janey_no-letting-go

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NO LETTING GO by Janey

“Morning gorgeous,” Bella yawned as James kissed her.
“Afternoon more like!” James laughed. “You must have gone back to sleep when I went out.”
“Damn! That means that I’ll have trouble sleeping tonight now. You should have made sure that I was up.”
“Hey!” protested James stroking her cheek lightly with his thumb. “When I left you were drinking the tea I brought you so don’t blame me. You needed to sleep; you’ve hardly had any the last few days and you’ve said that work’s been very hectic. There’s little wonder that you are exhausted.”
“It’s been crazy; not one quiet night.”

James snuggled against her. “Never mind,” he said soothingly, “for the next few nights you don’t have to think about work at all; I’ll take good care of you.”
“I like the sound of that,” she smiled, guiding his head to hers so that she could kiss him. “It will be nice to go to bed with you AND wake up with you rather than being on my own.”
“I don’t know if I can cope,” he feigned. “I’ve got used to having this big bed all to myself.”
“If it’s going to be too much of a hardship for you I can always sleep in one of the other rooms.”

“Like hell you will!” he laughed, then he sat on the edge of the bed, taking off his clothes. “I’m going to join you for a while, we can cuddle for half an hour before I start cooking.”
“You’re cooking?”
“Umm, your favourite,” he smirked. “I also got a raspberry pavlova for pudding.”
“Oh James, you know how to spoil me.”
“First rule of being a good husband,” he answered sliding beside Bella and cuddling her.

“I love you so much.”
“Ditto.”
Bella laughed. “You say that so much sexier than Patrick Swayze in Ghost.”
“I was thinking of getting a potter’s wheel,” he winked dirtily. “We could recreate that scene then.”
“We’d get very dirty.”
“I know,” he said lasciviously. “We would have to take a shower when we’d finished. I’d have to be very careful to ensure that I washed all of the clay off you. It would get everywhere.”
“Everywhere?”
“Hmm, nowhere would be free from it.”
“You must be a very messy potter honey.”
“Not messy darling,” he whispered, “DIRTY!”

“That was wonderful thank you.”
“Go sit in the lounge, I’ll do the washing up and bring you a nice glass of wine.”
“I won’t argue with that.”
“Bella you ought to know better than to argue at all, it always ends the same way; us in bed having great sex.”
“There have been occasions when we’ve done it in other places,” Bella giggled. “The most memorable being after we had that row in the studio.”

James raised his eyebrows as he recalled it. “When Nicky walked in on us!” he sniggered. “The look on his face.”
“You made it worse by asking if he wanted to join in.”
James laughed raucously. “I have never seen him move so quick as he did then.”
“It was very wicked of you.”
“Don’t complain honey, as I recall it made you hornier than you already were.”
She blushed. “I behaved like a hussy.”
“And I loved every second of it!”

“James?”
“Yes Bella honey?”
“Leave the pots and take me to bed instead.”
“Tired honey?” he teased.
“No; horny.”
“How can I refuse?”

“Who the hell can that be?” barked James at the incessant ringing of the doorbell.
“This is only a suggestion,” said Bella, raising her head from his chest, “but if you get dressed and went to the door you’d find out.”
“Very funny!” he tapped her gently on the nose with a fingertip. “Let’s be thankful for small mercy’s though; I did get to make love to you.”
“Play your cards right and you may get another opportunity later.”

The doorbell continued ringing.

“Oh fucking hell,” yelled James hurriedly getting dressed. “This had better be bloody good or I’ll be fucking livid.”
“Like you aren’t already?” Bella smiled also getting out of bed and getting dressed. “I’d better go with you to make sure that you don’t kill them.”
“Very funny!” he said, then disappeared from her view.

Bella was halfway down the stairs when she heard James swearing when he opened the door.
“Fucking hell Richey; what’s wrong? What have you done?”
“Richey, come on in honey,” said Bella calmly when she joined James.
“Sorry to come round and interrupt your night off Bella, but we have a big problem.”

Sitting around the breakfast bar, Richey told them the problem; Cassie, the girlfriend James was seeing prior to Bella, was doing a serialised interview with a newspaper about her time with James, and what she had seen being close to them all. The reporter and a photographer had been to Richey’s home, questioning him about the debauched behaviour she was alleging they regularly took part in. Not only was she claiming that whilst James was seeing her, he was also seeing Bella. She also alleged that James took drugs and regularly visited prostitutes.

