The Other Mrs Hayes

by Ross Richdale

  "I am, My Sweet. I was thinking about everything you said last weekend."

  "I haven't changed my mind. You know I come from a strict Catholic family, Brendon. My God, if my father even knew we were having an affair, he'd order me back to the Philippines on the next flight. Not only that but my grandfather would disinherit me from the family business. There's a clause in the shares I received on my twenty-first birthday about family honour."

  "I know," Brendon replied. "However, I have a surprise for you" He sipped another whisky and began to gain more confidence in his ability to woo the woman with more half-truths. He kidded himself that they were not blatant lies. "I never told you but Stacey and I never got married. It's been a de-facto arrangement for years now. She insisted on pretending we're married to enhance her teaching career. It worked too for she'd have never have got that snobby Lexington Avenue principalship if the conservative Board of Trustees there knew she wasn't really Mrs Hayes. She even changed her name by deed poll."

  "You never told me," Reyna shrieked. "But why the sudden change?"

  "Developments," Brendon lied. "I found out she's sleeping around with one of the other principals in town."

  "Man or woman?" Reyna laughed.

  "Woman," Brendon replied. "Bitch never told me she was a bi-sexual."

  "Oh you poor dear. So how does that affect us?"

  "We can get married, you can get your New Zealand citizenship and not have to go home to Manilla once you gain your MSc at Auckland University."

  "When!"

  "Sooner rather than later," Brendon replied. "I told Stacey I was leaving so will need somewhere to live for a while. What say I shift in with you?"

  He grinned for the year before he had rented three Filipino women a rental property in Papatoetoe in southern Auckland. Reyna was one of the three. The house was owned by himself and was one of the many secrets he had kept from both Stacey and Jessica. The other two women had recently gone home but Reyna still had one year to go to complete her degree. More recently, she had moved to a near new home in Botany Downs a middle class suburb that her parents in Manilla had helped pay for.

  "Now!" Reyna gasped.

  "Why not?" Brendon continued on with his smooth words for a few moments, until she somewhat reluctantly agreed. It was more the worry of her family back in Manilla finding out than moral concerns about him leaving Stacey. He pretended to give in to some of her requests, said he'd see her later in the morning and clicked off.

  He grinned. Filipino women were known for their sexuality and to have an educated one from a rich family was a double bonus. If he married her and she got her New Zealand citizenship they could head off to Australia and start a new life. As New Zealand citizens they could easily emigrate there whereas he believed that the Aussies restricted Filipinos.

  With Jessica's situation forgotten, he poured himself another whisky and began to plan his next move. It would take a little organising but it was something he should have done months ago. Both Stacey and Jessica were a liability. He guessed he'd miss Carla but having a screaming baby around wouldn't help matters

  Sometimes everything managed to slip into place.

  STACEY MET CHELSEA and Carla at the airport after they arrived on a seven-thirty flight and immediately took them across the city to Wellington Hospital. It was a tearful reunion and Stacey stood back to study the trio. The little girl who sat on the bed with her mother was a delightful child who seemed to have Brendon's facial features, especially across the eyes.

  Stacey was originally going to leave them to go to work but sympathised with the pair. Instead she called school and told Laurie that she'd be absent for the morning. Usually, she only used her time away from school to attend education related work but the Board of Trustees had a liberal policy and she knew they would approve her absence.

  The news from Jessica that Brendon had not visited did not surprise her but Chelsea pouted and after a little probing confessed that she had called him.

  "I guess my call hindered rather than helped the situation. I called him from Auckland airport while we were waiting to board our plane." she said. "He said he'd visit Jessica straight away. "

  "I don't want to see him," Jessica whispered.

  "But how can he be so callous?" Chelsea snapped.

  "What's Daddy done?" Carla's little chin shook.

  "Nothing Sweetheart," Jessica hugged her daughter. "He's just a busy man and couldn't get here, that's all."

