Chapter 8 Amish Lavin Farm School
After Olivia looked through the brochure, she knew that she didn't
have much time left. The letter said that Katy was going to start this
school in two days. The day after tomorrow, Katy was going to this
new school. She thought, "After two days, the day after tomorrow, I'm
going to lose Katy. It's all going to be over." She put the letter and
the brochure in her pocket and told Katy's parents that she was going
to go for a drive and that when she got back, that she would have a
copy of the letter and the brochure. She told them that she would give
them the original back so she could have the copies. They weren't
thrilled that she was going to have the copies, but they didn't want
to argue with her. So they just went along with it. Olivia took a
drive over to the station house. She went in to the Captain's office
to find the rest of the SVU squad. She told them all about Katy's
parents' plan to move her to the school. She said, "there's got to be
something that we can do about this." The captain said, "Well there
isn't." Eliot said, "If Katy's parents want to move her to another
school, then, ya gotta let em." Olivia pulled the letter and the
brochure out of her pocket. "This is where they want to move her. Look
how far away she'll be," Olivia said as she handed the letter and
brochure to the captain to look at. Captain Cragen said as he started
to pass the letter and the brochure around for the other detectives to
look at as well, "It looks legit." Olivia said, "Well let's make sure
of that." So that's what they did. The detectives got on line to look
up Amish Lavin Farm School. Olivia said, "I don't see anything here
about this school." Eliot said, "Live, you're looking for reasons for
us to make her parents not send her there. But the fact is that if
Katy's parents want to send her there, then there's really nothing
that you can do about it. And maybe it's a good thing." Olivia looked
shocked. "What do you mean Eliot, that it's a good thing for Katy's
parents to send her to this school?" "Because I think that it would be
a good thing for Katy to surround herself with new people for a
while." "You mean surround herself with people other than me." "Live
ya gotta let this go. Katy is not being abused." Olivia said sharply,
"You don't know that Eliot!" "Well you haven't shown me anything to
back up your theory." "And you're not doing anything to help give me
the time that I need to prove that she is being abused." "There's
nothing that we can do. Katy's parents made their decision.." "Well
why can't we find any information on this school? That should set up
some red flags." "This school is Amish Live. They wouldn't have
anything information about them on the computer. You know that." "Well
there's got to be something that we can find out about this place."
Captain Cragen came in. He looked up at Olivia and said sternly to
her, "Olivia, we can't find anything about this school, but that
doesn't mean that this place is anything bad. You can't prove abuse,
and so we have no reason to keep Katy's parents from making a decision
about Katy that is rightfully their decision. And you're just going to
have to let this go." Olivia said, "I can't. I know that something is
going on, and I'm going to prove it; no matter what." Eliot and the
captain looked worriedly up at her as she walked out.
When Olivia walked in the door of Katy's house, she was very silent
as she walked in. Erin, Sarah, and Katy were standing there. Erin
looked up at Olivia and said calmly but firm, "Detective Benson, you
are not welcome here. Didn't Sarah." Sarah put a hand on his shoulder
and calmly but firmly said, "Please." She ushered Olivia and took Katy
up the stairs in to Olivia's room. "I'm sorry for what my husband just
said." Olivia said nicely, "It's okay Sarah." "Olivia? I was wondering
if you wanted to be the one to take Katy to her new school the day
after tomorrow?" Olivia smiled up at Sarah and said delighted, "I'd
be happy to." Katy smiled. Sarah said, "I think that Katy would like
that as well. I'll leave you with her so that she can help you finish
packing." Olivia would usually tell Sarah that Katy didn't have to
help, but in this case, she was happy that Sarah was making Katy help.
This way, she could have some quality time alone with her, to try and
get the real story. Sarah walked out of the room, and shut the door,
leaving Katy and Olivia in the room together; just the two of them,
finally, alone at last.
Katy sat down on the bed. She didn't say a word. Olivia looked at
her. She said soothingly, "Katy. Are you absolutely sure that you want
to go to this school?" Katy said calmly, "Yes. I really do want to go
to this school. I need too." "Why? Why do you need to go to this
school?" "Because, to get over what happened to me." "Do you mean what
the boys did to you, or is it something else?" "I know what you're
thinking. I love my parents, and they love me. They would never hurt
me." Olivia sighed. "I have to finish packing your things." "Katy.
