was being arroga
nt to think I could last until the end of February. Kim is quite capable and hasn't Jessica started well?"

  Laurie grinned. "Yes, the Hot Mrs H is going well."

  "The Hot Mrs H so what am I?"

  "Haven't you heard? You're the Cool Mrs H. That's what the Year 7 and 8s call you."

  "And I never heard a thing. Nothing to do with temperament, I hope."

  "No both nicknames are very positive. You know, you're the Cool Boss and she's Hot Stuff."

  "Well at least they're not calling me the fat one."

  "No one would dare," Laurie replied with a cheeky grin across his face.

  Stacey stood up and was pleased that the dizziness was not repeated. "Can you tell Kim she has to take over?" She kissed him on the cheek. "See you at home."

  AFTER ARRIVING HOME, Stacey walked inside and made herself a cup of coffee. She sat down on the couch and without realising it, fell asleep. A knock on the front door woke her up. She answered the door to see a florist carrying a huge bunch of flowers.

  "Are you the Cool Mrs H?" she asked.

  Stacey grinned. "I have been called that."

  "These are from the senior pupils at Lexington Avenue School." She smiled. "I heard that you are the popular principal there who has taken maternity leave."

  Stacey smiled and took the flowers. "Yes I am the principal and as you can see I have taken maternity leave. Thank you. They're gorgeous."

  "The pleasure's all mine," the woman said. "I had special instructions to have them here before three. I just made it."

  Stacey glanced at her watch. It was five to three. She had dozed off for over an hour. She placed the flowers in a vase and opened the quite large card attached to the stems. Oh my God, there were almost a hundred signatures and comments on it, together with little smiley faces and cartoon sketches. She read the names and realised the entire senior syndicate, the school's eleven to thirteen year old students had signed the card. Even more interesting was the heading in coloured felt tip at the top. To our Cool Mrs H - Come and visit us after junior is born.

  "Where did the flowers come from?" Laurie asked when he arrived home an hour later.

  "You don't know?"

  "No idea." He opened the card and grinned. "I knew they were having a collection in the senior school but had no idea it was for these flowers." He read some of the names. "Even the boys signed it."

  There was a knock on the door and the same florist stood there holding another huge bunch of flowers. "From the Lexington Avenue Board of Trustees," she said. "You are a popular lady."

  "No just lucky to be at such a caring school." Stacey felt overwhelmed and warm inside about the appreciation shown towards her.

  DETECTIVE SERGEANT Kevin Woodley stared across the interview room at Eraesto Paulino and watched him shrug.

  "Didn't like his face and how he was acting in the pub. Decided to knock some sense into the bloody know-it-all creep. There was nobody who employed me," Paulino muttered.

  "Very noble of you," Woodley replied. "So the offer I am about to make won't make any difference?"

  The hardened criminal glanced up. "And what offer is that?"

  "We know you had a contract to belt Brendon Hayes up and that it was pure bad lack that he died as a consequence of the stabbing, we have your DNA from his body and also from the scene of the attack. We also know that you were a trained doctor in The Philippines before you became a terrorist."

  "A freedom fighter."

  "Whatever. More important now is that you're facing a Murder One charge, Eraesto. Like in your country we have no capital punishment in New Zealand but you could spend the next twenty years of your miserable life in prison here."

  "So what's the offer?"

  "Identify who employed you to assault Brendon Hayes and the charge will be reduced to manslaughter. You could be out of prison in seven years."

  "And my companions?"

  "One squealed and will testify that it was you who actually stabbed Hayes."

  Paulino's face darkened.

  "Who was it?' he spat.

  "Does it matter? As a consequence though, your so-called companions there on that night of the attack will only be charged with manslaughter. Do you want to be the only one facing a life term?"

  "It was that bitch from Manila he was screwing who employed me."

  "And her name?"

  "Reyna Aquino. Her family own a high rise in Manila."

  Woodley leaned forward and glowered at the man. "So you'd work for your sworn enemy, one of the aristocrats in your country. Now why is that?"

  Paulino shrugged.

  "Well?"

  "She paid well."

  "And you can identify her if necessary and swear under oath that she employed you to assault Brendon Hayes?"

  "Why not? I owe that bitch nothing."

  Kevin Woodley stood up. "The interview is over." He glanced at the constable standing by the door. "Put him back in the cells."

