9-1-1 Emergency
It was early afternoon when the rain finally began to let up. Grace sat comfortably on the sofa in her dad's office working on her last paper for the year. Peter had been in and out of meetings and on the phone all morning. Sitting back in the chair at his desk after finishing up a phone call, he lifted the envelope Grace had given him from Alicia when Eli entered his office.
"Peter, Will and Diane are here to see you."
"Will and Diane?"
"Yes, they say it's urgent."
He sighed rolling his eyes. "Everyone thinks it's urgent these days. Grace, let me talk to Will and Diane and then I'll walk you around so you can meet some of the people you'll be working with this summer."
"Okay, I'm going to go get something to drink. I'll be back in a few." She stood and left the room as Eli showed Will and Diane in.
"Will, Diane," Peter said standing to greet them.
"Hello Peter" Diane said.
"To what do I owe this urgent visit?"
"Peter, we wanted to talk to you about Alicia," Diane said cautiously, turning to Will for some support.
Peter smiled and stood just a few feet in front of them. "Okay, what kind of trouble is my wife bringing to your firm this time? It must be pretty serious for both of you to come. Are you here to see if I can talk her down?" he chuckled. However the smile soon faded seeing the seriousness in Diane's eyes. She was still very hesitant to even bring the subject at hand up, but knew Will was too angry to handle it in a civil fashion.
"No, this is more of a... personal matter." Eli stood in the background waiting for the hammer to drop. He knew full well something was wrong if Will was willing to enter the governor's office. Diane continued, "Alicia's seemed... she's been..."
"Come on Diane, just spit it out," Eli said, growing impatient. "What is going on with Alicia? Every time I talked with her this week she's been distracted." The other three in the room all turned and looked at him.
"Come on Eli, it hasn't been that bad," Peter said, turning his attention back to Diane.
"We think Alicia's been, is being abused," Diane finally spit out. She watched as Peter and Eli looked at one another with complete confusion trying to register what she'd just said. The confusion quickly turned to concern.
"What do you mean Alicia is being abused?" Peter said, turning down his lips. "Someone is abusing my wife?" He grew very concerned not knowing what to make of this revelation. Was it a lie? The more horrifying question running through his mind was, what if it were true?
"Okay, let's stop beating around the bush," Will said, his tone raising as he moved closer to Peter. "We don't just think she is being abused, we know she is. I know she is. And the one doing the abusing is you Peter!" he said, raising a finger to him.
Eli gasped. The thought of the repercussions of such an accusation getting out in the middle of a campaign nearly gave him a heart attack.
"How could you? How dare you treat her that way?" Will continued, moving within a few feet of Peter. "How does it make you feel after you hit her, your wife? Empowered, does it give your ego a good boost because she gives into what ever it is you want? She stood by you for years, she's always defended you. How could you treat her that way?" Peter tried to cut in, but Will went on. Eli stood horrified at the whole situation.
"You're pathetic you know that? I ought to give you a taste of your own medicine. How hard did you have to hit her for her skin to turn black and blue the way it has?"
Anger rose in Peter as Will continued. He closed the gap between them even more. "Are you insane? I would never hit Alicia! You don't know what you're talking about. I don't know what you think you've heard or seen, but I would never lay a hand on my wife." The two men's faces were within inches of each other when Will chuckled spitefully.
"You're such a politician. You've perfected the art of lying!"
"I'm not lying. Is this your way of trying to win back my wife?"
"Win her back? Is that really how you view your wife, like she's some kind of trophy to be won?" Will shook his head stepping back just a few inches. "I'm not here to win her back. I'm here to stand up for her, to put an end to your mistreatment of her." His hand rose, moving closer once again. Peter's fist rose in kind. In realizing where this was headed, Eli stepped in-between the two men grabbing Peter's arm.
"Hold on, stop, both of you. Will, there are ten armed security guards, some of whom are secret service, just outside that door. You don't want to throw a punch at the governor. Peter, it would look really bad if you were to punch a man who is accusing you of abusing your wife." Both men glared at Eli, but knew full well he was right.
"Will, Eli's right." Diane added, grateful for Eli's intervening.
"Now let's both take a step back and try to calmly figure this out." Both men stepped back keeping a close eye on the other. "Will, Diane, what would lead you to believe that Alicia is being abused?"
Will explained the bruising he'd seen on Alicia, and a little of her behavior and comments in court over the past few weeks. Both Peter and Eli were surprised and sickened at the news. No one had realized that Grace had re-entered the office, and was staring at all of them in a state of shock.
Peter continued to hold his gaze on Will as he began to speak. "I didn't hurt Alicia. I would never lay a hand on Alicia, or any woman. I haven't even seen Alicia for nearly three weeks." Will was not convinced and turned to Eli for confirmation.