Honey this is you and me now, and it's okay if you want to tell me
something. It won't leave this room. You can trust me sweet heart." "I
know that I can." then she shrugged her shoulders, moved back, and
threw her arms up and said quickly and quivering, "but there's
nothing to tell! I have to go now! I have to go! With that, she
quickly stood up, and ran out the door. Olivia sat there on the bed
packing her things into her suitcase. Then she climbed in to her bed,
and in a matter of five minutes, she was fast asleep.
The next morning, Olivia got Katy and the other children to school.
Then she went to work. Captain Cragen said, Olivia. You step in here a
minute?" Olivia said standing up, "Yes Captain." She walked in to his
office. "Shut the door." Olivia shut the door. "Sit down." "Thanks,
but I'll stand. What's going on Captain?" "I hear that you've been
trying to find out some information on Katy's new school that her
parents want to send her to." "Yes. I have." "Live you've got to stop
this. I know that you've been thinking that you were going to find
some proof that Katy's parents are abusing her, but so far, you have
nothing to support that." "I know, and that's the problem." "What do
you mean?" "I mean, don't you think that you are overlooking
something?" "What am I overlooking Olivia?" "You're overlooking the
fact that I caught Katy's father abusing her, and not more than one
day later, the parents come up with this sudden hide away for Katy so
they don't get found out, and so I don't catch them again. More than
that, they are afraid that Katy will finally give in and tell me
what's going on." The captain looked at Olivia. "So now you think that
this school is bad too?" "I don't know, but Katy's mother told me last
night that she would let me take Katy to this school tomorrow. So
maybe I'll be able to find out something then." "If not, then let it
go. We need you here at SVU, not chasing shadows that don't exist." "I
know, but I'm not going to just let this girl slip through the cracks
just because she won't talk." Have you ever thought that maybe the
reason that she won't tell you anything, is because there's nothing to
tell?" "Captain, I've lived in that house with them for one month now.
I've seen these parents. I've seen Katy's siblings. And after working
9 years in this unit, I know what abuse is, and when it is happening."
"You have one day Olivia. What about finding a new carriage driver?
Have you worked on that at all?" "Yes we have. We think that we've
found one." "Good, because after Katy leaves." "If Katy leaves." "If
Katy leaves, then you won't be needed there anymore." Olivia walked
out. She went to pick up Katy and her siblings. They went back to
their house and did their chores. Olivia went up to her room and read
for a while.
Olivia heard Katy coming up the stairs. "Katy. Can you please come
in here for a minute?" Katy ran up to Olivia. She said with a smile on
her face, "Yeah Olivia?" "I have something for you." "What is it?"
Olivia said with a smile, "Come on in here." Katy walked in to the
room and sat down on the bed. She found a bag. "Is this it?" "Yes it
is." "Can I open it?" "Absolutely. Open it," Olivia said with a smile.
"It's a book!" "Yeah. It's a journal. That way, you can write to me."
"Yeah. I can have a friend write in it what I want to say. Thank you
Olivia." "You're very welcome sweet heart. I want you to still be
able to communicate with me." "Me too, but we can't tell anyone except
for my friend who will hopefully help me write to you." "Oh I know.
Don't worry. I won't tell anybody." Katy went to her room and put the
journal in her bag. She was all packed and ready to go. Katy said
goodnight to her parents and to her siblings. She went in to Olivia's
room. "I just wanted to say good night to you." "Oh. Good night
sweetie. Sleep well." "Olivia. Can you please come in my room for a
minute?" "You want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?" "Yeah.
Can you please?" "Sure honey." Olivia thought, "Oh no. Did her father
hurt her again?" Olivia went in to her room. Olivia sat in a chair,
and watched as Katy got down on her knees and said her prayers. Olivia
said her prayers too. Katy climbed in to bed as Olivia tucked the
covers around her. She gave her a big hug. "Good night Olivia.
Thank you so much for staying with me." "You're welcome sweetie.
There's no place I'd rather be," Olivia said with a soothing smile as
she let go of Katy. Katy smiled as she quickly fell asleep. Olivia
just sat there in the chair, right by Katy, just watching over her.
She heard a noise. The door opened. It was her father. "What are you
doing here in my daughter's room Detective?" Olivia turned at looked
up at him. "Katy asked me to be here." "Is that so Detective?" "Yes.
That's so." "Well, she's asleep now. You need to go." "Katy wants me
to stay in here Mr. Fitch-Tallaver." Erin flashed his angry and
hateful eyes at Olivia. He walked out and shut the door. Katy with her
eyes closed said, "I know that I'm safe as long as you're around
Olivia..." Olivia took her hand, and realizing that she was in fact
asleep said, "Yes sweetie. You absolutely are, always." Olivia sat
there in the chair until the next morning. The chair folded back. So
that's how she slept the whole night.
