Henrietta did as Clive suggested and after dropping the boys at school, she double locked the front door, checked that all other points of entry were secure and went round every room closing and securing all the metal shutters. She was alone and safe. She poured a glass of wine and sat at the kitchen table with a cheese sandwich and planned her next move. She abandoned the dirty crockery and found a roll of black plastic refuse sacks and a large screw driver and then went up the staircase to Terry’s study on the top floor. She sat at his desk and started trawling through the files on the shelves, taking out anything with her name on it. It grew late and dark outside and the pile of papers grew heavy in the sacks. Then she turned her attention to his familiar briefcase sitting under the desk. She picked it up and used the screwdriver to break the locks and look inside where she sifted through several family photographs which had the names of his parents and siblings neatly written in ink on the back. She also retrieved his brother’s Passport which she had found two years earlier and realised that she had been lied to; for if the passport really was his brother’s, why was it still in his possession six months after his trip to visit him in Australia. She scrutinised the certified photograph and realised it was Terry but with a different name and everything he had said was an elaborate lie!
Henrietta sat quietly thinking of the lies she had accepted before she focused on the locked drawers in his desk and forced them open in turn with the screwdriver. She was shocked to find a driving licence in his name, a driving licence with the same surname but different Christian name, presumably his brother again and two similar birth certificates. One drawer contained several documents in Spanish which appeared to be for the valuation and purchase of the villa. She bagged up the lot but saved the business card of the conveyancing solicitor. She prised open the final drawer and gasped, it was filled with umpteen packets and sleeves of Viagra.
“What the hell?” It was a shocking sight but as she sat staring at them, she gradually pieced together the niggling facts and memories of their sex life. Either he needed the stimulants to be able to make love to her or most likely he used the stimulants whenever he wanted to impress his authority upon her. She threw the lot into a separate bin bag and took them into the bathroom.
“You utter bastard, how dare you!” In an emotional frenzy she popped the pills out of the foil and into the lavatory and flushed them away several times. Her breathing was erratic and her temper worn to a frazzle but he would not be able to hurt her again.
The house phone rang and Henrietta automatically rushed towards the nearest ringing bell.
“Hi Henrietta, Margot here, please don’t put the phone down, I have just heard what happened, Terry phoned me when he was allowed a phone call. Are you ok?” Henrietta did not reply. “Look, I know absolutely everyone in Sotogrande and Terry has asked me to get him a top notch lawyer.” Margot sighed and evidently exhaled her cigarette. “Henrietta, I don’t know what really happened up there but I wondered if we could resolve whatever problem you have and save a lot of trouble and expense for everyone. What do you think? What do you want from him? Can I help at all? Henrietta, are you still there?”
“You are right, you don’t know what happened and you don’t know Terry at all. Come to think of it, neither do I, but I will tell you this: Although I don’t know anyone around here and I don’t fully understand what he has done behind my back, I too know a lawyer and I will prosecute that man for domestic violence at the very least.”
“I’m not against you Henrietta. We all just need to move on. Domestic violence is serious here, he will go to jail. Can you live with that on your conscience?”
“Yes I can!”
May 6th 2008.
At 9am the following morning Henrietta received a phone call from the firm of Spanish lawyers appointed with the assistance of Clive. Henrietta told Celia what had happened the previous day, including her discovery of the Viagra and documents in Terry’s desk and the business card of what appeared to be Terry’s solicitor. Celia made sympathetic noises about the abuse, disgust about the Viagra and promised make enquiries about Terry’s lawyer. Ten minutes later Celia called once more to say that Henrietta was expected at the Guadiaro Police station at 10am to make her formal statement and that afterwards, Terry’s lawyer would be happy to meet with her and help in any way she could, as she believed she also represented Henrietta as Mr Newman’s Fiancée. Celia gave her the company address and the contact name of Margarita Lopez.
Henrietta immediately changed her attire to a more respectable outfit, tidied her hair and applied a little make-up. She made sure the villa was securely locked and went to the police station where she was recognised by Terry’s arresting officer and escorted her into ‘el jefe’s officina’. She sat as indicated and gave a formal statement to the Guardia Chief who spoke politely in broken English and told her she could use his Christian name; Francisco.
Fifteen minutes later she signed the typed Denuncia which would be used as evidence to charge Terry with ‘Threats of violence in the family environment’ and Francisco said he would notify her of the time and date of Terry’s Court Hearing. Henrietta thanked him for his assistance and smiled a thank-you to the arresting officer as she left the station.
She parked in the Port and walked around the pretty fountains and coloured waterfront town houses, as the address she had been given suggested that the lawyer ran the business from one of the properties. She remembered accompanying Terry to what must have been the same town house, a year earlier. The door was opened by a petite and expensively dressed woman in her forties, who was genial and polite and who spoke to Henrietta in Spanish but obviously invited her into the elegant and cool interior which was decorated in a coastal style. Henrietta asked if she could converse in English and the pair sat in the lounge area for almost an hour during which time they discussed Terry, the company Henrietta procured for him, the purchase of villa and the existence of the Power of Attorney which Terry held.
