CHAPTER FIVE

The Woods

"So Sean," Dr. Hanson started. They were sitting in the office about to start Elliot's first session. "Who did you say referred you to our facility?"

Before Elliot and Olivia could be admitted to the camp, they had to be referred by a couple who had already gone through the program.

"Matt and Sheila Kellerman," Elliot answered automatically.

Hanson smiled. "Of course, of course, just checking," he answered quickly. "Alright, then. Let's get you on your way to being a happy man Sean. Tell me everything you don't like about your wife…everything you wish you could change to make her the ideal, perfect woman."

Elliot cocked his head to the side. "The perfect woman? Is that even possible?"

The doctor laughed. "Of course it is, thanks to our program. Why…that's why you are here is it not?"

Elliot felt uneasy. Where was he going with this? "Of course…and I'm sure my wife would want me to be the perfect man."

Hanson threw back his head and laughed heartily. "You are a funny man Sean," he chuckled. "The wants of women are not our concern here at Pine Hills."

"Yes, yes…that's what Matt said," Elliot replied quickly, following along. "I guess I just didn't believe it…but he and Sheila seem so happy."

"Let me give you the tour Sean," Hanson said standing up. "It is only right that you harbor some skepticism at first. Follow me. You will be amazed at just what we can do at Pine Hills."

XXXXXXX

"Damn it," Olivia cursed, grabbing her toe. She had just stubbed it on the bottom of the desk. She had snuck into the camp's administrative offices, successfully sneaking away from the mixer in the main ballroom. Olivia had found it odd that only the women were present at the event, the men suspiciously absent. Instead of trading recipes and make-up tips, Olivia had seized the opportunity to do a little snooping.

Olivia pulled open another cabinet, throwing a look over her shoulder. She had to be quick before she was caught. Thumbing through the files, she thought of Alex. What did a woman like Alex do on Saturday nights, she wondered. She always seemed so tightly controlled. How did she relax? Smiling, she thought of the message the woman had left on her cell phone, wishing her luck and safety on her assignment.

"What's this?" Olivia thoughts were interrupted. She had found the counseling session files. Quickly scanning a few, she found entrance interview notes for all, but after that only one session was recorded with the men. Each had an itemized list of "infractions" the men reported about their wives. She could not for the life of her find Tina or Gloria's files.

"They threw them out," Olivia whispered to herself. The slamming of a door in the outer room startled her into action. She quietly shut the file cabinet and slipped into a coat closet. She watched as a janitor came in with her cleaning supplies. Humming lightly, she searched for some unknown object. Not finding it, she left the room. Olivia quietly slipped out of the closet and headed for the door. Peeking out, she couldn't see the janitor. Crossing her fingers, she quickly darted to the front door and out of the office to safety.

Back at the room, she found Elliot pacing in the sitting area. He looked up when she walked in.

"Where have you been? I checked the ballroom and you weren't there."

Olivia smiled, breathless. "I got into the administrative office. For starters, Tina and Gloria's files are no where to be found. But, I looked at some of the other couples. El, this is starting to look like a counseling camp for men only. There are no documents detailing sessions with the women, and even then each man only had a list of complaints about their wives. Where's the rest of the documentation?"

Elliot nodded his head gravely. "I know…trust me I know."

Olivia stopped. "What happened?"

Elliot shook his head in disbelief. "I have to show you…you gotta see it to believe it. I already updated Cragen. Come on."

Ten minutes later, they were on the far end of the compound standing in front of a small building.

"After Hanson and I left, I wedged a piece of wood in the door so I could get back in," he explained. Elliot pushed open the door and entered, Olivia close behind. Hitting a light switch, Olivia shielded her eyes waiting for them to adjust.

"What…what is this?" She was looking at four gurneys positioned at the center of the room, each with a steel helmet attached to the head of the beds. At the far side was a row of tvs and what looked like a soundboard. Olivia turned to Elliot confused.

"The women are told to lay down on the gurneys and strap on the helmets," Elliot explained, taking her cue. "Soft music is played while the women are coaxed to sleep. Hanson and Farrow then program the 'wish list' each husband gives to them and transmit it into the helmets. And by some miracle of modern science, the women wake up, behavioral problems a thing of the past."

"What… is this some Stepford Wives shit or something?" Olivia asked incredulously. "Impossible. These men are nuts if they think they can brainwash these women."

"It crazy Olivia, I know," Elliot disagreed. "But Hanson explained it to me. While the women are getting their brains switched, the men are out hunting, playing football or taking a few golf swings. Once the women go through the process, the counselors work with them to reinforce the ideas through the sessions. If a woman doesn't pass successfully, she goes through the process again."

"So…how does this explain Tina and Gloria? Did they find out the scheme? Threaten to expose the camp?"

"Most likely," Elliot agreed. "That or something went horribly wrong with their sessions and they staged the rape and murder to make it look like a crazy did it. We have to call Munch and Fin and have them update us on the forensics."

Before Olivia could respond, they heard a faint commotion outside of the room. Elliot ran to the window and peered outside. "Shit, we're made. Quick, out the back."

Olivia scurried after Elliot as he headed for the back door. The busted into the cold night, shouts in their wake. Olivia looked over her shoulder and saw about eight shadowy figures with flashlights heading towards the front of the building.

"We have to go into the woods and lose them!" Elliot shouted. They sprinted into the trees. Olivia could barely see Elliot in front of her, but they had a slim advantage over the searchers as she heard them crashing into the building they had just exited.

They kept running. Olivia could hear their pursers getting closer. Guess they figured out where they were running, she thought. It was then that she realized how dire their situation was. She had a cell phone and they could call for help, but neither she nor Elliot were carrying their weapons. Just keep running, she thought widly.

Suddenly, she heard a crash and Elliot's blue shirt dropped out of sight. Stunned, Olivia slowed a fraction, but not fast enough. She felt herself slip and fall into space.

The impact was brutal as Olivia slammed into the ground, her bones rattling in protest. She laid there for a moment with her eyes tightly closed, breathing heavily, her body shooting pain signals into her brain.

"Liv…liv…" she heard Elliot gasp. She forced her eyes open and saw nothing but darkness. "Liv…"

"Elliot…are you ok? I can't see you," She looked up and saw the inky black night. Olivia deduced they had fallen at least six feet deep into a large hole.

"My arm…I think my arm's broken," Elliot said painfully. Olivia eyes were starting to adjust. She saw Elliot shape to her left and reached for him. She grabbed what felt like his calf.

"El…listen to me," she whispered as quietly as possible. "You have to be quiet. We need them to pass the hole, ok? Hang on partner."

They laid like that for what felt like eternity. Olivia could faintly hear the search team in the distance mixed with Elliot's heavy breathing. When she was sure they had passed, she reached into her jacket and pulled out her cell phone and called for help, relaying their position and Elliot's injury. Finished, she snapped the phone shut and crawled over to Elliot.

"Which arm is it?"

"My left one," he said through clenched teeth. Olivia reached blindly for his right hand. Finding it, she clasped it tightly giving Elliot a reassuring squeeze.

"Help is on the way El, you have to relax."

"ETA?"

Olivia bit her lip. "They will try to find us quickly…I don't know our exact location so it will be a little while. But it will be okay, try to relax." She stroked his hand in what she hoped was a comforting way. It was then that Olivia realized how cold it was. Even though it was spring, the nights hadn't quite caught up to the changing weather.

She stared up at the top of the hole. She hoped the police found them before the camp guards did. And before the cold killed them.