The Other Mrs Hayes

by Ross Richdale

  "Don't!" screamed a loud hailer

  What the shit! The sudden voice made him twitch ever so slightly as he squeezed the trigger and watched the bitch beside his target slip to the ground. Bugger, he had missed Stacey Hayes.

  ''If you wish to live beyond the next minute you will move your finger off the trigger and place your hands wide,'' called a precise calm voice on the loud hailer.

  Eraesto swung around and saw a man waving at him from another rock sticking out from the track ahead. He was also holding a high powered rifle aimed directly at him.

  ''You have five seconds,'' the man called.

  ''Like hell!'' Eraesto screamed. He swung his rifle around. Stupid bastard didn't know a thing about being a sniper. One never warned his victim.

  The rifle across from him flashed, he heard the muffled bang and stared down in utter amazement at his chest. Blood, his own blood was squirting out in a gush. He felt excruciating pain then nothing as he pitched backwards off the knob and crashed into the bushes below.

  DOUG MCCANN WAS THANKFUL that after hours of fiddling he had got the transmitter in Paulino's hair operating again but was surprised to find that he was now in Wellington. He had taken an immediate flight down and picked up his trail again. On the first day, the man had done nothing out of the ordinary but earlier this afternoon the signal was being transmitted from Lexington Avenue School. This was serious! He had considered calling the police but he was unknown by the locals so anything he said would not be immediately followed up. After the brutal murders in Auckland, he wanted to take no chances so had brought his high-powered rifle with him.

  Traffic had caused him to be held up when he rushed across the city to Lexington Avenue School and he cursed for he had arrived too late to prevent Paulino from getting that first shot away. One of the women below had been hit and possibly killed because he had wasted those precious few minutes finding the gunman and getting him lined up.

  He took off his helmet with the loud hailer attached, placed it on the ground and moved his sights onto the assassin slumped against a tree trunk below. The man never moved and lay in a pool of blood. There was no rifle near him so even if he was alive he could not fire it.

  He made his way down the steep slope to Paulino who was lying at a grotesque angle with glazed eyes staring up. Without even feeling for a pulse he knew the man was dead.

  After calling the emergency number to report to the police, he ran back along The Rabbit's Trail to the zigzag and down to the school field, Doug didn't know who had been shot but somebody had. His only consolation was that he had stopped them all from being murdered.

  IT HAD BEEN A SUCCESSFUL meeting with the senior teachers and Connie who represented the Board of Trustees. Stacey had really gone against Laurie's wishes and had decided to agree with Jessica's suggestion to return to school after the Easter break rather than wait one more term. The meeting was to inform everyone of her decision. Amazingly even Kim was in complete agreement and the others appeared relieved at her decision.

  Accompanied by Jessica, Connie and Kim and carrying Grace she was chatting as they all walked towards the car park. Without warning, Kim who was walking beside her, screamed. There was the sound like a giant fireworks bang and Stacey saw her collapse to the ground. Seconds later blood was pouring everywhere.

  ''Get under cover!'' Jessica screamed and she felt herself and Grace being pulled to the ground beside the nearest car.

  Connie was there too but Kim lay motionless a few metres away in a pool of blood.

  Shaking and holding Grace tin a tight embrace; she jumped in sheer terror as another rifle shot echoed across the school grounds. She expected to see one of the others lying wounded on the ground. Instead, she saw the pair were crouched beside her looking as terrified as herself.

  She turned and there was Kim. She had to get to her! She went to stand up but was pulled back by Jessica while Connie reached out and grabbed the baby.

  ''Do you want to get shot, too?'' Jessica howled. ''Just keep behind the car.''

  It was eerily quiet now.

  Stacey lay on the pavement by the car's front tyre and peeped out. My God a man was running straight towards them across the football field. However, she could see no gun in his hand as he ran. He shouted something and slowed, saw them and continued on. She shook tears from her eyes and stared. It was somebody she knew!

