Chapter 26: Sanctuary
(Narrator POV)
The next day it was time for church. Edgar asked if Olivia would accompany him, she obliged. He put on his church suit, went out the door to Olivia's apartment. Olivia heard a knock at her door "I'm coming, give me a sec!" She threw on some clothes thinking it was Edgar. She flung the door open, "Kat, Rollins? Everyone is off today unless we get a call." She saw the solemn looks on their faces. "What's wrong?"
"Hey cap, um Fin briefly explained the situation to me. But we wanted to tell you before you saw it on the news-" Kat explained.
"See what on the news?" Olivia asked anxiously.
"Can we come in Liv?" Amanda asked calmly.
"Uh sure." She opened the door all the way and let them in the door. They sat in the sofa. "So someone wanna tell me what's going on?"
"Mommy can you fix my bow tie please, oh aunt manda, and hi Kat!" He waved are them.
"Noah can you wait a second while I talk to them go find some socks and then figure out what shoes you're wearing okay?" He nodded his head, then ran off to his room.
"So what is it?"
"There's a prison escapee out-"
"And what does that have to do with me or SVU?"
"Liv, just let us talk." Olivia was quiet. "The prison escapee is Sheila Porter. Who; from what I was told, is Noah's biological grandmother who kidnapped him a few years back. Chief notified us to tell you and wait here for your protection detail."
"When did this all happen?" She was in complete shock, not really scared though. Sheila was crazy to take her son but not crazy enough to hurt them.
"She been out for three hours."
"Three hours! And you're just now telling me! I'm not scared I just think I should've know three hours ago."
"We didn't know until about a half hour ago."
"I don't need a protection detail. Now I have to get ready for church, is there anything else you would like to tell me?" She stood up and walked to the door.
"Chief said that you must have 24 hour surveillance from the protection detail he's not taking, no for an answer. And you can't work the case."
"I know Sheila better than anyone I know how she works. Who is the protection detail?"
"Ryos and Pike."
"Okay that's fine." She liked Ryos and Pike, they were the only ones who weren't annoying. But they both had a crush on her. She always told them she had a boyfriend or wasn't interested but they are very persistent.
"Bye Liv."
"Bye Cap!"
"Kat for the last time you can call me Olivia."
"I like saying Cap." They left as Ryos and Pike got there. And Edgar got there as well.
"Hello... everyone?"
"Um come with me I still have to get dressed and I'll explain everything to you." She turned to Ryos and Pike. "You guys can help yourself to some coffee and breakfast whatever you want. But wait out here we won't be long." Edgar was using his crutches today. His leg was irritated from the prior day. He followed Olivia to he room. She was rushing to put on her dress and makeup.
"So what's up with all of the police officers I've seen come in and out of this building?"
"Uhh 2 years ago, Noah's biological grandmother tried to take him from me and then when that didn't work she kidnapped him. Long story short, she escaped from her cell this morning. Garland order this protective detail that is so unnecessary. So Ryos and Pike will be staying with us for sometime until she is found."
"I want you to stay at my house. She knows where you live. What are the chances she knows where I live or that we're together? I don't feel comfortable leaving you here."
"Fine whatever for but I'm sure that this is gonna be resolved and everything is gonna be okay. I feel like everyone is overreacting. And he won't let me investigate. I know Sheila she would never hurt Noah."
"What about you?"
"I can handle myself. I'm a little nervous but it will all be fine." She was way more nervous than she was letting on.
"Okay but until this is all resolved you and Noah stay at my house, please?"
"Okay okay we will."
"Okay well where's my little man?"
"In his room, he needed help getting his bow tie on. Don't bring any of this up!"
"I won't." He traveled to Noah's room. "Hey Noah!"
"Edgar! Can you help me put this on?" He held up his bow tie." Edgar sat on his bed and tied him up. "Voila!"
"Thank you! I'm thirsty, I'm gonna go get some orange juice. Come on!" Noah ran in to the kitchen and saw Pike. He was tall and Noah didn't know who he was. He ran to his moms room and told her there were people in the living room. She explained to him that they were her friends and that they were gonna stay a while. He went back in the kitchen and Edgar was in there and Pike was speaking to Edgar. "Hey Noah I didn't mean to scare you I'm name is Michael Pike. But you can just call me Mike."
"Mike Pike." He laughed.
"And that is my partner Devin Ryos. He's really funny."
