The Unsuspecting Housewife

by Olivia Charles

  The following morning a triumphant Terry phoned her and blatantly announced that the charges of violence had been overturned by his lawyer and the injunction was no longer in force. He told her to verify his good news with her own lawyers who would have been informed and told her to leave Sotogrande before he caught up with her and punished her. Henrietta hated Terry’s omnipotence, felt vulnerable and resolved that once back home in England, she would not return.

  Margot then phoned, as she too had heard that Terry was free of all blame and charges, yet knew Hetty would need a friend and ally. She empathised and suggested an early supper at the Irish Bar with their boys, as it was their last night in Spain. After they had finished their meal, Oscar and Miles went to join other school friends in the games room whilst their mothers finished off the bottle of wine and tried to philosophise about the defeat which Margot believed was inevitable against such an expensive and highly regarded lawyer. The atmosphere in the restaurant changed as a demented youth bounded in, shouting abuse and swinging his bike helmet as he headed straight for Hetty.

  “You fucking jealous bitch, stay out of my mum’s life and away from her boyfriend. Terry has told us that you’re trying to blackmail him into going back to you and making up lies to get him into trouble. You should be locked up or made to shut up, you whore.” Other diners gasped as he swung the bike helmet towards Hetty’s head but was pulled back and restrained by a strong and quick thinking bystander and the blow went over her head. Hetty was completely bemused as she watched Margot get up from her seat and follow the recalcitrant youth who was evicted from the restaurant and observed them through the window as Margot used animated hand gestures as she tried to reason with the boy. When she eventually returned to the table with a flushed face, she explained that the young attacker was Coleen’s twenty two year old son, who was spellbound by the excellent con-man. Henrietta was embarrassed by the scandalous scene and wanted to leave but the boys were oblivious of the drama and wanted to stay with their friends and Oscar said he wanted stay at Josh’s.

  Henrietta agreed to go for one more drink with Margot at an alternative bar and then drove home alone to the villa as the weather changed and a storm began. The deafening rain drummed on the car’s roof and bonnet and the automatic windscreen wipers swished vigorously from side to side as the screen steamed up and lightening flashed across the night sky. She parked close to the front steps, tucked her suede bag under her arm and dashed through the icy rain drops and splashed through the puddles which rippled as she headed for the door with the key poised and aimed at the lock. She squealed as a cold blow struck the back of her head and her temple smashed against the door jamb. She lost consciousness.

  When she awoke with blurred vision and a pounding head, she was shocked to find herself laid out in a veritable lake of water and was soaked through her clinging clothes to her chilled kidneys. She scrambled to her wobbly knees and tried to rationalise about what had happened and noticed that her handbag had not been stolen and the key was still in the lock but her mobile phone had been smashed and bits of it were floating on the bubbling water. Her chin trembled and her teeth chattered but she knew that even if she had been able to shout for help, she would not have been heard in the storm. Her only potential communication was via her mobile, so she gathered the phone parts together and carefully carried them inside in her cupped hands, like an injured bird and laid them out to stroke on a warm towel whilst she drew a hot bath for her frozen and aching body.

  The following morning she called Margot, to see if the phone would work and told her what had happened. She came to offer support and grimace at her friend’s bruises.

  “You need a bag of frozen peas for your head and you need the Police for your safety. You do realise that you will have wiped away any fingerprints from that phone, don’t you? Thank goodness Oscar wasn’t with you!” They were agreed that Henrietta was out of her depth and should phone DC Wooster in England to inform him of the incident and ask for his advice. Henrietta was embarrassed when Margot heard the disinterested detective say;

  “What do you expect me to do? You are in Spain, I’m not.”

  “Well he wasn’t much help Hetty, but you need to get away from Terry.” Henrietta agreed and was glad that within a few hours she would be home bound with Oscar.

  November 2008.

  Henrietta was annoyed with the non-protective investigating officer but tried to remain positive especially as he phoned to say he wanted to discuss the money she had given to Terry. She went to the police station again and was taken to an interview room where DC Wooster introduced his colleague named DI Robson.

  “Please sit down Mrs Charles. However you are free to leave at any time as this is not a formal interview. We are also grateful for the crimes you have brought to our attention.”

  “Ok, thank you.” She smiled at both men.

  “You told us that you gave money to Mr Newman. Did you lend it or give it?”

  “What difference does it make? I gave him some money, lent him lots and then he stole even more. I would like to make it quite clear that I want it all back.”

  “The difference is that Mr Newman is an undischarged bankrupt who is forbidden to borrow money. If you chose to give it to him, that is a gift. As for theft, you would need to prove that in court. How much money are we talking about?”

  “More than a quarter of a million pounds.”

  “Jesus Christ!” He exclaimed then corrected his unprofessional outburst. “Please explain.”

