Firewatch Ch 26

Report from Hailee Siegel case, Barney, Oregon. March 2-4, 2017.

Agent Flores was correct. After three days of searching, law enforcement and volunteer searchers found no sign of Aria Durano, Ro Nielsen, or Hailee Siegel. There was no sign of the woman portraying herself as Barney Chief of Police, Ava Johnson. The real Ava Johnson has not been located, as of March 5, 2017.

Agent Wilde refuses to elaborate on her belief that the woman we encountered on that trail was not human. She suggests that the sexual activity that was witnessed at the campground was in fact occult activity, citing cases and literature indicating that sexual gratification plays a crucial role in communing with supposedly otherworldly forces because it heightens suggestibility. This concept, at least, is supported by science. The changes to brain chemistry that accompany physical intimacy and climax are well understood to have such effects. However, the existence of these otherworldly forces is another matter entirely, one for which no apparent evidence was obtained in this case.

Several questions remain. Did Aria Durano influence these women with mere charisma, or some other form of leverage? Hailee Siegel denied that she was under duress, and gave no indications of distress when speaking to us. What did she believe that Aria Durano had in mind for her? Was she aware of Aria Durano’s potential associate, the woman impersonating Chief Johnson? This agent has verified the claims that an unusual number of people go missing in the Barney area. Where are they going? Why did the imposter approach government agents? If Aria Durano was involved with trafficking or some form of illegal pornography—as is the most likely explanation based on the available evidence—then why did she remain at the campground instead of immediately fleeing once approached by federal agents? The unburned possessions left behind at the campsite hold no apparent clues. There are no bodies to examine. The potentially admissible evidence points to Hailee Siegel eloping with paramours in an atypical relationship that could plausibly be expected to draw judgment from her family, explaining her secrecy.

While unusual details abound, including the imposter’s escape from this agent, the only laws broken are those relating to impersonating law enforcement and failing to comply with lawful orders from federal agents. After review of the statutory criteria, sexual activity inside a tent at a campground occupied by only a single consenting party of appropriate age would not constitute public indecency.

These events are devastating for the families of Hailee Siegel and Ro Nielsen. However, the involvement of the FBI is predicated on grounds defined by the law, and this agent does not find these grounds to be present. The missing person case will be officially cleared; Hailee Siegel is an adult, and thus cannot be classified as a runaway.

The premise of the investigation remains valid, and while it cannot be proven at this time, the evidence suggests that the subjects were engaged in illegal activity. Just as my desire for answers led me to the FBI, something led Hailee Siegel to leave her loving parents and comfortable home behind.

F-FILES

It’s late. Wilde’s eyes are sandy as she stares at her computer screen in the basement office that she now shares with Flores. An evidence bag sits on the desk with the melted remains of the VHS tapes.

Her phone goes off, and she rubs her face with her good hand and picks it up.

Wilde hesitates, her thumb poised to type. She sighs deeply and puts the phone down. It goes off again.

Wilde types:

Moments pass. Wilde shakes her head and deletes that text.

F-FILES

“Babe?”

Flores hurriedly hits send.

She turns in her desk chair.

Meghan is in bed, looking concerned. “Are you OK?”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

“Well, I am.” Flores puts her phone down and walks over to climb in. She leans in and plants a little kiss on Meghan’s lips. “Oh, god. You smell like yogurt.”

“Come here.” Meghan pulls her in and enfolds her in her arms. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“You know I can’t.”

Meghan sighs. “OK.” She reaches over and turns off the lamp.

Flores lies in the dark, warm in Meghan’s arms. Her eyes are open, but all she sees is that patch on the woman’s jacket. Her visual memory isn’t as strong as her memory for information and minutiae. Had there been discernible letters or words? Common imagery, like a shield or an eagle? A star? She doesn’t know.

It was dark.

[ The end of this episode! I'll do a blog post on vfuniverse.org (no, not the post already there called F-Files, another new one) to yap about why I suddenly wanted to do a high-effort X-Files fic that nobody asked for, but in the meantime, we go straight to Blended 2, which will start tomorrow. You can find it in Futa Soccer Camp in the 'More Stories' area. There will be more F-Files, although we may play with the format based on what we learn about the strengths/weaknesses of this pilot episode. If you read this all this, clicked like, engaged with it in any way, I appreciate it a lot. Thank you! ]