CODE NAME WOLFGIRL: LOST CHILDREN IN AMERICA

Chapter 3: The Government's Interest

“Please, people,” Saunders broke in, “this is not helping. I need to let you know a bit more about my background. Is everyone ready to listen?”

The table grew silent. Jason wanted to hear this. He never trusted Saunders. None of them did. Major told him after he accepted the position that Saunders showed up the day Candy was found with all manner of federal clearances. The funds had poured into the institute for Candy’s special care and treatment from the government. Even Jason’s position was financed from Washington, D C. Still, no one knew what the government’s special interest was in her. Saunders wouldn’t tell anyone and responded with a “that’s classified” anytime anyone asked.

“So are you going to tell us everything?” Major snipped at him. “Or do we get the usual ‘classified’ every time we ask?” She folded her arms and glared at him. He glared back.

“Of course I can’t tell you everything,” he replied. “I can tell you a lot more than you know presently. I hope it keeps you happy.” Even Jason realized it wouldn’t.

“We’re all waiting.” It was Dr. Klein.

“I’m with the Federal Security Bureau,” he told them. Saunders let it sink into them for a minute.

It was Jason who spoke first. “I thought you were a captain in the United States Army,” he spoke. “Didn’t you tell us that when you first arrived?”

“I’m on loan from the army to the FSB,” he continued. “Anyone wants to see the documents, I’ll be glad to show you. I don’t even know how I got the assignment. My guess is the FSB couldn’t make their budget and asked for some experienced help. And as for your next question, it’s why I don’t wear a uniform unless for special occasions.” He did look sharp in his suitcoat and tie.

“So why the interst in Candy?” Major asked him, as she placed her coffee cup down.

“That part is still classified,” he informed her. “I can tell you it has nothing to do with assassinations, if that was your concern.”

Major rolled her eyes. “Oh, that makes me feel a whole lot better.” It didn’t.

“We want to see how well she performs,” Saunders continued. “I can’t say any more.”

“I suppose none of us should be surprised at Washington’s interest in her,” Klein spoke. “Candy may be the only documented feral woman ever found. All the others had a cloud of faked authenticity over them. She’s the real deal. At least, as far as we know.”

Jason was about to say something about other documented cases, then realized he had nothing to talk about today. None of others could be proven one way or another. Most were discovered before there were modern methods to tell if they’d been abandoned in the wild.

This was the first time he’d ever met anyone connected with the FSB. Some people didn’t even believe the bureau existed. He’d read accounts of its activities before, but they were usually from shady online accounts that didn’t have much in the way of physical evidence. Supposedly, it was impossible to find out anything about this outfit as it was formed as a liaison between several other federal law enforcement services.

From what he could remember, the FSB came into existence in the late 1960’s when a particular congressman was obsessed with America’s invasion from creatures beneath the earth. Congressman Shaver had represented his district a bit too long and was replaced the following election cycle. But before he was gone, Shaver pushed a bill through to create a small office devoted to protecting the nation from paranormal entities. He was convinced that underground beings wanted to take control of the human population on the surface through mind control and the abduction of women for breeding purposes. The other members of his committee tried to placate him by adding the FSB creation to a popular agriculture bill. Once the investigative body came into being, there was no way to get rid of it.

Thus, the Federal Security Bureau was born. The name was a last minute attempt to use the bureau for something other than ghost hunts, but it was Shaver who had the documents and charter already for publication. When he was defeated in the next term, congress tried to move his creation under the authority of another law enforcement body, but it was too late. Shaver had the bureau in operation with a staff of three.

The FSB never grew any larger, although it could pull in the resources of any other federal agency, should the need arrive. Few people ever encountered any FSB agents, as there were so few. It became the source of legends as the small office fought off any attempt to merge it into the FBI or NSA. After a few decades, most people forgot it even existed.

You might see it mentioned in conspiracy literature as the source for an investigation. Tin foil hat types claimed it was the source the men in black stories. Nothing every came out of its work, at least nothing public. Jason heard about it years ago and assumed it to be some feather bed operation for retired secret service agents. A place they could play at being useful for the government, without having to do anything.

Therefore, to actually meet one of these legendary “ghost chasers” was astonishment. If the government had the FSB involved, it could mean several things. Either Candy was of little importance and they needed the FSB to have something to do, or she was of great importance and they didn’t want to attract too much attention by using the FBI. It didn’t make him wonder if there was a paranormal angle, but he doubted it. Most likely, Candy didn’t fit into any clear category and the FSB was the logical choice to be sent in to look after her.