EMBRACE YOU Lone(liness Book Two)(10)

"Johanna, Lizzie, I'm so sorry! I didn't know she was in the studio! I didn't want to wake Lizzie - I was arguing with a client who wanted more than what he'd paid me for!"

"Marcus. Marcus! It's okay, luv. I know you'd never intentionally put her in harm's way. I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at...her!" I point to Cara with my chin, not wanting to use profanities around Lizzie. Because I feel the anger beginning to grow, I put Lizzie into Marcus' arms and I march straight up to Cara. I get straight into her face and give her holy hell. I'm right in that fat bitch's face, giving her everything I've got!

"I don't know who the f*ck you are and, what's more, I don't give a flying damn! I saw you at the December concert, staring at my husband and I had the feeling back then that you were bad news. The police have talked to you, repeatedly, telling you to stay away from Marcus - and you've refused to do so! He f*cking doesn't want anything to do with you, bitch! You forced us to leave our flat and hide out! Go to several thousand pounds of expense to make our house safer for us and our baby! And still, you continued to find and stalk us! Why! Come on! Tell me: Why?"

Cara is at a loss for words. I don't think she expected a wee thing like me to have any metaphorical balls of my own. Her mouth opens and closes like that of a fat fish and her eyes blink. Then,"I've always loved Marcus. Ever since secondary school, when I first met him. I always thought he was so hot. I intended to get him and make him mine - but he left town, I guess to start school. Then I found him again, when I read that he'd married you. I want him! He's...he's a beautiful-lookin' man. I've cleaned up since school...I think he'd like what he sees."

"You've 'cleaned up' since school? What did you look like back then?"

"I was fatter, but I've lost some weight since then. I've dyed my hair and I have body art."

My jaw drops. Now I am speechless!

"Cara. I don't remember you. Period. And, even if I were to remember you, I don't find you attractive in the slightest. If you've lost weight, you've either probably gained a good bit of it back - or you were much heavier than you are now. I'm going to tell you as bluntly as I know how: I don't find you attractive not because of the weight, but because you're just not my type. At all. You have no chance against my wife," says Marcus.

I hear what Cara, then Marcus has to say, then I am completely relieved. I look at my husband, seeing him rock and comfort our still-upset infant. Looking at Lizzie's would-be demented kidnapper, I unload on her just as several police cars converge on the studio.

"Anyone who would try to kidnap the baby of the man she claims to 'love' has no concept of that emotion. You're sick. And, despite that, I intend to do everything in my power to keep you behind bars, where you belong. Oh, and that goes for your weird-looking friend, too."

The police interview each of us and get our accounts of what happened. Because Cara has been warned several times to stay away from Marcus, the baby and me, she is arrested once again.

Before they put her in one of their cars, I approach the supervisor and speak to him.

"Officer, she's tried to get to my husband several times before. I don't want her released for anything! She tried to kidnap our baby!" I'm getting wound up again. Tim puts a hand on my shoulder to comfort me.

"Ma'am, we have a good, solid record of what this young woman has attempted to do. This is the most serious of her crimes, so she will not be given the opportunity to get out. I can't promise you definitely, but I can say that we will do our damndest to keep her behind bars."

"Thank you. That's all I want," I say, wiping tears from my face.

We drive to the station and wait while Cara goes through an interview. That's how we find out that her odd-looking friend - she of the badly done Mohawk haircut - has been involved in tracking us down to our temporary hideout and to our new home! Her friend - Melanie - also helped her find our studio. After obtaining her street address, the police drive to Melanie's flat and arrest her as an accomplice to Lizzie's attempted kidnapping. Now, I'm glad we went, even though we're all completely exhausted!

As the two accomplices are interviewed, the police slowly begin to realize that they could both have mental issues. Before continuing any further with their questioning of both young women, the police take them to their cells, where they are locked up. A magistrate orders evaluations for both Cara and Melanie. He also orders that they be detained until trial - they have already proven that they are willing and able to take dangerous actions to get to Marcus, the target of Cara's...erm, "affections."

Because of our band's fame, word quickly seeps out to all the news outlets - newspapers, tabloids and the telly. All of them get wind of Lizzie's attempted kidnapping. The tabloids especially have a field day with Cara and Melanie. Fortunately, the press sees me in a positive light. No news outlet, no anchor, no reporter appreciates that Cara or Melanie attempted to harm me or my baby in their effort to get to my husband. This means the press, at all levels, treat the defendants roughly in their accounts of the story.

Unfortunately, this also means that reporters are camped out at our house, Marcus' parents' house and my parents' house. Laslow, Linny and Tim are also besieged with reporters. Our studio is overrun with reporters and television trucks and satellite feeds. Every one of our comings and goings - indeed, every facial expression we make - is breathlessly reported upon.