  "Busy is the word," Chelsea cut in and rolled her eyes at Stacey.

  A NURSE APPEARED AND told them that there was the usual ten o'clock decision by the doctor about a patient's' discharge. However, probably Jessica would remain another night in hospital. Unless there were problems she would be discharged then. Stacey considered asking Chelsea and Carla to stay at her place but realised how fragile the situation would be if Brendon turned up. Also to have his items such as photographs around would be an embarrassment. Chelsea probably had similar views for she told her that she had booked a room for two nights at the Travelodge, one of the upmarket hotels in the city. Stacey grinned. In a similar situation she would have just booked into a motel but Chelsea didn't seem to have any money problems.

  After staying a little longer, Stacey said she would get back to everyone later that day and headed off to school. She drove in to see the school humming along with all the pupils back in their classrooms after the morning break, one class was on the football field doing keep fit activities while a few children wandered around doing messages and so forth. It appeared so ordinary and now felt more like home than her place across the city.

  Laurie glanced up when she walked into the office. "So how's the situation?" he asked.

  "What situation?" Stacey retorted. Damn it, did everyone need to know her personal affairs?

  Laurie grimaced. "I'm sorry Stacey,'' he said. "Everyone's talking about it."

  "It?" Stacey glowered at her office manager.

  "The rumour is that your sister has just had a baby and her husband has walked out on her. Someone saw you meeting what was probably your mother at the airport with a little preschooler. Your niece, was it?"

  Stacey just stared at him as emotion swelled in her throat. "Oh Laurie sorry for snapping at you. If only the story was that simple."

  Laurie stood, walked around the counter and reached out to give her a hug. "I've said nothing," he whispered. "If you'd like to confide in me, I promise that it'll go no further."

  "I know," Stacey replied. "You're a real friend and this whole school is like my home." She smiled slightly. "You know it's like a security blanket when the world is crumbling outside. Please though, just leave the explanations for now."

  "Sure," Laurie said and slipped back behind the counter. "We've had enquiries from three families out of our school zone wanting to enrol pupils here next year. All of them said they'd like to speak to you."

  Stacey sighed for she was back in the old routine again.

  CHAPTER 4

  Doug McCann really had the Hayes case wrapped up but found the whole scenario intriguing. Also Chelsea had asked him to delve deeper into Brendon Hayes's history. This was why he was at his present address in Herne Bay, one of the upmarket suburbs in Auckland City.

  It was an imposing building only two blocks back from the waterfront with a circular driveway and imposing front entrance. He almost expected a maid or butler to answer the door but instead an attractive woman in her forties greeted him.

  "Good afternoon," she said. "How can I assist you?"

  After introducing himself and displaying his identification badge, Doug asked if he was speaking to Ms Michelle Packwell who was the former Michelle Hayes.

  The woman frowned but nodded. "And your reason for calling, Mr McCann?"

  "My client has asked me to research the history of Brendon Hayes..."

  "Oh hell," she replied in a change of tone from her previous upmarket accent. "What has he done now?" She stepped aside. "You had better come in." />
  "Thank you." Doug stepped in across a plush carpet and was escorted through to a kitchen area that looked tidy but typical of this sort of home with washing spread out on a couch and a dishwasher humming in the background.

  "There is a discrepancy in your former husband's personal details that I wish to ask about." He sat down on her invitation, opened his brief case and extracted a document. "Forgive me if this is too personal but I assure you that everything here is entirely confidential and nothing has been disclosed to my client."

  Michelle sat opposite him and appeared to have paled a little. "Until you have checked me out?"

  "Your version of the facts would be appreciated. It is not my position to be judgemental."

  "Go on."

  "My records show that you were married to Brendon Hayes, twenty-one years ago on ..." He quoted the date, time and place of the ceremony before continuing. "You were married for four years before separating and had one child, a boy who would be nineteen now."