The next morning, Olivia woke up Katy at about ten o'clock. They
both went down stairs and they all had breakfast. Again, Katy had to
serve Olivia. Sarah said, "Do you have all of your things packed?"
"Yes Mama." "Do you have all of Olivia's things packed?" "Yes Mama."
Katy excused herself, and went out the door. Olivia went after her.
Erin said, "It sure will be nice to get rid of that detective Benson."
"Now Erin. She's not so bad." "Yes she is. She could tare our whole
family apart if she wanted to. She could make Katy tell her things.
You know that Katy trusts her very much." "Well then it's a good thing
that I told the school to watch for that." "Yes Sarah. it is a very
good thing." Erin put his arm around Sarah. Sarah said, "It's a good
thing that we sent the other children off to do their chores before we
started talking about this." Erin said, "Yes Sarah. And it's also very
good that she hasn't asked to talk with the other children." "Oh yes
Erin. When pushed by Olivia, I don't know what the other children
would tell her." "I'm just so glad that we are finally getting rid of
her." "Me too Erin, me too."
Olivia found Katy in the horse stables. She said to Olivia, "This
is Sarahbell." Olivia walked over to Sarahbell. "Is she your horse?"
"Yes she is. I'm going to miss her. I'm going to miss you too. You
know Olivia, sometimes I wish that if I could stay here, that you
could stay out here on the farm with me." Olivia smiled up at her.
Realizing that there was no other way, Olivia reached her arms out and
gave Katy a huge hug. She said, "I am going to miss you, very much."
Katy said, "Thank you for everything that you did for me and my family.
We'll always appreciate it, and we'll always appreciate you." They
stayed like this, with Olivia holding Katy for a while. Then they went
back to the house.
When they got back in to the house, Katy went and said her goodbyes
to her siblings, while Olivia loaded everything in to her car. She
took something out of her suitcase. It was her book that she had been
reading. She went in to her room and put it in one of the drawers.
Sarah came in the room. "Olivia. Do you need any help getting your
things together?" Sarah didn't see Olivia put the book in the drawer.
"Oh thanks, but I've just about got it." Sarah stepped in to the
room. "Olivia, I want to thank you. You helped Katy and us with so
many things. Because of that, you will always be special to me, and
to us." "Thank you. You'll always be special to me too. And I think
that I got a little something out of being here myself." Sarah said,
"Olivia, I want you to have this." Olivia looked at it. It was a
little box with her name on it. "Sarah. You didn't need to get me
anything." She opened the box. Inside, were gold beautiful earrings,
with a beautiful blue bracelet, and a gold necklace. Olivia smiled.
"They're beautiful Sarah. Thank you." "You're welcome Olivia. I'm glad
that you like them." "I love them." "They are from all of us
including Katy." "Well, thank you again." "You're welcome again," Sarah
said smiling." She walked out the door.
Once they were all at the door, Katy gave her mother a hug. Sarah
said, "Do well, and be well." "I will Mama." Then she went over to her
father. She tried to give him a hug, but he gently pushed her away
and patted her on the shoulder. He said, "As your mother said, do
well and be well." "Yes Papa, I will." Katy then gave each of her
siblings a hug and kissed them. They all cried and wished her the
best. Olivia hugged each of Katy's siblings. They each thanked her and
said their goodbyes to her. Sarah gave Olivia a hug. Sarah said,
"Thank you again." "Your welcome," Olivia said smiling." She was
thinking, "This won't be the last time that you guys see me." Erin
said gritting his teeth, "Thank you Detective Benson." Olivia looked
up at him, smiled and said, "You're welcome Mr. Fitch-Tallaver." Olivia
gave Katy her arm and they went out the door. Olivia took Katy to the
front seat of her car and shut the door. Olivia got in to the driver
side, started the car, and drove away, leaving her family looking on
with mixed emotions.
The drive to the school was about three hours away. Katy slept most
of the way, but when they were about a half an hour away from the
school, Olivia said to her, "Are you okay?" "Yes, I'm fine." Olivia
said, "There's a little Mexican restaurant a little up the road. You
wanna get something to eat before you go to the school?" "I don't know
if I should. What if they're serving dinner when I get there?" "Well
if they are, I can talk to them." "Okay," Katy said with a smile. She
looked very happy that she was going to eat with Olivia for the last
time. They ate. Olivia took her time, and so did Katy. They were happy
to spend the time together. They drove in to the school. Olivia
described to Katy that she could see that the school was big. She said
to Katy that she could see that the school had classrooms, and that it
also had a set of rooms. Olivia told her that she could see that the
other rooms were bedrooms. She told Katy that the place was a
schoolhouse. Katy listened to Olivia's description. "That sounds
cool," Katy said. The car stopped. Katy and Olivia got out of the car.