  AS PAULINO WAS LED out of the interview room, from behind the one-way glass window Doug McCann looked across at Detective Inspector Toby Matthews.

  "He's lying," he said.

  "Interesting observation and what is the reason for that conclusion?" the inspector asked.

  "Several but the main one is his background. Those terrorists in southern Philippines were fanatics, as bad as any in The Middle East. There is no way he would work for one of the ruling class, no matter what she offered to pay. Secondly, he was far too fast in cooperating and naming her, thirdly..."

  Toby held up his opened hand. "Okay, I've got the drift, Doug. To a certain extent I agree with you but we need to go along with the ruse. I'm bringing Reyna Aquino in and will have that identification parade."

  "Paulino's thorough. He'll know what she looks like."

  "I don't doubt that either."

  "So why have you asked me here and offered a contract to help the police?"

  "To find the real person who employed him." He handed a piece of notepaper across to Doug. "Start with these..."

  Doug glanced at the names. "So Stacey and Jessica Hayes are off your list?"

  Toby Matthews nodded. "They were never really on it but we had to cover all the bases. Just keep this separate from your contract with Chelsea Crombie, will you?"

  "Of course. How would our agency survive if we weren't discrete?" Doug looked up. "However, there could be a conflict of interest, you know."

  "That you'll overlook! It's dragged out too long. I want info sooner rather than later, okay."

  "Sure," Doug replied and shook the inspector's hand.

  REYNA WAS IN TEARS as she was led into the room for the identification parade. Seven other women similar in looks and age to her were standing there and she noticed that two had also been crying. Whether this was genuine of faked she didn't know or care.

  "Select where you wish to stand," the policewoman said in a surprisingly kind voice. "Just look straight ahead unless you are asked to do something else." She handed Reyna a couple of tissues. "Wipe your eyes, too."

  It was all over within a few moments. She stared at the mirror and could only see reflections of herself and the others in the line and waited. A speaker gave instructions, not that there were many and in relief she heard two others in the identification parade were asked to turn sideways. Nothing was asked of her until they were led out. The seven others left the room and Rene was asked to sit at a small table. Only the policewoman remained, standing by the door.

  It opened and the man who had introduced himself earlier as Detective Sergeant Kevin Woodley entered the room and sat across the table from her.

  "You were identified by the man who is accused of killing Brendon Hayes as the person who employed you to assault him..."

  "But I didn't," Reyna gasped and burst into tears again.

  The policewoman stepped forward and held out a box of tissues.

  Reyna blew her nose and looked up. For some strange reason DS Woodley was smiling.

  "We know that,
" he said. "However, we could not tell you beforehand for the suspect is a professional criminal who belonged to The Rising Sun terrorist group that was recently disbanded in your country. You see if we had, your body language would have shown him that something was wrong. We apologise for the distress you have gone through.

  "But why?"

  "We are trying to find the real person who employed him. If he thinks we are about to arrest you he may let his guard down and lead us to the person who gave him the contract. Also that person will believe they got away with it. We are half way there and seek your cooperation to continue."

  "And it could lead to Brendon's killer being found?"

  "Yes. The suspect has admitted killing Brendon and was offered a lighter sentence if he told us who employed him. We think he named you because you are Filipino from a well-off family."

  "They're fanatics," Reyna gasped.

  "We also know that. He will be charged with murder and hopefully, the person who contracted him will also suffer the same fate."

  STACEY HAD JUST RETURNED from the midwife who reported that all was well and she had ten days to go before their daughter was born. She was home relaxing but was slightly bored and turned her thoughts to school. Laurie and also Jessica kept her up to date on what was happening at school. It appeared that Kim was doing a reasonably good job as Acting Principal but some of the discipline had dropped and a group of parents were getting stroppy; Laurie's words not Jessica's.

  Her mobile rang.

  "Hello, Stacey speaking."

  "Hi there. How's the expectant Mum coming on?" boomed in the man's voice. "Couple of weeks to go I hear."

  Stacey smiled. "Hi Doug. And what do you want me to do?"

  Doug chuckled. "It's more something you should not do."

  "And that is?"

  "Believe the news being broadcast on TV and radio stations at noon."

  "Meaning?"

  "Just watch the news and I'll get back to you afterwards."

  "Being as mysterious as usual"