  Michelle nodded. "Yes, that's Cody. I was his present age when I married Brendon." She grimaced. "Never worked out. I guess we were both too young."

  Doug stared at her and decided to be blunt. "There is no official record of you ever being divorced from Brendon Hayes. Can you explain why?"

  "We never were," Michelle whispered. "I went overseas for a couple of years before I came back. I met up with Josh, my present partner three years later and have been with him ever since. We have two children but never bothered to marry."

  "So officially, you are still married to Brendon?"

  "I guess so but in this modern day and age, does it really matter?"

  "Officially, it does," Doug said. "What happens, for example if you apply for a passport?"

  "I did and used my maiden name that is Packwell, the surname I now use. It was accepted."

  Doug had heard of this happening before government agencies began using computerised cross-referencing. He produced a wedding photo of Jessica and Brendon and showed it to Michelle.

  "Do you recognise the groom in this photo?"

  Michelle took the photo, studied it and pouted. "Yes, he's a bit older now but that's Brendon. So this is what it is all about? He is illegally married to this woman."

  Doug also had a wedding photo of Stacey and Brendon in his briefcase but decided not to divulge this earlier wedding to her.

  He nodded. "My client suspected that Brendon entered a bigamous marriage ceremony. Jessica Hayes has just given birth to their second child."

  "And she doesn't know he was already married?"

  'I'm afraid she does now but has no knowledge of yourself. In situations such as this, when a third party is affected, it is protocol to approach them with the information concerning them. The reason for my visit is to see whether you wish to remain anonymous or not.'' He studied Michelle's face. She looked serious and determined but nothing more. "I also wish to state that you have done nothing wrong yourself. You are not the one who remarried and there is nothing illegal about de facto relationships in our country."

  "Oh hell," Michelle muttered and walked across to a wine cabinet. "I need something to calm my nerves. Can I offer you a wine or whisky?"

  "Neither, thanks," Doug replied. "But don't let me stop you having one yourself."

  Michelle poured herself a small wine, sipped it and sat down. "So what happens to Brendon now?"

  "I am not sure. Without your permission I'll not divulge your name to my client and your address shall remain confidential. However, if I have found out about your situation others can, too. It is easy to check a person's background information quite legitimately on government websites."

  Michelle stared at him. "What else has Brendon done, Mr McCann? Has he ripped off somebody in his business interactions or swindled an old lady out of her money?"

  Doug smiled. "You knew him well, I see."

  "The old cliché about a leopard not changing its spots you know."

  "I cannot tell you anything at the moment but if my investigations lead to criminal charges or a police warrant I can inform you, if you're interested."

  "Other than a bigamy charge?"

  Doug nodded.

  Michelle sighed. "Oh he was a smooth operator. Damned if I know why he never bothered about a divorce for there would have been no objections from my side. He actually walked out on me and never even bothered to claim half of our property. For years I worried about that but it wasn't a huge sum of money by today's standards."

  "And the accountancy business Hayes and Hayes?"

  "Is it still going? I am amazed. It was Brian Hayes and Son in those days. Brian was his father. He died not long before we separated but Brendon was no businessman. He kept jumping from one fantastic idea to another and the company lost clients left, right and centre."

  "Is the name Ashley Hayes known to you?" Doug asked.

  Michelle frowned. "I've never heard of it. Why?"

  "A person of that name holds shares in Hayes and Hayes."

  Michelle's eyebrows rose. "And you can find nobody called that?"

  "True."

  "Sounds like Brendon. Check it out Mr McCann. Perhaps he has stepped over the line after all." She stood up. "I would like you to keep my name confidential but the fact that he is still married to me can be revealed to any interested parties..." She grimaced. "Should I file for a divorce now?"

  Doug also stood. "Please yourself but whatever you decide to do will not affect the outcome of my investigations."

  "But could this help Jessica and her children?"

  "Possibly."

  "I'll talk about it to my partner and get back to you."