James was understandably furious but he was more concerned about Bella and the effect that this would have on her.
“Why should she say that you were still seeing her when you met me? You were in your own apartment following the break having taken out police and court action due to all of the vandalism and maliciousness that she was responsible for. She openly said in court that she admitted the charges, showing no remorse whatever.”

“Unfortunately all the newspaper has is her side of the story and let’s be honest, it’s not a very reliable paper at that,” said Richey. “To call it sleazy is being generous.”
“Baby I can cope with what she says about me because I know it’s not true, so do you; your employers don’t.”
Bella put her head in her hands. “It never occurred to me.”
“I’ve informed Martin, needless to say he went ballistic. He’s contacting the lawyers to see if they can get an injunction issued to ban the paper from publishing.”

“Oh great,” moaned Bella exasperated. “That will make the newspaper do a small story saying that a singer is taking action to prevent them from publishing a story because it will tarnish their wholesome image. They will drop so many hints that either way we’re fucked.”
“Bella is right,” conceded James. “Did you reach Sean and Nicky? They are bound to be targeted as well.”
“Nicky has taken Rachel and Clara away for a while, he wouldn’t even tell me where they were going. Sean simply said ‘thanks for the warning Rich’ then hung up.”
“He’ll be going to Denmark with Livia,” suggested James. “They’ve been talking about going to see Livia’s parents for a break.”

“This is a nightmare,” said Bella, her face drained of colour. “Almost two years she has left us alone, I should have known that it was too good to be true.”
“She’s jealous and spiteful,” said James. “You do believe me don’t you darling? I was never with her while I’ve known you.”
“Oh James, I know.” Bella sat on James’ knee, kissed him and put her arms around him. “Talk about timing though.”

Richey stared at her; bewildered at her comment.

“Bella is pregnant Richey.” James glowed as he told him, hugging Bella lovingly. “About five weeks.”
“We’ve only recently found out,” added Bella. “We wanted to wait a while till we told everyone. We haven’t told our parents yet.”
“I am so chuffed for you both!” Richey chirped but then became sombre. “This is a hassle you could do without. Any time would be bad enough but in early pregnancy stress is particularly problematic.”
“Yeah, and we’d both been saying that it was great timing because you’ve finished the tour and don’t start working on the new stuff for a few moths,” Bella sighed. “Our baby will be about six months old when the next c.d. is released which would give us time together as a family.”

“We can always delay it. We have been going two years between albums until now; it’s only because we have so much material.”
“There’s no point in worrying about that when we have more worrying and pressing concerns,” interjected James.
“There isn’t a whole lot we can do about the other,” said Bella. “Martin has it all in hand as far as I can see. All that we can do is sit and wait.”
“Which is what I find so bloody infuriating,” whined James still hugging her warmly. “She’s out there, being paid for scurrilous, salacious twaddle, knowing full well that she can ruin peoples lives. This sort of scandalous crap splits couples up because the trust disintegrates.”

“Oh baby, that won’t happen. We are too strong to let her ruin us.”
“I know but it’s still a concern. I’d be devastated if I lost you, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” smiled James.
“I second that!” grinned Richey.

Neither Bella nor James slept much that night, visions of a marauding pack of journalists circling like vultures, captured their dreams.
“The paper will no doubt off a financial incentive to get some prostitutes to say I went with them,” moaned James. “Fuck, this is going to be horrendous.”
“We’ll have to warn your dad and my parents. They deserve to know what may be about to happen.”

Outside the day began to dawn. They’d been talking for hours, going through every conceivable twist and turn that Cassie could hurl at them and then trying to find a response.
“Ultimately we have the truth on our side but once the suggestions are put in the public domain, we’ll be tarred forever,” lamented James. “I fucking hate that she can ruin our lives like this. Why isn’t she satisfied with destroying me? Why involve Nicky or Sean? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Money,” suggested Bella. “They may have offered her more money if she could dish the dirt on all of you. Let’s be honest James, there isn’t much in musicians having happy, stable relationships. People like gossip; the more salacious the better.”
He couldn’t argue with that; she had hit the nail on the head.