"Hi Noah. You can just call me Devin."
"Nice to meet you guys. Why are you here though?"
"We're just here to look out for you guys for a while. We'll just be hangin' around." Pike tried more to say anything about Sheila.
"Okay." Olivia can walking down the hallway, her heels clicking on the floor. She was in that beautiful dress she got a while back. It was crime white with a red and green strip leading up into a bow on her left shoulder. Paired with red heels. She even brought out her red trench she hardly ever wears. All three men stood still while sinking in her beauty.
"You look good Ma'am. You do something new? You look different."
"No is it bad?"
"No just different." Edgar had said the same thing s few days ago.
Edgar saw the way Ryos and Pike looked at her, and did like it at all but he stayed quiet even though Olivia could see it on his face. Devin moves to Olivia's side, "I can get that for you." He grabbed her coat to help her out it on. But she held he grip on the coat. "I don't think that, that would be appropriate."
"Seriously I'm just helping you put in your coat."
"Yeah, no." She walked toward Edgar. "Can you help me put my coat on, baby?" She kissed him on the lips trying to give the partners a clear sign she was taken. It probably would click in there head but Edgar will eventually say something if they keep it up. He helped her into the coat and they left. "We taking my car or yours?" Olivia looked at Edgar.
"It doesn't matter to me, we can take your car."
"Okay." They were parked next to each other. Pike checked the car before allowing them into the car. Devin rode with the family while Mike drive the black and white behind. They arrived about 20 minutes later at the church. It was a huge church it could probably fit close to 500 people. A lot of people were already there. They got a lot of looks from everyone in the sanctuary. Olivia didn't know whether it was because she was with Edgar at his church which was a predominantly black church or it was because she had the police detail. Or it could've been both who knows. They found their spots next to the Garlands toward the front. "Hi Olivia." Olivia slid in the isle first then Noah, Edgar, Ryos, and Pike.
"Hi Chief, why do I have a police detail?"
"You know why."
"I don't need one."
"Sure you don't. It's not up for negotiation." She rolled her eyes. "Hi La'Mai."
"Hey Liv, Edgar, Noah, and..."
"Oh that's Devin and Mike. They are mommy's friends they are hanging with us for a while." Noah said.
"Oh okay. Hi guys." They saved to them.
"Olivia I think I should sit next to you. Ya know just in case." Mike said.
"No I'm good. I'm in the middle of the pew. And I'm next to another police officer so no you're fine where you are." He still pushed to sit next to her. Edgar had enough and stood up in his way. "Sit down." Mike recoiled and sat down immediately.
"Hey Liv? Did you do something new with your hair or something? You look different almost like you're glowing." That was the third person to bring that up.
"You see it too!" Edgar added.
"Yeah it's kind of hard to miss."
"Look, I don't know why I look different. I haven't changed a thing." They just gave her a look. Service started at 11:00 it was 10:54 and the pews were filled up even on the balcony. In the meantime Olivia got to know some of the people at the church around her. They were all very sweet and welcoming people. Then it started. They were releasing the children to got to children's church, Olivia was nervous but Devin took him.
First they prayed, heard the church announcements for the week, and heard a few selections from the choir. After the choir finished singing they prayed once again, then Reverend Chase preached his sermon, the collected tithes offerings, and sung the exiting song. Church was over by 2:30. Olivia was very into the church service. Noah enjoyed children's and they even made a craft to go along with their story from the Bible And Edgar felt better to be in church again.
"Alright Edgar are you guys coming to eat with us?"
"Sure. Do we go and get the kids or do they come back?"
"We go get them." They started to walk out but reverend Chase and his wife caught up to them. "Are we going out for lunch?"
"Yes." Edgar answered.
"Olivia it's good to see you again. You are just glowing aren't you." Laura Chase complimented her.
"See!" Edgar and La'Mai said simultaneously. "She doesn't think she is." La'Mai said.
"You are. I don't know you all that well but from the last we met you definitely look different. It's not a bad thing. Just a new glow."
"Thank you guys but I haven't changed anything about my appearance." Sh slipped away while everyone was talking. She couldn't take not knowing where Noah was.
"Edgar it's so good to see you again. I heard about your accident. I prayed everyday for your recovery. And look at you, you're standing and walking better."
"Yes I am I feel much better. With the help of O-" he turned to look at Olivia and she wasn't there. "Where's Olivia?" He looked directly at Mike.
