It was about 12:30 in the morning when I heard a girl scream somewhere outside. This wasn't your normal shouting match or late night drunken cavorting - this was a blood-curdling I-am-being-attacked SCREAM followed by a plea for SOMEONE to PLEASE HELP ME. Then I heard someone say HEY.

Then silence.

After a second of initial shock I dialed 911, told the emergency operator what I heard, and then threw on some pants and a hoodie before heading out to my balcony. The street was disturbingly silent and still, almost in defiance and contrast to the recent discordant commotion, until a police car sped by.

Not sure what came of this but the story of Kitty Genovese crossed my mind. The situation definitely spiked my adrenaline, and I can see how people could potentially be incoherent when dialing 911. The intensity makes it difficult to stay calm, but it's just another reminder of something I learned during the more stressful times when I was working - 'cool heads prevail'.