It became apparent that Margarita had been handed Terry’s file by her senior partner who was unable to accommodate him as a client and she had only met Terry once prior to the villa purchase. She believed that she acted on behalf of Henrietta and Terry as a couple and Terry had faxed the appropriate legal authority to act for his Fiancée. Margarita showed her the documents she had on file and printed off copies of all the communication between the parties which included e-mails from Terry asking how to purchase a Spanish company, the formal registration of the Spanish Limited company Terry controlled, the mortgage offer and acceptance from the bank, e-mailed information on the valuations carried out on two villas, copies of a power of attorney over Terry in favour of Henrietta, a power of attorney over Henrietta in favour of Terry, a breakdown of villa purchase costs, the completion documents for the villa which were registered at the Notary, confirmation of 210,000 euros into Terrys bank account from the bank and confirmation of 669,000 euros to be held in the solicitors client account which was intended to be paid to builder after specific extra building work was completed.
Margarita was completely frank, open and helpful and Henrietta believed all she was told and what she saw but could not understand certain anomalies.
“Mrs Lopez, why did the bank give Terry two hundred and ten thousand euros, and where is the six hundred and sixty nine thousand euros you mentioned?”
“I’m not sure why they gave him the introduction money but Terry told me it was a fee which they would have paid to an agent, so as there wasn’t one, he requested it for himself. They gave it to him in a bankers draft at the Notary office on completion. As for the larger sum of money; Terry told me you were an interior designer and said the loan was for certain specific alterations to the original plan that you had personally requested. One week after the completion Terry demanded that money be paid into your company account, which I did. He was very forceful. I presume it is still there?”
“I have no idea. Which bank?” Henrietta sat and cried in front of the bemused l
awyer.
“I would like to help, but I don’t understand the problem. Have you and Mr Newman parted? Is there now an issue over who has legal right to the property?” She called for her assistant to bring a tray of coffee and served her client as Henrietta disclosed some of the recent history to a confused and stunned Margarita who was also unaware that Terry was in police custody.
“Mrs Lopez, I don’t understand how he procured a power of attorney over me without my knowledge, do you know?”
“I will go with you today to the Notary Public to try to establish how it was done, but your signature is on it, look.” Margarita laid the document out in front of her.
“I can’t read that properly, it is in Spanish.”
“But Mr Newman told me that he had learned the Spanish language because you were fluent, besides you signed the company document which is also in the Spanish language.”
“But I knew what that was for; to give him control of the company. I also signed to give him the shares and everything at the same time because I got it for him.”
“I believe you, as the dates are the same but I am shocked that a lawyer in Spain has allowed this to be done without checking that you understood the implications of your actions. It is legally ‘Non-es Factum’ which means that you signed it without the facts needed to understand what you were signing for. I will immediately prepare the paperwork to revoke the power of attorney Mr Newman has over you. We will establish if the power which you similarly have over him, is still active, then you can decide what balancing transactions you need to make. What else can I do for you?”
“I didn’t know I had any power over him but think you had better cancel the power of attorney I gave him over the Spanish company at the same time as it has obviously been misused as a fraudulent loophole.”
“Henrietta, I dare not do as you ask, as I am aware he is very pro-active with that company and buying another bar in the port and a restaurant in Estepona. If it is stopped at this point, it would alert him to my intervention. We must wait a while until you are personally safe and back in England. Please trust me. Besides I am frightened that he might come here and I have already seen how he can be particularly forceful and demanding. I am used to wealthy clients being dictatorial but his behaviour is now more understandable.” She stood up and smoothed out the rumples in her linen dress. “Please give me one hour to prepare the documents required and then I will personally take you before the Notary.”
Henrietta shook hands with the lawyer and went to the KE bar for ravioli, salad and a glass of white wine. She sat facing the moored yachts and gazed dreamily out to sea until her bill was discretely slipped onto the table.
One hour later she returned to Margarita’s office and was taken in the lawyers Mercedes to the local Notary in Guadiaro where questions were asked in Spanish and numerous papers checked and passed back and forth. Margarita gave Henrietta a reassuring grip of her hand and fifteen minutes later they left with a signed and sealed document which revoked Terry’s power. Once back at her office Margarita copied the document several times and stamped the copies with her company reference, then gave them to Henrietta.
“Take these documents to this list of Banks and take this one to your company Bank in the port, check the balance and consider transferring all the money into your personal account for the time being. I found out today that Mr Newman cancelled the POA he gave to you, within seven days of its issue. That action speaks volumes and I wish I had known about it sooner, I am sorry. I believed I acted in all honesty and good faith. I will do nothing more for Mr Newman, however if there is anything else I can do for you, my door is open.” She gave Henrietta a kiss on both cheeks and showed her out.