"Relax she just went to bathroom." He didn't know that. In all honesty he didn't know where Olivia was.
"Then go find her! You're supposed to be with her!" Garland yelled. Everyone was looking around like did the miss something. "Mike and Devin the two officers with us are for Olivia and Noah. Just for protection right now." Olivia came running into the sanctuary
"We can't find Noah. Or Devin."
"Okay okay. They are probably on their way to find us."
"No. We checked everywhere. They weren't in the children's church, in either bathrooms or in the hallway. Where else could they be?"
"My office." Christian yelled catching up to Edgar. "I tell Abby to go in there after church, that's where we always pick her up or she come in here herself." Olivia took off to the office while La'Mai, Christian, Delman Chase, Edgar, Laura Chase, and Mike followed Olivia to the office.
"Noah! Noah, Devin? They're not in here!" Olivia ran her hand through her hair. "Where's Abby?" Olivia asked. Not only was Noah gone but Abby too.
"Relax-" Mike said.
"I'm getting tired of you guys telling me to relax. Where... is he! Call him!"
"In the sanctuary." Olivia got up and ran to the sanctuary.
"The door over there is a one way door they probably went out there to meet up in the sanctuary Abby does that with Christian all the time." They all ran out the door and saw bow children with Devin. "That was a bit of a scare. You guys alright?"
"Yeah let's just go." Chief stayed back yelled at them and told them off before they all left for lunch. Same car arrangements as before. They had a table at Olive Garden and Italian restaurant. They ate and had a very nice meal after the commotion and chaos of earlier. They went back Olivia's apartment to get clothes for Noah and Olivia. First Ryos checked the apartment and it was trashed. No one was there but the completely trashed the place. "All clear but-"
"Oh my Gosh! That bitch," Edgar covered Noah's ears. "trashed my got damn house. My shit is everywhere." Olivia pulled her phone out and Called Amanda. "Amanda who is in charge?"
"Murphy."
"Give him the phone now."
"Lieutenant Murphy."
"Declan, why is my house completely trashed? Did it not occur to you in the least that maybe, just maybe she would come here! There should've been a black and white sitting here. But no you arrogant bastard couldn't think. You couldn't think for one damn minute that she might go to my fucking apartment because the person or people she is looking for live her! You honestly cannot be that stupid. Maybe if you took your head out of your ass we wouldn't be in the situation!"
"Olivia I'm sorry I didn't think."
"Ya damn right you didn't. Get my people over here now and do what you're supposed to do." She hung up the phone. "We can't get anything it's a crime scene. Can we just go to your house? I'm tired and over all of this."
"Yeah sure let's go."
"But one of you needs to stay here until the squad gets here. I don't care which but one of you has to." Mike escorted them out to the car and they went to Edgar place. Noah fell asleep in the car she was holding him while he checked the place and had them wait in the garage. "All clear." Olivia went in his house and went straight for Edgar's room but she had something to say to Mike first. "Hey Pike, your eyes do not leave my son unless he has to use the bathroom. In that case he is to come down here and use ours. If he is sleepy he can sleep up there or down here. But for right now he's gonna sleep down here. Whenever Ryos gets back you guys can work something out but I need you to understand that he can not be alone."
"Yes ma'am." Edgar placed his crutches by the door where is usually puts the and followed Olivia to his room. "Hey, you alright?"
"Yeah. Can he sleep with us? Just for right now. I don't think I can let him out of my sight." Olivia asked still holding Noah.
"Of course he can. I know you're really cautious right now and a little scared but just try to relax a little bit." She just nodded. Olivia laid Noah on the bed and went in the bathroom to gather herself. She tried to release all of the stress of today, only to be interrupted by Edgar knocking on the door. "Liv, Fin is calling." She opened the door and grabbed her phone.
"Hey Fin."
'Sup, Liv. We need you down at the station.'
"What's wrong?"
'You just need to get down here soon.'
"I'll be there in 20 minutes." She hung up the phone, grabbed her things, kissed Edgar bye and was about to leave when Mike stopped her. "Where are you going?"
"I have to get down to the precinct. Stay here with Noah." She pulled her gun out of her bag. "Look I have this if get into any life threatening situation, I got this." She left quickly after. When she arrived at the precinct, Fin met her by the door he explained that they needed just needed to talk. When she into the actual work office part of the precinct it was full of people she saw SWAT, SVU, FBI officers everywhere, it was like Gregory Yates all over again. Fin took her to her office with Amanda, Carisi, and Kat. "Hey guys. Any leads?"
