Melanie in Peril

Melanie considers changing her name to Felemina. It séems calm from the story she read. The weather is so nice outside. She listens to the birds singing out by her window. So peaceful. It is for only a few moments.

All of it is so unlike what is happening to her. Her world is turned upside down. She considers him dangerous the man John the killer. For God's sake he is only a twerp. What was to become of her. She thinks she will go out to lunch like a normal person. Maybe she will go to Starbucks even. He wouldn't go in there the killer would he? She put her lovely blue dress on.

Starbucks was busy as usual but also calm. Melanie would order coffee. The Starbucks girl stared at her in an annoying way. She decided to get a cookie. Everything would be ok for now. She went over to a corner where she could be alone. She then burnt her mouth on the coffee. Help me God, she thought.

Suddenly she glanced up. In horror she noticed the killer standing in the doorway. He looked angry and rather perturbed. At that she scooted down in her chair. She put a newspaper up in front of her face so she could read it.

In her bad luck way he saw her. He came right over kind of smiling even but not kindly. Then she pressed her emergency button that would tell three people of her choice. They would call 911. What a relief.

"How are you today?" he asked in earnest. Melanie tried to control herself and said, "Fine."

The police were alerted pretty soon and one sauntered over to their table. She did not know what to do with her troubling find of him sitting there now.

Unfortunately, the policeman only questioned him on how he was. It was not going according to her plan. She had wanted him arrested at least. The police were not at work.

The next day when she questioned them at the police station they told her they would need evidence. It was ridiculous.

They had no good addresses for the names on her list. So she told them yes, and they were in no danger the girls or young women on it. No one would know them by those names. It was all not turning out right. She had only wanted to stop it all. The police wanted her to get more information. With not much choice she agreed to all of it.

"The police are making me nervous." he had said the serial killer. She looked into his vapid, agitated, stupid eyes and was more worried than ever.

Melanie did very much look forward to the FBI becoming more involved in this. After all they would have to catch him. Wouldn't they? she thought.

Also she had noticed different kids and people staring at her in the distance all over. She feared the worst. She could be his next victim.

There she was the next day in the coffee house planning to meet with the FBI. She wanted to talk to one of the nice guys, maybe even a cute one. He would be sympathetic. She had done nothing. Not the girls in FBI shirts they looked at her funny.

There she saw a lawyer guy she had met previously. "Hi," he said with the charisma of a good lawyer. Melanie told him a little about it the serial killer problem. He suggested he could go over with her that day to see the FBI. Goodie Melanie smiled in gratitude it might help after all.

They headed over this time in his new car. At the FBI the lawyer began to talk with the FBI in low tones. The girls looked at her funny with mocking glances. The guys looked more helpful. Everyone was very interested.

"You must be Melanie's lawyer," said one of the extremely interested FBI guys. "Melanie has been telling us of her meeting with this serial killer called John."

"Yes, I represent her," stated the snappy lawyer in an expensive striped suit with dapper shoes. (Melanie had chosen a demure black dress that was long to accent her charms.) She stared at the FBI gathered about her hopefully but with doubts weighing on her.

"You told me your name was Ellen," demanded her new lawyer.

"It's ok we know who she is. Melanie has told us. She's agreed to help us solve this case. I think we'll be able to get him with her help." the tall FBI man smiled then at Melanie. Melanie looked up at him then with great relief.

Later she went over to Garcia's desk whether she should have or not. She asked her where she got the cool hair ornament. Then hoping she had buttered her up enough she quaintly inquired if she could use the computer to look up the case. That was against the rules though. Darn!

The FBI men discussed the case later. "She is a nut case that girl. You can't trust her at all," said the old guy.

"She's just a child," said the FBI man that had smiled, "a child of God." Some of the other guys hanging around smirked at the idea.

"It's a blood bath, a blood bath," yelled one of the older bums outside and down the street. People ignored him but later they would not.