  "Thank you," Doug replied. He shook her hand and handed her his business card.

  As he drove away he thought how similar this Michelle was to Stacey. Both were highly educated and he knew that Michelle held a high position in a bank. Her partner was a successful well-regarded businessman in town.

  STACEY SENSED THAT something was wrong as soon as she walked into the kitchen at home after an ordinary day at school. At first she thought it was a break-in for the place appeared to be ramshackled, drawers and cupboard doors were open while bits and pieces had disappeared from the living room. She walked into the bedroom to find one closet, the one that Brendon kept his clothes in, empty.

  She rushed into the bathroom. His shaving gear and toothbrush had gone! Grimacing in apprehension she walked throughout the house and found that it was not just a random break-in by a burglar but a methodical removal of everything that Brendon owned. Everything from his mobile phone to all his documents in his desk, chequebook and bankcards were gone!

  "So you decided to move permanently back to your other family, have you?" she gasped as she flung a cushion across the room in disgust. "Well, she can have you Brendon, that's if she wants a two timing bastard."

  She sat down and succumbed to her emotions as tears rolled down her cheeks and she couldn't stop herself shaking. It took several moments before she regained her repose, made herself a quick meal and headed off across the city to visit Jessica and the baby. It would be their last night in hospital and Chelsea had booked a flight home for them all to Auckland the following afternoon.

  There were no visitors and Jessica was on her own with the baby in a mobile incubator beside her bed. She glanced up at Stacey and smiled slightly.

  "Mum and Carla have just left," she said. "They have been with me all day. How was your day?"

  "School was just the same," Stacey said, having decided not to tell Jessica about what had happened at home.

  Jessica's chin quivered and tears appeared in her eyes. "He hasn't visited, Stacey and hasn't replied to any of my mobile phone calls or messages. Nothing, Stacey, absolutely nothing and there's something even worse."

  Stacey gulped, sat on the bed and took Jessica's hand. "And what is it?" she asked.

  "I got the strangest message from Rebecca, my neighbour up in Auckland who was keeping an eye on our place." She gulped and rea
ched for a tissue to wipe her eyes. "Just after lunchtime a large truck backed up to the house and Brendon arrived. For an hour or so, men carried out all sorts of stuff from the house, including furniture and boxes of things. She went across to ask Brendon about it but he had already left. After the truck had gone she used her key to go into the house."

  "And Brendon's things were gone?" Stacey gasped.

  "How did you guess?" Jessica whispered.

  Stacey sighed. "He's done the same to me," she replied and told her about what greeted her when she had arrived home.

  "And he took half your furniture, too?"

  Stacey shook her head and listened while Jessica told her that Rebecca had found half the furniture was missing from her place. "Apparently he's taken nearly everything from the kitchen but left the living room couch and chairs except his Lazi-boy that he always sat in. The big TV has gone too and other things from the bedrooms. Rebecca wasn't sure what had gone but one double bed from the spare bedroom has gone and the hot water cupboard is empty. It is usually filled with towels and so forth."

  "Oh hell," Stacey said.

  "Mum's as mad as hell and contacted Doug McCann to investigate what has happened." Jessica broke down into shuddering tears. "And I thought everything was going to be perfect with a new baby and Carla." She glanced up. "Why, Stacey, just tell me why? What have we done to deserve this?"

  "Nothing, Jessica. We are just innocent victims of a man who deceived us both. I do not know why but I will find out; that's a promise."

  "That's what Mum said," Jessica replied. "However, she didn't help by saying she never trusted Brendon and I should have listened to her years ago."

  "It's just her way of coping. I don't think she intended to hurt you."

  Jessica pouted. "She did rub it in a little but overall has been so helpful... like you."

  "Blaming each other for what happened would not help," Stacey smiled slightly. "I won't tell you how I felt when I saw you rush up to Brendon at the airport. You were a pregnant stranger then but not now."