Theresa Lewis

Several years ago in Montreal there were numerous rapes and killings by whom, the police believed was the same perpetrator. The story was in the news on the radio and television as well as in the newspaper. It was said that the man responsible committed all the crimes in the downtown area.

I don’t know why, but I became so entrenched in the story. I didn’t live in the downtown area; nor did I work in the downtown area. I saw the composite drawing of the perpetrator in the newspaper and although I did not know this person, his image was burned into my brain. For no reason I could think of, I had the uncanny feeling that our paths would soon cross. Never, at any point did I wonder how I would handle it, if our paths did cross.

The description as given by the only surviving victim was that the suspect was a fastidiously clean, well dressed man with blond curly hair. He had a monogrammed handkerchief with the initials “B B” on it that he had left behind in the victim’s apartment. In my mind, I saw him as he was described, but I didn’t know him.

At that time, I was living on the South Shore of Montreal, many miles from the downtown area. I used to take the subway home from work then my husband would pick me up at the subway station.

One day, as I exited the subway car and was walking through the long tunnel along with the throng of other commuters, a man approached me from behind and firmly grasped my arm.  He said he was going to take me to his place and we could listen to music and have a nice supper together. I didn’t know this man from a hole in the ground, but one glance at him and I instantly knew who he was. I was sick with fear and felt like I was going to vomit. I had learned as a child that in the face of a bully, show no fear. I had never been in a situation like that before. I said a quick prayer and totally winged my response.

I smiled as broadly as I could under the circumstances and told the young man that I had a horribly difficult day and that I was totally exhausted. I said I was not up for a good time that day, but I pointed out another woman quite far ahead of us. I told the man she was a friend of mine and that only moments earlier she had said that she wished she had a little excitement in her life. May God forgive me for that lie and for sending that monster after her.

The man was wearing a light grey suit and a crisp white shirt. I had the presence of mind to check his top pocket. As soon as I spied the monogrammed handkerchief I knew for sure that this was the man the police were looking for. I thanked him for his offer of a good time and he let go of my arm and he tried to hastily make his way towards the woman I pointed out to him. I had no idea who that poor unsuspecting woman was.

There was always a police officer on duty in the common passageway of the subway station. I ran up to him and told him that the serial murderer they were looking for was just up ahead in the throng of people. I described him and told the officer to hurry up and catch him before he got to that other woman. As I spoke to the officer, I began to shake.  My voice trembled.

For what seemed like an eternity, the officer stared at me until I ordered him to get the lead out and arrest that man. Suddenly the officer snapped into action and ran to catch the villain before he was able to do harm to anyone else. In terror, I left the station without looking back, even for a second.

I have no idea how I was able to hold it together until the terror of the moment was over, but somehow I did it. Once I went outside and met my husband, I broke down in hysterics. It took me several days to get back to normal.

Premonitions are not always easy to endure, but somehow, under pressure I managed to stay calm and was able to deflect the advances of a serial killer. I strongly believe that my Guardian Angel earned his keep that day.

The End