  “He made me pay him money, used my credit cards and then eventually just helped himself to my bank accounts.”

  “How many bank accounts do you have? That is a lot of money.”

  “I have one here and one in Spain. I have a house here and I had one in Spain.”

  “Why did you have so much money in cash?”

  “I just did, I was debt free. Now I have nothing because of him, I feel stupid and unable to socialise with my friends.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”

  “Forty six.”

  “And you don’t work?”

  “No.” The two policemen exchanged glances of disbelief.

  “And you want this money back?”

  “Yes please.”

  “Well Henrietta, I can see you are very upset at your loss of wealth and status but I’m sorry, we are not debt collectors. That is a civil matter and you should get a solicitor to sue him for the theft and get a professional company to pursue him for the debt if you have got proof.”

  “I’ve got signed loan notes for a hundred and twenty five thousand pounds and seventy five thousand, but not the rest. You have my bank accounts with the proof I have already given you.”

  “You could obviously afford to give it away then?” He clasped his hands on the top of his head and hunched his shoulders.

  “No, he used foul means to extort money from me and threatened me with his mafia friends and a gun. That man was physically, psychologically and sexually abusive. I even phoned you that time I was knocked unconscious! If you don’t believe me, go to Spain and investigate there and check with the Chief of the Guardia Civil, he knew what was going on.” Hetty’s lip trembled.

  “We are the financial crimes team, we don’t do domestic violence and unfortunately we do not have funds to go on continental trips either, much as we would like. I will check the evidence very carefully and phone you to attend again, once we have more questions for you.” The two men needed to terminate the interview before the emotionally charged female blubbed.

  “Have you considered writing a book?” The officer named Robson asked. “You could get your money back that way. Sounds like it would be a fascinating read.”

  “If anyone would believe what you say. It is a bit far-fetched.” DC Wooster insinuated that he would not be one of the believers but his fellow officer fleetingly considered the ingenious and plausible idea.

  January 2009.

  One of Henrietta’s old
est friends felt that Hetty needed help, as it was clear that she had become despondent with the police. Gaynar arranged a meeting with a business man who was helping her to sell her gardening company and whom she knew was well versed in the law. Gaynar phoned Simon and briefly explained that her friend needed legal and financial advice and suggested they meet for drinks at a public house en-route to his home. As Simon drove to meet them, he talked to himself over the background chat of Steve Right on his car radio.

  ‘Hennessey you fool, whoever she is and whatever wants, you make damned sure that you ask for payment.’ He was sick of being taken for a fool by the locals since he retired from his many company chairmanships in the city where he earned at least a thousand pounds a day. He felt that he deserved to be respected and remunerated now too. He nodded to himself assertively and parked his Bentley in the country pub car park, took a large buoyant intake of his cigarette and new leather smell and threw the filter out of the window.

  He strolled across to the entrance where he had arranged to meet the two friends and sincerely hoped that he could end the meeting as soon as possible and return home to the lamb chops his wife was preparing for supper. He dreaded meeting the woman he envisaged as a’ farmer’s wife type’ like her friend in scruffy riding gear and smelling of compost. The pub was almost empty and he spotted the girls sitting at a table and noticed how familiar they were with one another yet how dissimilar they were in appearance. He was stunned to find himself shaking hands with an immaculately dressed and attractive woman. She was just the type he admired; tall and slender with gorgeous long brown wavy hair, French polished nails and dressed in a glossy fur coat and he found himself feeling uncharacteristically giddy as he sat beside her, sniffed her expensive scent and started to question what he could do to help her.

  The three of them chatted informally and Simon warmed to Hetty and appreciated her quick wit but could not fathom why she had apparently been taken to the cleaners by a deleterious cad, as surely any real man would be delighted to have her on his arm or in his bed. It made no sense that she had apparently been robbed and he rationalised that the degenerate who did this to her must have been a Richard Gere look alike who probably found himself a super model to replace Henrietta. ‘Lucky bastard’ he thought, then realised that such pangs were inappropriate as he had been married for thirty five years and although both he and his wife were almost sixty, they still retained a strong bond, albeit non-sexual. He suddenly felt old and didn’t like the feeling one bit. He offered to purchase another bottle of wine so that the girls might not leave, as his supper would most probably be covered with cling film and waiting in the microwave anyway.

  Simon loved a conundrum and enquired about the sum of money Henrietta believed her ex-boyfriend owed her, if there was any documentary evidence of the transactions and said that after he had checked her paperwork, he might propose the employment of a private investigator. He knew he had to help.

  February 19th 2009.

  DC Wooster phoned to say that he was ready to take a recorded statement ‘under caution’ from Henrietta and asked her to bring her solicitor to police headquarters the following week. She did not understand what the officer implied by ‘caution’ but informed the detective that she could not trouble Clive, as he had only been helping her informally. The detective was irritated by the potential disruption to his plan, so ignored Henrietta and phoned Clive Goode to explain that he wanted to interview his client about the massive bundle of fraudulent documents which were now in police care. He went on to say that he believed Clive had assisted in the recovery of the documents and thought it prudent for him to be present at the interview.