"No but cap you should sit, this could take a while."
"Liv have you seen Sheila since 2019?" Carisi wondered.
"No, she not a hot topic anymore. Noah doesn't bring it up. I avoid it. I've never been to the jail to see her, if that's what your asking."
"Okay so the note makes since. Did Sheila ever want to harm you or actually hurt you on purpose?"
"I mean when I got Noah back she hit me over the head with something and pointed a gun at me, but that was it. And what note are you guys talking about?" Carisi sighed and picked up two evidence boxes. They had pictures of Olivia and Noah. Where Olivia's faces was in all of the pictures found the glass was broken, with the focus point of the shattered glass on Olivia's face. "Okay what about the note?" Amanda handed her the note and it said...
'Hello Olivia, I've escaped as you probably know now. You tried to stop me from being with my baby... what you did to me is so unfair, he is mine. He will never be your's like he is mine. I will get him back even if it means I have to kill to do it. See you soon, Olivia.' Signed Sheila P. 'P.S. Tell Mr. Goodwin to stay out of my way too. It'd be a shame if I had to hurt him too.' How did she know about Edgar? Would she really hurt him? He has nothing to do with this. Olivia's thoughts ran wild they abruptly stopped when Chief busted in the room. "What are you doing here? I thought I made myself clear that you aren't work this case!" Olivia got in his face and said "Excuse me but Chief, the person you let run the case caused my apartment to be completely trashed. A stupid mistake, caused her to find out about everything in my personal life. I was only brought in to be questioned but I'm putting myself on the case."
"It's not your place to tell me what to do."
"Well I am! This is my life the woman is screwing with and I'm the only one who knows her."
"And where is your protective detail! You have one for a reason Olivia! Do you know what danger you could be in-" Olivia cut him off, she had been preaching about how much she knows Sheila. "Yes I've been trying to tell you that I know how she works!" The had a stare off and Garland sighed. He calmly stated. "You can work the case, but you wear a vest at all times. And I'm not just talking when you go out. I'm talking in the building, wherever you go. I do not want to find out that you have been shot somewhere! You where that vest and your gun everywhere. And for you guys do the same." He stormed out of the office. Olivia gathered the evidence boxes and went to the bullpen to address everyone and the squad followed suit.
"Alright everyone can I have your attention. I am Captain Olivia Benson of Special Victims Unit. I will be in charge of this manhunt from here on out. The suspect is Sheila Porter of Derry, New Hampshire. She was arrested in 2019 for the kidnapping of Noah Porter-Benson. She has cabins and houses in New York, New Hampshire, and Canada. She has an accomplice; Juan Ortoli, who as far as we know is still in his cell at Rikers. I need someone to call and have a uni sit at her house in Derry. Alert all transit systems and make sure they know what's she looks like. She is unarmed as far as we know but should be considered a threat and dangerous to the rest of the world. Everyone please-"
"Captain Benson, does the name Raymond agree sound familiar? Olivia shook her head. "Why?"
"Liv, that's the name of Sheila's Private investigator." Olivia looked at the officer who brought up the PI. "He was just found dead in his home."
"Okay everyone please where your vest make sure your guns are loaded. She may be armed now. Rollins and Kat I need you to go to he home and ask for all available units to the crime scene." Half of the precinct took off to the crime scene. "Carisi I need you to go talk to Susan Janet she was Sheila's attorney where Mr. Green worked. Talk to her see if she has anything on Sheila. The rest of you run a tip line we need any and all the help we can get. Fin I need you to come with me."
"Liv your vest." Fin reminded her. "Where are we going?"
"My place and to visit Juan Ortoli." She went in her office and grabbed her bag, vest and badge." She realized she was still in her dress from church and her heels. And not her work boot heels. She just hopped she wouldn't pop and ankle trying to run if she needed too.
A/N: hey guys sorry for the wait I have been battling with a concussion for about a month now. But I'm doing better and I felt bad leaving you all waiting. Let me know what you guys think. If you have any suggestions or things you would like to see in the future do not be shy to leave it in the reviews. I take each and everyone into consideration and try to satisfy you guys. Anyways peace and blessings to you all and I love you guys!