Martin paid them a personal call mid morning. A judge had issued a temporary injunction of fourteen days whilst evidence of both sides was gathered and put before him. Each side had seven days to present their case and then he would study all of the documentation and deliver his verdict.

During the fourteen days the newspaper was not allowed to talk, follow or photograph any of the manics or their families, either themselves or by a third party. Any evidence of them disregarding the judge’s instructions, they would be fined for contempt of court, and if deemed necessary, put into custody for a time set at the judge’s discretion.

He also issued an injunction against Cassie forbidding her to discuss her story. She was warned not to approach, contact or harass the Manics in any way, shape or form.

James and Bella were delighted at the outcome but not for one minute did they believe that there would be any respite from Cassie or the press. They suspected that Cassie would take exception and umbrage at the ruling. What that would make her do was anyone’s guess.

“James,” called Bella. “Are you nearly ready? I don’t want to be late for the appointment.”
“Ready babe,” he said chirpily, giving her a quick kiss. “I love you so bloody much, you do know that don’t you?”
“Oh baby.” Bella hugged him, knowing that he was worried at the possible damage Cassie would reap on them. “She can try to tear us apart but it won’t work. I’m not going to leave you.”
“I hope not, I couldn’t stand it.”

“Hey, this little mite is going to be the first in a long line in a new generation of Bradfield’s.”
James smiled, her levity touching him. “What am I; a baby making machine?”
“Oh darling, there is nothing mechanical about you. Nothing at all.”
“Out of that door now, before I take you to bed and make love to you till I have no more energy.”
Laughing like mad, they left their home. They soon stopped laughing.

Bella’s little Fiat car was daubed in paint. The lights had all been broken, the paintwork was scratched, the tyres ripped.
Bella stood open mouthed; shock rendering her speechless.

“Get back inside honey,” urged James, guiding her with a protective hand whilst he glanced around. Why he wasn’t sure, Cassie was certain to have gone. “Come on, I’ll call the surgery and then the police.”
“Do you think it was…”
“Of course it was,” James spat angrily. “This is typical of her. How many times did she do it before? That old car of yours needed so many paint jobs it was crazy. Worse still was the way she bragged about it.”
“Why can’t she leave us alone? We’ve done nothing to her.”
“Baby she hates me for finishing our relationship, you know that.”

“Behaving this isn’t going to make you go back to her though is it?”
“Who the hell knows what is going on in her twisted head.”
“I’m scared James.” Bella slumped into a chair when they got home. “She could be capable of anything. Clearly humiliation of you in the nation-wide press isn’t enough. She wants to drive me away; if she can’t have you; no one can.”
“Hey now, come on,” James held her tightly as her sobs finally tumbled free. “Cassie will get locked up ok? Her accusations will be laughed at because there is no substance to them. Try to be strong for me darling, please.”

“I’ll try but remember what she was like the last time? She physically attacked me James, and now there is our baby to consider.”
“I’ll do all I can to stop her and to protect you.”
Bella cried on his shoulder. “It’s not your fault that she’s fixated on you. I thought after these years without hassle that she was finally going to let us live in peace; I got that wrong.”
“Didn’t we all,” James sighed heavily. “I’ll go make those calls now baby.”

Martin turned up at their home a few minutes before the police.
“Your car was fine when I left here earlier Bella.”
“If she did this in broad daylight surely she was seen?”
“Seen and heard I would think,” supplied Martin. “No way could she have been quiet doing all of that damage, nor could she have been quick.”

Two police officers arrived, informing James, Bella and Martin that Scenes of Crime Officers would be along to print the car, take sample and check for evidence left at the scene. They had secured the car and another officer was ensuring that it was not tampered with.

Bella grew increasingly upset and distressed as they all recounted the previous problems they had had with Cassie. They gave the police as many details as they could, right up to Cassie going to a paper and selling her story. James told them of the charges that Cassie had faced in court, the fact that she had been in prison as well as getting many fines.

“We’ll go and pay her a visit sir, certainly this fits her past misdemeanours.”
“Misdemeanours?” Bella was astonished. “She is terrorising us.”
“That is a little strong Mrs Bradfield,” said the elder of the two policemen. “Until we have proof it’s her it’s all speculation, this could be vandals.”
“Don’t give me that,” shouted Bella furiously. “Vandals don’t destroy only one car.”
“I admit that it’s more than likely her but we cannot rule out other possibilities at this time.”

