The third in a five-part series on Michael Wells, a Mississippi  man being held hostage in Lebanon  (click for link) by Walker Harris “Unnatural death always provoked a peculiar unease, an uncomfortable realization that there were still some things that might not be susceptible to bureaucratic control.” ― P.D. James, The Lighthouse "The government is using every ethical resource at its disposal."  The tall woman portrayed no empathy at all.  Ellen van Oss was was always in control. Her words, her manner, her clothing, her hair. all carefully selected to give the image of control.  Long blonde hair tightly pulled back into a controlled bun, pulling slightly at her temples, as if indirectly controling for wrinkles.  Ms. von Oss's unlined face betrayed no emotion, and her eyes were guarded as she spoke to me. A member of the press, I was the enemy. Ellen van Oss has been assigned to the Wells case since those first harrowing days of captivity. ...