Reconstruction terror

Melanie was only playing a part in the drama, until things became very real¼

Ive cleaned in a few places office blocks, the leisure centre and even some private homes. But my current job was the best one yet in a police station.

I liked it because the officers didn' t take me for granted. They always had a smile and a kind word for me, instead of looking down on me as just the cleaner' .

Maybe it was because, in their jobs, they got to see how twisted some people could be, and were grateful to encounter anyone who was halfway decent.

Or perhaps they knew, only too well, that even the most seemingly respectable people could be up to no good, so they weren' t so quick to judge by appearances.

Hi, Melanie. I' m doing the coffee run want a latte?' Rachel, the young detective constable would ask me.

She always made me feel like a colleague, and not just someone who mopped the floors and scrubbed the loos.

Another plus was the fact that management preferred me to come in during the late afternoons and evenings, which left my mornings free for adult education classes at the local college.

I wasn' t always going to be a cleaner.

There was a good deal of excitement in the station this Friday evening, as the detectives were staging a crime reconstruction in the hope of jogging the memories of some members of the public.

There had been a series of incidents in Priory Gardens, a leafy parkland close to where I live.

Three young women had been attacked, and the police believed the same man was responsible for all of them.

They were convinced he' d strike again, and feared that next time it could be murder.

Rachel, the nice DC who brought me coffee, bore a resemblance to the petite, blonde victim from last

Friday evening. So it had been decided that, tonight, she would walk through Priory Gardens at 8.30pm.

The hope was that someone, like a regular dog walker or a pedestrian on their way to the pub, would be prompted to remember something they hadn' t yet realised was valuable.

I was emptying the wastepaper baskets as quietly as I could, so as not to disturb the team meeting, when the inspector swept in, looking grave.

The reconstruction' s off,' he announced.

A collective groan went up. Why? What' s happened?' Lenny, the sergeant, asked.

Rachel' s just been admitted to hospital with appendicitis. She won' t be strolling through Priory Gardens, tonight.'

Can' t we get someone else?' another constable enquired. We' ve got the TV

T here had been a series of incidents in Priory Gardens, a leafy parkland close to where I live

cameras coming and everything.'

Not really. The whole point was that Rachel looked so similar to last week' s victim,' the inspector reminded everyone.

Couldn' t we just use a wig?' Lenny suggested.

And where are we going to find a blonde wig at 6.30 on a Friday evening?' the inspector demanded. Look, I know you' ve all worked extremely hard on this reconstruction, but if we can' t do it right, there' s no point doing it at all.'

What about me taking Rachel' s place?' I said, in a small voice, and immediately felt foolish. I wasn' t a police officer, after all.

Sorry, Melanie what was that? I didn' t see you there,' the inspector replied.

She suggested she could do it,' Lenny piped up. Boss, that' s not a bad idea she' s petite and she' s got the right kind of long blonde hair.'

The inspector looked at me. His demeanour suggested he was going to dismiss the idea out of hand, but then he looked at his watch and he looked at me again.

Hmm¼ You' d be perfectly safe. We' ll have plenty of officers in the gardens and we' re expecting quite a few members of the public. Are you sure about doing this?'

Was I sure I wanted to play my part in catching some disturbed man who was a danger to women?

Of course I was.

Ilooked at myself in the mirror in the staff toilets. A short skirt and high heels not the sort of clothes I usually wore.

Feeling myself sweating with anticipation, I pulled my can of deodorant from my large shoulder-bag and doused myself in a quick spray, before patting my shiny face with a paper hand towel.

Just time for a deep breath and then I' d be on my way.

A police car drove me to the north gates of Priory Gardens, where I stepped out into the evening air.

I was to leave my shoulderbag with the driver and carry a small, black clutch as I walked past the cricket pavilion, made a right turn and then arrived at the little side gate by the children' s play area.

Officers would be walking in front of me, handing out leaflets and speaking to members of the public, and the car I' d come in would creep along behind me.

There' s absolutely nothing to be frightened of,' Lenny assured me. Even if our guy was crazy enough to show up here tonight, he wouldn' t get anywhere near you.'

I wasn' t really frightened. I just wasn' t used to all the attention it made my heart pound.

Wobbling slightly in my high heels, I took my time as I walked along.

The route wasn' t exactly lined with people, but there were quite a few interested bystanders. I just hoped one of them would have the key to unlocking the identity of our mystery man.

At one point, I became aware of a TV camera and a man rushing along with a fluffy microphone, but I just looked straight ahead and kept on walking.