"It's true. Peter left Chicago a few weeks ago. We just got back into town last night, and he hasn't seen her."
"They live together. How could he have not seen her?"
Peter sighed. "No, Alicia and I don't live together... We haven't lived together since…" he paused. The ongoing conflict between these two seemed never ending. "Since she kicked me out so she could sleep with you." He knew that wasn't entirely true, but he was furious at the accusations Will had made. "We see each other, we spend time in the same household together, but I didn't see her last night."
Grace was horrified at what she'd just seen, and heard. On top of hearing her mother had been mistreated, she was now hearing that her parent's separation all those years ago was possibly because of Will. "Dad, what's going on?"
The four adults all turned, guilt running through all of them. Peter walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Nothing, this is just a misunderstanding. I'll just be another minute. Why don't you wait outside?"
"But Dad, I have been living with mom for the past three weeks." The adults all looked at one another, then back to Grace. Diane moved around the other men and stood by Peter.
"Grace, has someone been... hurting your mom? Has anyone been at the apartment that could have done this to her? It's okay for you to tell us. We just want to help her."
Grace became defensive of her father. "Done what? Hit her? What bruises? I live with her, and I haven't seen any bruises. No one has been over to the apartment. She's been working too much to have anyone over." She looked over to Peter, nearly brought to tears. These accusations against her father, combined with her mother's behavior over the past weeks, was a little to much.
"Grace, we need to figure out if there is something going on with your mom. Is there anything you can tell us that might help us figure this out?" Peter said in a calm tone.
"She's been acting strange for a few weeks. She's seemed edgy and I don't think she's slept much. She's seemed really distracted, but she gets that way when she's stressed over a case. And this trial she's been working on has been stressful for her." A guilty wave passed over Will at the mention of the trial. He knew full well he had been the cause of some undue stress.
Just then a gentleman dressed in a police uniform entered the office laptop in hand, followed by two of Peter's security detail and another police officer. "Dan, can I help you? We're a little busy at the moment." Eli said, approaching the man who set the laptop down on a side table.
"Governor I'm sorry for the interruption, but this can't wait."
Peter and Eli noticed the confused looks on the faces of everyone else in the room. "This is Dan Benson. He's the chief of police." Peter said. "What is it?"
"Governor, do you happen to know where your wife is?"
Everyone's focus was now on the men who had entered the room. "No, I don't keep tabs on my wife all day. Why?" Concern began to grow in everyone. Why had everything all of a sudden been focused on Alicia?
"The local 911 office received two calls about thirty minutes ago. We're trying to authenticate them. We couldn't pin point the exact location of the calls because they were made from a cell phone, and were cut off before we could get enough information. However, emergency responders have been dispatched to where we think the calls were made from."
"What does this have to do with my wife?"
"Dad, isn't mom at work? Wasn't she in court with you two this morning?" Grace questioned, turning to Diane and Will. They glanced at each other knowing Alicia hadn't been in court, and that she hadn't been at her office either. They had just come from there. Cary hadn't heard from her either.
"Actually, Alicia never showed up in court this morning."
"What do you mean she never showed up? She was all ready to go when I left this morning." Grace said, fear beginning to set in. Everyone turned their attention back to Dan.
"One of the caller's claims to be Mrs. Florrick, and the other caller identified your wife as being on his property."
No one said anything. No one knew what to say. "Just listen, to the calls," Dan said. "We need to know if this really is your wife, or if it's just some kind of hoax. Things like this happen with public figures sometimes. There are nutty people out there who like to cause a lot of trouble."
He pushed a button on the laptop. "This call came in first."
The 911 dispatcher introduced herself and then an unfamiliar voice spoke. "This is John Pierson." He sounded out of breath.
"A woman, Alicia Florrick, she has a gun." There was crashing heard in the background.
"Sir, have any shots been fired?" the operator asked.
"No, but she's pointing it at me. She's gone mad, she's destroying my home." Another crash sounded and the call was cut off.
Everyone in the room looked around not sure what to make of the call. There was no way the Alicia they all knew would try to do anything of the sort. And of all people John Pierson? They all knew that name well. Everyone in Chicago did. This call made no sense.
"This has got to be a joke!" Peter said.
"Just listen to this next call, and see if you still believe that. This one came in shortly after that one ended."
Once again a dispatcher introduced herself, and then the caller's voice was heard and recognized immediately. "This is Alicia Florrick." she sounded panicked.
"I need help. John Pierson is trying to kill me." Her voice became more strained.
"Please send someone. He grabbed me from the courthouse this morning, and brought me to his house."
"Mam, where are you?" the dispatcher asked.
Alicia was crying now. "Please hurry, he's going catch me, and then," she screamed and the call was cut off.
