Spooks
Chapter One
AIR FORCE SPECIAL ACTIVITIES CENTER (AFSAC)
FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA
"So … what can I do for you, Doctor?" said General Bauer.
"I've been told that your department deals with … paranormal phenomena," said Dr. Bellows. He sat across from the general, a massive oak desk separating the two men. A maroon leather briefcase sat at his feet.
"I'm not at liberty to discuss the exact mission of this command,' said the general with a Cheshire cat grin. Brigadier General Leighton Bauer, Commander of AFSAC, was a squat, barrel-chested man in his early sixties. He had a pug nose, square jaw, and crew-cut gray hair. "All I can say is that we investigate … threats … to both the Air Force and our nation's security." It was a typically bureaucratic explanation -- it was revealing yet vague, saying a great deal without saying much of anything at all.
It seems I have come to the right place, thought Dr. Bellows as he opened his briefcase. He then pulled out a large, bulging file folder bound with a rubber band, handed it to the general, and said, "I have some material that might be of interest to you."
General Bauer accepted the file folder from Dr. Bellows, removed the rubber band, and opened the file.
" 'Major Nelson,' " said General Bauer, reading the tab on the file. He then exclaimed, "Major ANTHONY Nelson?"
"That is correct," said Dr. Bellows.
General Bauer let out a low whistle. "I've heard stories about that guy," he said. "Strange stories." He then added, "Bizarre stories."
"He's a Colonel now," said Dr. Bellows. "It's been some years since I opened that file."
General Bauer thumbed through the file. "Invisible buildings … growing and shrinking hotels … snow in the middle of summer," he said.
"You might wish to investigate his wife as well," said Dr. Bellows.
"Whatever for?" General Bauer asked.
"These … phenomena … frequently happen in her presence," said Dr. Bellows. "She may well be the cause of it all."
"How so?" General Bauer asked.
"I can't quite put my finger on it," said Dr. Bellows. "There's just something about her, something I can't quite explain."
"Anything else you wish to tell me, Doctor?" said General Bauer.
"Now that I think about it, there's this bottle at his house that he's absolutely obsessed with," said Dr. Bellows. "He's gone to great lengths to protect it, to safeguard it."
"Has Colonel Nelson told you anything about this ... this ... 'bottle'?" General Bauer asked.
"He says it's a family heirloom," Dr. Bellows replied.
"I can understand why he might want to protect it," said General Bauer. "It clearly holds sentimental value for him."
"I don't know many men who are willing to risk their entire careers for a family heirloom," said Dr. Bellows.
General Bauer's eyebrows shot upwards. "And he ... has?" he inquired.
Dr. Bellows nodded. "Yes, General," he said. "Several times, in fact." He then added, "It's all right there in that file."
General Bauer closed the file folder. "I'll have my people look into this," he said. "I'll keep this folder as part of the investigation."
Dr. Bellows stood up and shook General Bauer's hand. "Thank you, General," he said.