As I neared the duck pond, a sudden shriek went up, and just for a second I felt a sense of panic. But then I recognised it for what it was only a seagull.

The inspector met me at the side gate.

Well done, Melanie. You executed that perfectly. Rachel will be so pleased we didn' t have to cancel.'

Do you know if it' s done any good yet?' I asked.

I saw the team talking to quite a few people out there, so you never know,' he replied. Now, the car will take you home.'

But I haven' t finished cleaning the station¼'

The cleaning can wait.

You' ve done quite enough for one day.'

Boss, that s not a bad idea. SheÕ s petite and sheÕ s got the right kind of long blonde hairÕ

I picked up my shoulder-bag from the car and told the driver not to worry about taking me home. I only lived by the south gates of the park, and there was way too much activity going on for me to feel anxious.

How do other girls walk in these things? I wondered, as I teetered along in my unfamiliar heels.

As I reached my end of Priory Gardens, the people had thinned out. In fact I realised I was now the only one around. I supposed everyone else had been curious to see what was going on at the north end.

I was just debating what to have for supper when I got home I had eggs that I could use up in a spaghetti carbonara or an omelette

when someone grabbed me and began pulling me into the bushes.

My first thought was to scream for help, but before I could do so, a gloved hand slammed over my mouth.

I struggled for a moment, to no avail, until it occurred to me that I could bite that hand. So I opened my jaws and clamped down for all I was worth.

Aowh!' my attacker screamed, falling back just a little and loosening his grip. That was all I needed he' d lost his element of surprise and I wasn' t going to let him have the upper hand again

I cant help thinking that could so easily have been me he attacked, if things had turned out differently

so easily.

I lifted my foot and kicked him with every ounce of my strength in his most sensitive spot.

Oof!' he uttered, as the air appeared to rush out of him.

Over here!' I yelled, hoping someone would hear me.

But I wasn' t taking any chances. The man was doubled over now, clutching himself and whimpering.

I tugged off one of my shoes and slammed the stiletto heel repeatedly against his head.

He raised a hand.

Stop! Please!'

Over here!' I yelled again, and thought I could hear voices coming my way.

The man seemed to be regaining some composure. I couldn' t let him escape not when I' d already managed to overpower him. Not when I could save another young woman from what he might do, given the chance.

I dug into my shoulder-bag and fished out my can of deodorant spray.

You cow!' he began, and lunged towards me.

I had no hesitation in spraying him right in the eyes.

As he fell to his knees before me, Lenny and another officer arrived beside us, a little out of breath.

You OK, Melanie?' Lenny asked, taking in the scene.

I' m fine,' I replied. But think we' ve got our guy.'

When the man was made to turn out his pockets, they were found to include small items taken from his first three victims a comb, a lipstick and a silk scarf.

Trophies,' Lenny told me, afterwards. And very, very damning evidence. We should never have let you walk home alone, Melanie, even for those few hundred yards. But on the other hand, you caught the culprit, and a very dangerous man is off the streets. So it' s hats off to you!'

The attacker hadn' t been able to resist returning to the scene of his crimes, the detective team decided, and once there, grew cocky about committing another of his signature moves right under the noses of police.

He' d nearly managed it too, but not quite.

The team insisted I join them for drinks to celebrate, and refused to let me buy a round. And, at the end of the night, a handsome young detective constable asked me if I' d be willing to join him for dinner the following Friday.

I said I would, but it would have to be late, as I still had a job to do cleaning the station first.

When Rachel got out of hospital, she was full of praise.

I can' t help thinking that could so easily have been me he attacked, if things had turned out differently.

And I' m not so sure I' d have been as quick-thinking as you or as brave!'

That was when I told her about my adult education classes at the college in the mornings.

I' m doing maths and English, psychology and sociology,' I explained. I don' t want to be a cleaner all my life, Rachel I want to get myself a good job.

But those subjects left a few gaps in my timetable, so I decided to take a course in self-defence. Good thing I did!'

I hope the inspector has paid his tribute to you too,' Rachel said.

Oh, he has. And he' s done one better he' s recommended me for a special award for bravery from the council, for making our streets safer.

I' m going to be presented with it at a special reception in the mayor' s parlour. I' m allowed to bring two guests, so

I' ve asked my mum, and I hoped you' d come, too.' Rachel beamed, and said she' d be delighted. There' s one other thing,' I added. Providing that my grades are good from my courses, I' m thinking of applying for a training course. Could I possibly give your name as a referee?'

Sure,' Rachel replied.

What' s the training course?' Actually,' I said, blushing just a little, it' s for the police!'