A deafening silence filled the room as everyone looked at each other. Anxiety and concern increased in everyone. "Sir, can you confirm that was the voice of your wife? Do you have any way of getting a hold of her? Does she have a security detail that can confirm she's safe?"
Peter sighed and looked away. "That sounds like Alicia, and no, she doesn't have any security."
"Dad, that's mom. We have to help her." Grace said as tears began to fall from her eyes. Peter put his arm around her pulling her close.
"It's going to be okay."
"How long before the emergency responders get to the location?" Will asked, trying to put on a brave face. He was worried sick trying to process the idea that Alicia's life might actually be in danger.
"They should be there now," Dan said.
"We should try to call her though right?" Grace said through her tears.
Everyone pulled out their phones. Peter tried Alicia on her cell. Diane tried Alicia's home number. Will called Cary to see if she had been in since they had left his office.
"Is there any connection between your wife and Mr. Pierson? Any reason she would have been with him?" Dan asked as he waited for his call to responders to be answered.
"Yes, Alicia's his lawyer." Eli said.
"Is there any reason she would try to break into his home, or threaten him/"
"Are you serious?" Will said, appalled. "You really think Alicia would do something like this? What about the call from her?"
"I'm not accusing her of anything. I'm just trying to get to the bottom of this."
His attention was then turned to his phone. "The authorities say the apartment is clear. There's no one there, and the doorman said Mr. Pierson hasn't been there since he left this morning. We're trying to reach him. We've put a call into his office, and one to his partner." He hung up and continued. "This may have really been a prank call. But due to the seriousness of the call, I would ask that you allow us to continue to investigate this until Mr. Pierson and your wife can be located," he said, focusing on Peter.
"Yes, until I know she's safe I'd appreciate it if you'd keep looking into this."
"Of course" Dan closed the laptop and moved towards the door.
"Wait" Grace said. Everyone turned their attention to her. "Dad, what's in the envelope mom sent for you this morning?" Peter looked at her questioningly, but moved to his desk picking up the envelope and allowing its contents fall to his desk. His nerves became unsettled again as he thumbed through the papers.
"Her will and life insurance policy isn't it?" Grace said.
"Yes, and a few sealed envelopes actually." Everyone's attention was now on Grace. "Something's wrong. Mom had all that stuff out last night. She told me she was just making changes to it all, but I didn't believe her." Her tears continued to fall. "I remembered something. About a week ago Mom was arguing with someone. It was late. I don't think she knew I could hear them. They went in her bedroom."
"Why would your mom take someone into her bedroom?" Peter asked.
"Probably so I wouldn't hear them. He was mad about a client, or a case. I couldn't tell. I didn't listen long, but I heard her say John a few times. Could it have been this same Pierson guy?"
"Can you even picture John Pierson yelling at anyone?" Diane said. "I'm not questioning what you heard Grace, I just can't believe it. That guy has got to be the kindest, most gentlemanly man I've ever met."
"Maybe, but this morning she also gave me this." Grace pulled the slip of paper Alicia had giver her out. "She said if Dad needed to find her this is where she would be." Peter took the slip of paper from her and looked at it, then handed it to Dan who quickly looked up the address.
"This home is registered to a Ken Smith, not Pierson. And it's at least an hour away."
Will pulled out his phone. He already knew what Dan's next question would be. "Cary, do you and Alicia have a client by the name of Ken Smith?" he said into the phone. "Do you have any clients that live about an hour out of town?" he asked, looking at the map on the laptop.
"No, what's going on?" Cary said. Will filled him in. Cary looked up Alicia's schedule. She had blocked out the entire afternoon for one appointment.
While Will was on the phone with Cary, Dan called the local authorities for the area where this other house was. Peter opened the envelope from Alicia that had his name on it, sinking into his chair as he read.
"Get someone out to that house now!" both Peter and Will said simultaneously.
The anxiety was evident in both men. "This is for real. Alicia is in a lot of danger." Will said, beginning to pace around the room. "We'll keep you posted Cary," he said, and then lowered his phone running a hand through his hair.
"What is going on?" Diane demanded to know.
"Alicia left some disturbing information in the notes for an appointment this afternoon. I don't know all the details. Cary is going to look into it further. The main thing is that Pierson really does want her dead. We have to get out there, now," he said looking over to Peter, Dan and Eli, as though one of them could just snap a finger and they would be where Alicia hopefully was. Peter was still reading the letter from Alicia, but looked up at everyone.
"Will's right. Alicia is in trouble. Eli can we get a chopper to take us out there? It will be the fastest way. Driving will take at least an hour."
Eli nodded, and left the office to get things ready. Peter stood and moved over to Grace who was quietly crying next to Diane on the sofa. "Grace, I know you're scared, but I need you to stay here with Diane and Eli."