  Doug McCann was running towards them!

  "It's okay," Doug shouted when he was within shouting distance. "I got the bastard."

  He arrived puffing and panting and glanced at them all before he saw Kim and stepped over to her. He felt for a pulse in her neck and shook his head. "I was too late," he almost sobbed. "He got a shot away before I could stop him."

  "But how?" Stacey could barely get her words out of her trembling lips.

  Doug almost grinned. "Here to protect you both. Almost bloody failed and was too late to save your friend." He turned to Connie. "Sorry Ma'am, I'm afraid I don't know you."

  Stacey introduced the pair.

  Doug reached out and shook Connie's hand before nodding at the body. "And this lady?"

  "Our acting principal who filled in for me," Stacey said.

  Doug stared at her. "Paulino was aiming you," he whispered. "The sadistic brute would have wanted to take you out first before he shot the rest of you.'"

  "He'd have shot us all?" Connie gasped.

  "Undoubtedly," Doug replied. "He was a fanatical terrorist of the worse kind."

  EVERYTHING WAS LIKE a trance as shock hit Stacey. Ambulances and police cars were everywhere and she found herself, Jessica and Connie escorted into the school's medical room. Physically, they were all okay but emotionally the trio were all in a terrible state. A policewoman took Grace and a medic gave her an injection that relaxed her a little. She turned to find Doug squatting down beside her.

  "I'm sorry Kim never made it," he said. "If I hadn't shouted you would have been the one killed."

  "Her husband. I need to tell her husband!"

  "It is all being taken care of Sweetheart," said a familiar voice. Laurie was there. Stacey flung her arms around him and burst into tears that wouldn't stop no matter how hard she tried.

  IT WAS DARK BY THE time Stacey, along with Jessica with the children and escorted by Wyatt, Laurie and Doug who had accepted an invite to come to their place, arrived home. Connie had gone to her own home to her husband and family and the police and medics had finally left.

  "So explain everything, Doug," Stacey said was they sat in their lounge with a wine in everyone's hand.

  "The judge should have never granted him bail," Doug began and told about the Smithers and how he had managed to get the faulty transmitter operating. "Luckily, the tracer now worked perfectly and I followed him down here to Wellington. I suspected he'd be out for revenge and managed to follow him to that bush area behind the football field." He grimaced. "Too late for Kim, though."

  "But you saved Stacey, Jessica and Connie," Laurie said. "Words cannot explain how grateful we all are."

  "No problem," Doug replied. "I now have to explain to the local cops why I own a high powered automatic rifle."

  "So one of the Smithers hired him to attack Brendon in the first place?'" Jessica asked. "Who was it"

  Doug shrugged. "I'm not sure but suspect it was Pete Smithers for he was the jealous type." He continued on to tell about Paulino. "The trouble is he seemed to be bit of a loaner here in New Zealand and didn't really talk to anyone about his intentions. I picked up quite a bit about him arranging to leave the country and the police have been checking up on a yacht he was going to join.

  He mentioned North Koreans at one point and the airforce are doing a sweep for any unregistered fishing boats around. Also we have several low orbiting satellites that trace rogue vessels in our territorial waters. Because we are known to be quite vigilant in this aspect, the North Koreans usually stay well away from our shores. They prefer the small island nations that have little or no way t
o trace them."

  "So how did you get onto him planning to attack us?" Stacey asked.

  "Gut feeling. Why would he come to Wellington and arrange to leave by yacht from here when there are numerous islands off Auckland that yachts could leave from? "

  "Will you be in trouble with the cops?” Jessica asked.

  Doug grinned. "Doubt it. If they charged me with say manslaughter after I saved you all, the news outlets would have a field day.

  "So what happens now?" Laurie asked.

  "With both of Brendon's murderers now dead, that wraps that case up." Doug grinned. "I guess I won't need to be employed by Jessica's mum now."