Once outside Henrietta did exactly as she had been instructed and visited all five banks on the list and was treated with indifference in each until she finally went into the bank on the far end of the marina. The manager was called and Henrietta expressed her wish to cancel Terry’s legal rights to the company account and asked for the current balance. She was horrified to discover that Terry had withdrawn the maximum sum allowed until only five euros and seven cents remained. It was confirmed that the 669,000 euros had been deposited the previous year as Margarita had implied.
Later that evening as Henrietta sat in the isolation of the locked down villa, she received a call from the Francisco, the Guardia Chief whom she had given her statement to earlier that day. He told her that Terry’s court hearing was scheduled at eleven o’clock the following day and told her that she must attend. He could tell from her voice that Henrietta was apprehensive and suggested she ask a solicitor to accompany her to court but also offered her the assurance that Senior Newman would be accompanied by his officers who would ensure his restraint.
May 7th 2008.
At 10.30am Henrietta attended the Tribunal Court in San Roque and was instantly recognised by one of the Guardia who was standing at the entrance. He asked her if she had a lawyer to accompany her and appeared concerned when he realised she had not. He instructed her to sit on the wooden bench of the long corridor and informed the clerk of her arrival. The sombre and hollow sounds of the court were shattered as Terry entered with his entourage of; his new Spanish lawyer, his current girlfriend Margot and the guests who had been present at the villa when Hetty was attacked. Their party were all in fine spirits and sounded as if they were having fun as Terry made repeated insults and jokes at Henrietta’s expense.
The Guardia officers directed Terry’s group to sit around the corner in the waiting corridor, then took up separate vantage positions between his party and Henrietta and kept watch. One officer noticed how pale and frightened Hetty looked and derelicted his post to sit beside her on the bench, out of sight of Terry. He broke his stern mask and smiled at her before asking in no more than a whisper, if she was coping with the obtuse and noisy group around the corner. Hetty nodded and smiled pathetically. He then stood up, briefly spoke to his two colleagues and walked out of the main door leaving Henrietta feeling dreadfully alone and vulnerable. She stared out of the open doorway at the bright courtyard then observed the same senior officer walk back in, nod to his fellows, scold Terry’s solicitor for not controlling his client and then resume his seat beside Henrietta. He produced a bar of chocolate he had just bought from the kiosk and handed it to her.
“Senora, take this, you must eat something.” Henrietta was touched by his kindness and although she felt sick, she was obligated to smile and eat the chocolate.
After what seemed like an age, a man in a dark cape peeped from behind a large wooden door and announced the hearing of Senor Newman. The officer gestured for Hetty to follow the Court Clerk across the white marble floor into the bright courtroom which was illuminated by decorative windows high above the lances bearing the full sized national flags. She was seated on yet another bench in front of a large clothed table which resembled an altar and behind which sat two women and one man in legal capes of office.
Then Terry and his troupe came in and were directed to various seats but Hetty shuffled away awkwardly as Terry was seated on the same bench. She watched him from the corner of her eye and could tell he was worried as the woman in the middle of the judiciary trio introduced a female interpreter who translated the charges against Terry, then asked how he would plead. Henrietta was not surprised by his ‘Not guilty’ plea and accompanying smile of feigned innocence to the magistrates who whispered together and checked papers before announcing a date for a formal hearing. The Clerk walked over to Henrietta and gave her a court document to pass to a lawyer of her choice and gestured for her to leave. She did not know what would happen to Terry or whether he would still be held in custody but she hoped he would, for fear of his wrath.
At approximately 6pm that evening Henrietta’s mobile phone shrilled in her handbag as she sat alone in her locked car near Duquesa on a high vantage point, looking out to sea. The deep voiced Guardia Chief informed her that Terry would be released on bail in the morning and w
anted to collect his clothing and possessions from the house. Hetty was horrified by the idea but Francisco assured her that he would deploy two officers to escort Mr Newman to the villa and that she would be safe. He told her that he had also arranged for a trusted locksmith to call at the property at 10am the following day to change the locks for her and said the bill would be given to Terry. He also told her that she needed to attend the Magistrates Court in San Roque old town again in two days’ time for Terry’s hearing, as per the instructions on the document she was given and he suggested she bring a lawyer with her.
Henrietta drove back to the villa via the small supermarket in the Pueblo and stocked up on basics to last a few days, called in at school to see Oscar then went back to the villa, cooked pasta, drank half a bottle of red wine, showered and retired to bed.
The following morning at 9am Henrietta opened the doors to the two army clad officers holding Terry and she was asked to wait in the kitchen whilst they escorted him around the house to gather his possessions. She took her mobile phone and handbag and sat on the granite unit top and drank peppermint tea and swung her legs and tried to listen to any conversation on the floor above but could hear nothing.
Meanwhile the officers watched Terry’s every move as he filled two large suitcases and packed his toiletry bag to bursting. Eventually they brought him downstairs and sought Henrietta’s permission for him to take his lap-top and phone charger. They also asked her for a sheet of paper and a pen and made Terry write down a list of his unclaimed possessions which Henrietta needed to keep safe for him until after the trial.
The Unsuspecting Housewife Page 13