"But dad," Grace was terrified. Peter placed his arms around her.
"Grace, I'm going to go find your mom, but it's better if you stay here, and there won't be much room in the chopper. Okay, I need you to trust me on this." She nodded reluctantly. "I need to talk to Will and Diane for a minute. Go find Eli, and stay with him."
Once Will, Diane, and Peter were the only ones left in the room Peter continued. "Diane, Alicia claims in that letter that Grace might be in danger. I need people I trust to stay with her. If you wouldn't mind…" he said, looking at her hopefully.
"Of course. I think Eli, a few secret servicemen, and I can handle that! Now go, and bring Alicia home safely."
"We will, but I need to talk to Will for a minute. Tell Eli we'll be out in just a few." Diane nodded and left the room. Peter walked over to the window behind his desk and stared out at the view of the city.
"Peter, about earlier…"
Peter sighed, and turned to face him. "I would have done the same thing if I had suspected you."
"I don't have to go with you. I could stay here with Diane." Will offered anxiously, still wondering why Peter wanted to talk to him alone.
Peter looked down at the floor shifting uncomfortably before looking back at Will. "If Alicia makes it out of this… If she's still alive," he became chocked up.
Will sighed. "She will. She's strong," he said, hoping his words were true.
"She might need someone to help her through this. I can only imagine from what you told me, and reading this, what she's been through the past few weeks," he said, lifting the letter from his desk.
"She'll have you," Will said, growing somewhat defensive again on Alicia's behalf.
"She may not want my help anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Alicia and I have… not had the best of relationships ever since she had to resign. She took it pretty hard, as she should have. She blamed me." Will looked right into Peter's eyes at the statement. "She wasn't entirely wrong in blaming me," he admitted.
Will wanted to interrupt and tell him exactly how he had known from the time of her resignation that he'd guessed Peter had a lot to do with it, but Peter seemed to genuinely feel bad about it so he let him continue.
"We've grown apart. I will always love Alicia, but we don't love each other the way a married couple should anymore. Alicia didn't want me to run, not because she didn't think I'd do a good job, but because she could see we were growing further and further apart. She doesn't want to be in the spotlight anymore, and I can't blame her. She's been very ambivalent towards the campaign. The reason she didn't have any security with her is because she refused it. She didn't feel it was necessary. She said if things progressed over the months, and she thought it was necessary, she would allow it, but not this early in the campaign. She can be very stubborn sometimes!" he said with a slight smile.
Will couldn't help but smile. He knew all to well of her stubbornness. "Yes, but Peter, why are you telling me all of this?"
"Do you love her?" Will didn't know how to answer. His anxiety over Alicia was causing his heart to nearly jump right out of his body. Not to mention, here was her husband, a man who had been his enemy for so many years, asking if he loved her. He didn't respond, just continued to stare at Peter.
"She needs someone who can love her, and be there for her in a way that I can't anymore, because she won't let me. I know how she felt about you at one point. If there's any of that left…" Will turned away processing what Peter was asking. "It's time you and I put our differences aside for awhile and work together for Alicia's sake. I'll be there for her, I'm willing to do whatever she needs, but I don't think I can help her alone. And I don't think I can give her what she needs, what she deserves anymore. So I'm asking, if you still have feelings for her, would you be willing to… try? Be there for her, with me, if she needs it?"
Will sighed placing his hands in his pockets. "I don't know that Alicia wants my help anymore either," he said honestly. "I haven't exactly been her friend lately. Let's just focus on finding her for now. We can deal with everything else after."
"Okay" Peter agreed and began to move towards the door.
The chopper touched down and they had to take a car to get to the secluded home. Peter, Will, Dan, and the few others that were with them, were met by police as they walked up the driveway towards the door.
"That's Alicia's car," Peter said, pointing to a vehicle near the house. Everyone stopped and looked at the vehicle for a moment.
"Well that's good. At least we know we're at the right place. What do we know? Are they here?" Dan asked the uniformed man that seemed to be in charge.
"The main floor of the house is a mess. There was clearly a struggle of some sort. There are traces of blood." The hearts of both Will and Peter felt like they would jump right out of their bodies, Dread of the worst kind began to set in.
"However, the house is clear. There's no one here. We've begun searching the property, and surrounding area, but we haven't come up with anything yet."
Peter and Will booked to one another thinking the same thing. That the last time they had each seen Alicia, may have been their last time to see her alive. An overwhelming sense of regret began to set in for both men.
A/N; Again thank you all so much for the wonderful response to this story! Originally a slightly different version of this chapter was going to be chapter 1 of this story, and I was going to let you all hang out to dry not knowing Alicia's fate while I backtracked for a few chapters. You all have Missthirdward to thank for saving you from such torture! You'll know her fate in the next chapter.