  WITH ONLY TWO DAYS before the Easter Holidays, Lexington Avenue School was closed early. It was a harrowing time for Stacey, Jessica and the others with interviews by the police and reporters from the TV networks and newspapers. One network even found out about Brendon bigamous marriages and the local court had to issue an emergency suppression order so the news would not be broadcast or appear in newspapers or online outlets.

  The two resulting funerals were a complete contrast to each other. The Anglican Wellington Cathedral within the parliamentary precinct of New Zealand’s capital city was crowded with mourners for Kim Tanner, including high profile officials and the Prime Minister herself, present. As the media noted this was only the third school principal murdered in New Zealand's history.

  Stacey also decided to attend the funeral for Paulino at Harbour City Funeral Home where the only officials were several police officers and representatives from the Filipino Embassy. There were a handful of civilians but none, as far as Stacey had been told, were relatives of the deceased.

  By the second week of the school holidays the funerals were over and Stacey had time before the new term started at the end of April. Laurie persuaded her to have a few days away and they had a refreshing break at Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island. Grace had the usual ups and downs of a newborn but overall was a delightful little baby with Laurie being a wonderful father who helped with all the chores.

  At school, the Board of Trustees had confirmed the permanent appointments of Eileen as DP and Jessica as AP respectively, so only the Senior Teacher's position would be advertised. Other staff would remain the same except that Stacey was now back at the helm. Grace was enrolled at the same early childhood centre as Austin and Jessica often picked them both up in the afternoon.

  So a new routine was established that worked well for everyone concerned. For Stacey it was a busy but fulfilling life with a loving partner, a growing baby and her friendship with Jessica enhanced by their professional interests. Jessica was excellent as AP in charge of the senior school and, though she still taught her original middle school class her respect from the senior pupils was if anything enhanced.

  Even the bossy seniors knew that the one did not cross The Hot Mrs H any more than they did their principal, The Cool Mrs H. Parents of senior pupils continued to go to Jessica with their problems and she was given more class teaching release time to handle an increased administration load.

  CHAPTER 16

  Chelsea didn't think she'd miss Jessica and the children so much but she realised there was now a gap in her life after the family had left Auckland. Oh her work could occupy all her time if she wished, the other people in the office were supportive and friendly but out of work hours, she never socialised with them. Since her divorce more than a decade earlier she had had a few fleeting affairs, she guessed she could call them. The last was five years ago and ended after almost a year when she discovered that Vincent was not divorced as he had led her to believe but just separated from his wife. He told her one-day that their romance was over, it was an enjoyable time but he was returning to his wife for the sake of their three teenage children. She had been annoyed, no angry at being led on for so long in what she had thought was a serious relationship.

  Perhaps this was why she had become so protective of Jessica, especially after the Carla was born. Also Brendon and his mannerisms reminded her of Vincent with that same almost oozy confidence like a used car salesman. Also the similarities between the two guys led her to contact Doug McCann and the whole scenario unfolded.

  She was now in her late forties and fast approaching middle age, had a high paying position a nice home in a good part of the city but what else? Her thoughts turned back to Doug with his slow smile and help. Now, there was no need to even employ him any longer as Brendon's murder had been solved and even Reyna had her problems fixed.

  Damn the man, why did she have to keep thinking of him?

  Instead of just paying his last account, that to her seemed far too generous, by a bank transfer she had made an early afternoon appointment to meet him at Phoenix Investigations on the pretence of wanting more details about everything. She had never been there before as Doug had previously always met her at her place, some coffee bar or other neutral meeting spot. She took an extended lunch break and drove up to Ponsonby Road, in an inner-city suburb of the same name and one of the trendy parts of town to where his office was situated.

  About three blocks along the road was a small two storey wooden building wedged in between two taller but older buildings. The building had a flower shop on the left and a smaller shop with a Phoenix Investigations sign above the veranda over the footpath. In the window was a small sign that read, When nobody is here, please leave deliveries or make inquiries at Sue's Flowershop to your right.