  Clive was worried that his pro-active but slightly renegade actions might be seen as unprofessional and realised he may need to transpose anything awkward which Henrietta might inadvertently say against him. The officer also asked Clive if he was aware that Henrietta was in communication with various friends and solicitors in Spain and that her interference could seriously hinder their enquiries. Clive supported Henrietta’s claim that they had not spoken for a while and was both apologetic and dismissive. The Detective became emboldened by Clive’s humility and told the solicitor to prohibit his client from sabotaging the Police enquiry and to convey his suggestion; that if Henrietta could not stop sleuthing, he would seek to have her locked up until he had interviewed all those individuals of interest to his enquiry. Clive humbly accepted the detective’s stance without challenging his view or threat and agreed to phone Henrietta to discipline her on their behalf.

  “Henrietta, Clive here. I’ve had DC Wooster on the blower. He is rather annoyed that every time they speak to a potential witness, you have apparently spoken to them first. Why?”

  “I can’t just sit around whist that smug bastard is still living the high life and probably conning other women. Besides, I look stupid because he hasn’t been arrested. I’m sick of helping them with their so-called enquiries. They have said they are going to take a formal statement from me next week, so I hope they do something lively after that!”

  “I really shouldn’t come with you to the interview, but it would reflect badly on me if I didn’t. Anyway, no more chats with the likes of Margot, ok?” He gave her cause to wonder if Terry had coerced Margot into changing her allegiance and defecting to the dark side but assured Clive that she did not require his attendance and would be happy to go alone.

  February 28th 2009.

  Henrietta drove to the police station, as arranged and presented herself to the receptionist. Almost immediately she saw the familiar face of DC Wooster as he peeped through the window of the secure door and called to her. His friendly demeanour was changed.

  “Hi, is there a problem?” She asked.

  “Come with me please Mrs Champion.” He escorted Henrietta down a long corridor to an area which was almost entirely constructed of blue painted concrete and where there was a tall counter manned by a uniformed officer of senior years. Henrietta caught a glimpse of Clive leaning against the far wall in a pin-striped suit and holding a briefcase. He appeared morose. She smiled at him, he did not smile back. She turned to the officer.

  “Why is Clive here? I told you I didn’t want you to bother him.”

  “Mrs Champion, we have asked Mr Goode to attend today as we thought he would be of comfort to you and it is a legal requirement that you have representation for this interview. Would you prefer me to call for a duty solicitor who you don’t know and who does not have the benefit of understanding the evidence you have handed to us? I should warn you that it could take several hours until someone is available and obviously we would have to hold you in one of our cells until they arrive.”

  “What! Why do I need a solicitor?”

  “I intend to charge you with fraud. Do you understand?”

  “No I don’t! I’ve done nothing wrong. I came to you for help, so no, I don’t understand at all.” Henrietta was traumatised by the outrageous and unfounded allegation but DC Wooster ignored her indignation and ordered her to hand over her mobile phone, house keys and car keys to the duty sergeant.

  “Your possessions will be returned to you after our interview. Now please come this way. She was escorted to an interview room and left alone to speak with Clive.

  “What the hell is going on Clive? Have I just been arrested?”

  “Not yet, but I learned of their intention this morning, they came in to my office and took your file containing my attendance notes and demanded I attend. It was most inconvenient and I have had to leave my secretary to re-schedule the entire day!”

  “I told them you don’t work for me. I’m sorry.”

  “This is very serious Hetty. I can’t admit to having broken in to Newman’s villa with you, I could get struck off!”

  “But you told me it was my villa, so technically it wasn’t a crime.”

  “Don’t be naive; we found all the documents which showed that the mortgage was in your name but the property was in a Spanish company wh
ich Newman had control of, hence, he had legal rights to the villa. I am very concerned; I have a firm and staff and the big house and my beautiful wife to keep, plus two children at excruciatingly expensive schools. I need to be very careful Henrietta. You must not tell them that I went into the villa with you.”

  “I have already told them that it was your idea and you came with me.”

  “Well, be clear now that you went back on your own and obtained all the documents later, after I had left for home.” He slumped on the table with his head in his hands and his voice began to falter. “I helped you out of kindness and decency but I can’t put chivalry before my firm and my family, you do understand?”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “Say anything that gets us out of her quickly. Agree with everything. None of this is your doing, it is the criminal actions of Newman who used you and any fool can see that. Once they investigate this properly, they will drop all this I’m sure. I think they need to appear to go for you, so that they have a case. Then they have a way to extradite Newman and get him back here to answer the charges which must be laid before him.”