“You think I’m so neurotic woman is that it?”
“No madam, not at all but your husband is a musician, it may be someone from his past besides the lady that you suggest.”
“I assure you that no one my husband knew was as psychotic or as unstable as Cassie Monaghan, and the last thing that she is, is a fucking lady!”
James was shocked. Bella rarely swore and never with anyone outside of the band, family and friends. “Hey darling, steady on here, come on.”

“I’m sorry but I am so mad!”
“I do understand how hard this is Mrs Bradfield, but you must recognise that we need to ask awkward or painful questions in order to see the full picture.”
“The full picture being that because my husband is a musician he must have slept with a great many women is that it officer? Well, you’re right, he has. Some of them one night stands with groupies. Surely any grievances they had would have come out when we married three years ago? Why would they wait until now?”

James blushed; he was hot and bothered. “I did go through a period of being promiscuous but I have to say that a lot of those girls still go to our gigs. There has never been the slightest suggestion of malice or ill will. In fact, when word got out about the wedding, many of them gave us presents.”
The policeman didn’t seem convinced. “I understand that this is very delicate Mr Bradfield but I need to know, other than your wife, have you slept with any one else recently?”
James was incredulous. “How dare you? I take my wedding vows seriously.”

“Sorry sir, we have to ask these things.”
“The answer is no; what else do you want to know?”
“Mrs Bradfield is there a possibility that one of your patients could have done this? One with a grudge against you.”
“I use my maiden name at work, we are ex-directory and I’m registered n the electoral roll in Wales, not here. The hospital is almost an hours drive so we don’t serve patients from this locality.”
“But it could be possible?”
“Anything is possible but I suggest it is highly unlikely.”

“Do you really have to continue with this line of questioning? It’s as if you believe Bella or James have done something to deserve this.”
“Not at all. We need to ascertain all of the facts, quite frankly while Miss Monaghan is the obvious suspect, it would be misguided and unethical not to look at the other scenario’s, however unlikely.”

The police stayed for over three hours, Bella exhausted with all the questions, many of which covered the same ground time and time again.
James was angry, as far as he was concerned the police were deliberately antagonistic, goading them into losing their tempers. He grew especially concerned when Bella began suffering stomach cramps. She protested that things were fine but he was concerned about the possibility of miscarriage.

The thought of his wife going through such a horrific thing petrified him. In his mind, if Bella lost their baby, Cassie ought to be accused of murder or at least manslaughter, for she would surely be responsible.
Since they married they had been trying for a family, both undergoing various tests but to no avail. All of the doctors and specialists that they saw said that medically there was no reason why Bella could not conceive.

It prompted lots of discussion, Bella and James deciding to look into the possibility of adoption. Almost immediately she had fallen pregnant. James wasn’t sure on how either of them would cope if anything happened now.

“I’ll go and run you a nice foamy bath,” said James, cuddling her on the sofa. “Then you can go to bed; you look shattered.”
“Are you going to come with me? We can watch TV.”
“Course I am. You don’t think that I’m going to leave you alone in that big bed do you? Not when one of my cuddles is bound to make you feel better.”
“Not that you’re conceited at all.”
“I just know what my beautiful, sexy, wonderful wife responds to, that’s all.” He noticed the sadness wash over her. “What is it honey?”

“You’ll think I’m being stupid. Either that or you’ll get angry.”
“I’ll do neither, I promise, now what is it?”
“What that policeman, has there been anyone since you’ve been with me? I need to know James.”
His hurt was evident; she had offended him. “Bella,” said James gazing directly into her eyes and holding her hands. “From the day I met you, there has been no one. Yes I’ve had opportunities, hell I could have slept with hundreds of women without you knowing, but I haven’t. I promise you darling, I haven’t.”

“You don’t hate me for asking?”
“I’d rather you ask than brood about it honey. You can ask me anything; I have nothing to hide.”
“I don’t deserve you James.”
“Don’t you think that that is the wrong way around?”
Together they tittered like kids, then began kissing. Only after they had made love did Bella finally get to have her bath.

Next morning Bella went to see who was knocking on the door, it was Martin holding a wreath.
“I found this out here. It says ‘sorry your lives together ended so abruptly.’ I think it’s something for the police.”
“That and the letter we got, one of those letters made from cut out letters. We also received a condolence card and there’s mention of James’ death in the newspaper. We’ve been trying to call you.”
They walked through to the kitchen; James was on his mobile, angrily yelling at someone.