Olivia started to walk around to the trunk to get Katy's bag when
someone approached them. It was a woman. She said cheerfully, "Hi. My
name is Mary. You must be Katy." "Yes," Katy said as she turned
towards the woman's voice. "It's nice to meet you. And you must be
Detective Benson. Thank you for bringing Katy." "Hi. And you're
welcome. It was my pleasure." "So... Where are Katy's bags?" "Well
actually she only has one bag, and it's in the trunk." Mary started
toward the trunk. Olivia said, "Thanks, but I'll get it." "Oh. Okay.
Thanks." "You're welcome." Olivia reached into the trunk and got out
Katy's bag. "Also, I'd like to go with Katy inside the school, just to
make sure that she gets settled in." "No, I'm afraid Detective Benson
that that won't be possible." Olivia asked wonderingly, "Why not?"
"Because Detective Benson, I can take it from here." "Is this because
of Katy's parents? Did they tell you not to let me in the school?"
"Well we do have our rules Detective." "Olivia had a stern look on her
face and said as she looked right at the woman, "Look I have been
living with Katy for the past month. This is a new place for her.
She's visually impaired, and I don't think that it will hurt if I just
take her inside the school, and maybe to her room. Then I'll leave.
What could that hurt?" "My job maybe. Look Detective Benson, I know
that you mean well, but Katy's parents gave us explicit and very
specific instructions, and I have to abide by them." "I understand
that, but I am the police, and it is my duty to make sure that Katy is
protected." "Have I given you any indication that she won't be
protected here at this school?" "No, but I need to be sure." "I know
your laws. I'm sorry Detective Benson, but unless you have a warrant,
I am not allowed to let you in to take Katy." "Not allowed to, or
won't." Katy just stood there by Olivia. Olivia could see from the
look on Katy's face that she was very upset at this. Olivia said,
"Then may I please at least have five minutes to say goodbye to Katy?"
"Yes. Five minutes. I'll be back, and when I come back, be ready to go
Katy." "Okay. Thank you Mary," Katy said relieved." "Thank you Mary,"
Olivia said relieved also.
Katy and Olivia went back in to the car. Olivia and Katy both had
tears coming down their faces. Olivia took her into her arms when she
saw her starting to cry and said to her, "You're going to do really
well at this school sweet heart." "I know, but I'm still going to
really miss you." "I know. Me too," Olivia said, crying and still
holding her. They were both crying now. As Olivia was holding her, she
thought, "What if we just drove away right now? I could take her away
from this place. I could keep her safe. I'm so afraid that when she
goes with Mary and in to this school, then that will be the last time
that I see her." They just stayed there for the five minutes, crying
together as Olivia continued just holding her. then Olivia saw Mary
coming. She said, "Mary's coming sweet heart. We'd better go." Katy
thought to herself, I don't want to go." All she had to do was just
admit that to Olivia right then, and it would all be over, but she
couldn't. She couldn't break up her family. Even though she wanted to,
even though she just wanted the pain and abuse to end, she just didn't
know how to end it all without tearing her family apart forever. She
was so scared and she felt so alone, even with Olivia right by her
still holding her in her arms; she still felt so afraid. She knew that
the only thing that she could do at that very moment, was to let go of
Olivia and get out of the car. Olivia and Katy got out of the car.
Mary said cheerfully, "Your bag is in your new room. Let's go so I
can show you." Katy gave Olivia one last big hug. "Goodbye Olivia.
I'll miss you." Then she whispered in Olivia's ear, "More than you'll
know." Mary didn't hear it. Olivia said to Katy, "I'll miss you to
sweetie." She whispered into Katy's ear, "I'll miss you more than
you'll know too." Mary didn't hear that either. Olivia and Katy let go
of their embrace and Katy reached for Mary's arm, as she gladly and
cheerfully gave it to her. "Thank you Detective Benson. I've got her
from here." Olivia said sadly, but not enough for Mary to see, but
enough for Katy to hear, "Okay. Thanks Mary." "Goodbye Olivia," Katy
said sadly, but only enough for only Olivia to notice. "Goodbye
honey," Olivia said sadly, but again, only enough for Katy to hear.
Olivia stood there in the driveway of the school, as she watched Mary
and Katy disappear up the long cold dark steps of the schoolhouse.