  When she tried the door that was unlocked and walked in, a small chime signalled that someone had arrived. There was a counter to the left and a bench seat along the other wall. She sat down and reached for a magazine just as an interior door opened and Doug walked in.

  "Hi Chelsea," he said. "Come on through."

  The other room was the usual office, different only in the amount of computers and monitors around. A desk was at the far end and after inviting her to sit he sat beside her rather than behind the desk.

  "Bill too high?" he asked.

  "No," Chelsea replied. "It is in fact the opposite. I know you put in far more hours than you listed here and your hourly rate is less than that quoted in the first invoice you sent me when you found out about Stacey."

  Doug grinned. "Loyalty rates and much of my last research was for Stacey or Jessica so I never charged you for that."

  "Nor did you send either of them an invoice," Chelsea added.

  Doug shrugged. "The whole situation got my interest," he said. "The more I dug the more I found out how devious Brendon was. That marriage to Reyna that we managed to stop and also that he was still married to Michelle and had a nineteen year old son, were two examples."

  "The one she thought had contracted that guy to attack Brendon?"

  "Yeah. That Carl is a bit if a no hoper but no worse than thousands on young males today. His mother just jumped to a conclusion because she had lost control over him."

  "And how are they now?"

  Doug shrugged. "I did persuade Michelle not to pursue any claims on Brendon's estate and to keep quiet about his bigamy. To date, she has stuck to her agreement. I actually quite liked her. You should see some of the vindictive women I've been employed by or asked to investigate by partners."

  Chelsea nodded and stood up. "Okay then, Doug. I guess everything has been covered. Thank you for everything. I'll head back to work and transfer you the money."

  Doug coughed and grinned again. "We could have a meal out somewhere to celebrate our achievements, if you could call them that. How about..." He named a well-known restaurant that was not too high class or just a take away joint.

  Chelsea caught his eyes. "A date you mean?"

  "Yeah. I guess we'd call it that when we were teenagers."

  Chelsea smiled. "Yes Doug. I'd love a meal with you. You know that with Jessica and the kids now in Wellington, it gets pretty quiet at times."

  "Wonderful. And right now. How about a coffee upstairs?"

  "Why. What's there?"

  "My apa
rtment. I actually own this little building. At today's prices I bought it for a song a decade ago, the rent to Sue at the flower shop pays nearly all the rates and such like and there are no lawns to mow. I even have a small parking area at the end of the alley next door." He grinned. "There's just me now."

  Chelsea smiled. "Okay, a coffee sounds great."

  She was shown a narrow stairwell and walked up to a small but quite tidy apartment. Windows at the front overlooked the street below while out the back was the alley and in a gap between other buildings was a view of the distant harbour."

  "Yeah, even has a view," Doug chuckled. "Reckon I could rent it out for an exorbitant price to a trendy pair Jessica's age."

  The coffee was a delight but what followed caught Chelsea and probably Doug as well by surprise. As she stood up and again thanked him he reached forward and grabbed her in a tight embrace. Nothing was said, but when he placed a hand on her hair she sort or wiggled forward and seconds later received a passionate kiss on the lips.

  His hands reached down, gently rubbed her arms and one hand reached further across to cup a breast as his kisses became more frantic. She didn't mind as he lifted her top and stared at her heaving breasts under her bra. Hands pulled the straps off her shoulders and reached beneath the flimsy material. Chelsea reached down and, oh hell he was erect.

  She stood back, smiled unclipped her bra and responded with moans as he massaged her bare breasts and sucked her nipples.

  She didn't care; anything but and merely nodded as he guided her through to his bedroom and pushed her again quite gently onto the double bed. He removed her skirt and briefs before frantically undressing to expose his erect organ.

  He mounted her with frenzied petting and love making that reached the inevitable climax as he penetrated her and ejaculated just as her orgasm arrived.