“Don’t you dare tell me to keep calm! How the fuck would you like it huh? My wife is a nervous wreck and as she’s pregnant, I am doubly concerned. Now I suggest that you send someone over here to collect this crap and start enquiring why that fucking paper went ahead and printed my death notice when I am very much alive!”

Martin and Bella shrugged their shoulders, wincing as James slammed his fist down on the worktop,
“Steady baby,” Bella said running her hands soothingly over his shoulders. “Shouting at the police isn’t going to help.”
“They are so fucking inept and lackadaisical.”
“Darling I’m sure they’ll give it their full attention. Please don’t get so wound up about it.”
“Wound up? I feel like finding her and sorting her out for them, and you know how I loathe violence against women.”

“James Bella is right, infuriating as it is that the police seem so inactive, you must leave it to them. Bella is your priority.”
“Our parents have been on the phone demanding to know why Bella never told them I had died,” James complained. “Plus of course the boys have, wanting to know what’s happening. Cassie is upsetting too many people with this Martin; my father was in bits, a complete wreck. Bella’s boss has offered her sympathies too.”
“I can only imagine,” Martin said lamely. “But your first concern is your wife and child.”

The following morning it was Bella’s death that was announced. Again they were greeted with a card, wreath and letter, exactly the same pattern as the previous day and also hand delivered.
James was furious that Cassie had found their address, he guarded his privacy passionately. Despite that, it was feasible that they had been followed home, not noticing Cassie tailing them. Of course the newspaper could have told her of their address. She was also the type of person to hire a private investigator to do her dirty work.

Then the phone calls started also non-stop deliveries of food or taxi’s. The police had found no fingerprints, the wreaths had not come from shops, and the newspapers had supposedly being given clarification and verification of the deaths by Terri Hall. She had certainly done a good job of covering her tracks except for the saliva on the back of one of the envelopes. Thank god she had slipped up at least once.

Several neighbours were able to give police details of someone near Bella’s car, all of them remarkably similar. Two had independently called police after taking footage of a person vandalising the car, thanks to their videophones; technology was a wondrous thing. Unfortunately the calls had been forwarded to a different station, only now had that information been collated.

James and Bella’s private number was known only to those closest to them, his phone also had caller id; if they didn’t recognise the caller they wouldn’t answer. Both of them were gobsmacked when the police informed them that there was information available on the Internet to assist callers in breaching the programme. This caused the phone display to show one of the numbers in its memory, randomly. Worryingly this explained why there was a different number with each call.”

Bella couldn’t sleep, constantly on edge worrying about what would occur next. James pleaded with her not to go into work; she looked so fragile with no colour in her face or life in her eyes.

She set off for work in her new rental car, assuring James that she would call him when she got there, and when she was about to leave in the morning so that he could be waiting for her.

“Promise me,” he said. “Anything unusual happens, you’ll let me know.”
“I will darling, but I’ll be fine. Cassie doesn’t know where I work.”
“Promise me Bella,” he urged, pain and concern on his face.
“I promise James. I’ll be home before you know it.”
He kissed her, reluctant to let her go. “I love you Bella.”
She grinned back at him. “I love you too darling.”

“Bella,” said Steph, one of her colleagues. “Terri has just been on the phone. James is ill, you need to go home.”
“Let me call home first.”
Bella tried James and Terri; both phones engaged.
“Go home,” insisted Steph. “If it’s a malicious call at least you’ll know but you’ll never forgive yourself if he’s genuinely ill and you didn’t go to him.”
“I’ll try them both a few more times.”

Numerous attempts later, Bella left, taking care not to speed in spite of the roads being clear. A dog ran out in front of her:
NO BREAKS!

Thinking fast she clanked roughly through the gears to slow her down, making the engine scream in objection, the car hurtling out of control.

“What is it?” barked James, when the police waked him up.
“Mr James Bradfield?”
“Yes.”
“May we come in please?”

James’ anguished cries and yells pierced the serenity of the night. In one fell swoop he had lost his life, his future. Cassie had won. He had nothing.

Worst of all was that Cassie walked in to a police station and confessed, proud of what she had achieved. In her twisted mind, James was now hers.

THE END.

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