Dr. Hunt reserved this hour to compose the quarterly resource status report for the Fisher & Li contract. She opens her email folder where she collects all her Fisher & Li business. Two new attorneys were evaluated and cleared this quarter. She remembers them. And there is the 'terminated' email that she hasn't opened yet. Diane Lockhart and Kalinda Sharma?!
The doctor wonders what is going on. She calls Kalinda's phone number. A strange voice answers. Her number has been reassigned to someone else.
She calls the Fisher & Li project manager. He confirms the two have been formally processed out of the project by their law firm. He doesn't know why.
Dr. Hunt pulls up the Lockhart Gardner number from her call log. She is surprised to hear the receptionist answer 'Canning and Lee'. "Kalinda Sharma, please," she says.
"Kalinda Sharma is no longer associated with the firm."
"Can you tell me how to get hold of her?"
"I'm sorry. I don't have that information. May I help you with anything else?"
The doctor needs to be more creative.
Kalinda had never had a huge presence on social media, but it seems all activity stopped about three weeks ago.
That was about the time - she checks her text log – there it is. She was going to repair her friendship with Mrs. Florrick. She was very excited about that.
She prepares to make a call to the first lady of the state. Surprisingly, she's feeling a slight bit timid. "Mrs. Florrick. I'm Dr. Hunt from Northwestern. We have a mutual friend, Kalinda Sharma. Do you know how I can contact her?"
Alicia becomes aloof immediately. "We know nothing. She just disappeared one day."
Dr. Hunt is caught unprepared for the rudeness.
"Where have you looked for her?" the doctor says in her most authoritative voice. "Did you report her missing to the police?"
Mrs. Florrick is not intimidated. The doctor hears that clearly in her response. "We didn't do any of that. I don't have any information for you. I don't know who you are. I'm sorry. I'm hanging up now."
Dr. Hunt is stunned at the coldness. It will take her a bit of time to process, before she will decide on her next step.
Alicia is disturbed by the call. Is it guilt? Is it worry? Is she being protective? This person can be anyone. She has no way of knowing if the caller means Kalinda harm. She has no way of knowing if that's the FBI thinking she too, is complicit in the death of Nick Severese, or if they think she's harboring a fugitive.
She goes online. Search Dr. Hunt, Northwestern University. She finds the faculty profile. Hazel A. Hunt-Ferrero, Ph.D., 'Alicia' to her family and friends, 39, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Feinberg School of Medicine. Publications. Awards. News: Local businesses contract for services from the University. On the list is Fisher & Li, LLC. Alicia knows LG got that contract. Spouse, Michael A. Ferrero, CPA. One son, Michael, 14.
What do I do with this? Ignore it? It eats at her for hours until she gives in.
She finds Dr. Hunt's phone number on her call log. She returns the call. She leaves a voice message.
"You got a call while you were in the shower," says Dr. Hunt's husband.
She hits the voice mail button and the speaker. "This is Alicia Florrick. I looked you up. If you want to talk about her, come to my offices tomorrow, 7pm."
"Is that…? Why would the governor's wife be calling you?"
"I can't talk about it."
He understands very well about the therapist/client confidentiality bond and he always respects her judgment when she feels she needs to keep things from him to honor it.
Dr. Hunt gives herself plenty of time to find the law offices of Florrick, Agos & Lockhart. It is located in a part of Chicago not typical for businesses of this type and stature. She finds a parking spot very close to the entrance. She double checks. Yes. Her GPS tracker app is on. She follows the signs. The elevator looks rickety. She isn't sure it's safe. When she reaches the floor where the law offices are housed, she sees a deserted, dimly lit, 'open concept' business space. In one corner is a bright office. She makes her way to it. As she gets closer, she recognizes a face she's seen many times on television.
"Dr. Hunt?"
"Yes. Mrs. Florrick."
From behind, Cary excuses himself for disturbing them. "Excuse me. Alicia, I'm heading out. You're last."
"Good night, Cary".
Dr. Hunt takes a more careful look at him. That's Cary, she thinks. She's heard a fair amount about Cary. She can see the attraction.
"Please have a seat," Alicia offers. Alicia wastes no time with pleasantries. "You're looking for Kalinda. For her protection, you should stop. I will answer any questions you have. Here in person, never over the phone or email."
"What happened to her, Mrs. Florrick? Where is she?"
"How do you know her?" Alicia, as always, can't answer a question without an interrogation first. "Are you one of her… girlfriends?" The connotation is clear.
"No," says Dr. Hunt. "That was unprofessional, Mrs. Florrick." What in the world kind of relationship did these two have? Is she jealous? "I can't talk about how I know her. I have confidentiality obligations."
A clinical psychologist with confidentiality obligations toward Kalinda? "That makes you sound like a therapist, and I have a very difficult time believing Kalinda would have anything to do with a therapist. It's not in her nature to talk."
Dr. Hunt has heard those words from Kalinda, almost verbatim. "I can't say."
"She was in some trouble," offered Alicia.
"What trouble?"
"Law enforcement was looking for her in connection with a death."
"Whose death?" Dr. Hunt is a bit afraid to ask.
"Her husband."
We talked about him, Dr. Hunt remembers. We talked about him in the past tense. "Do you believe it?"
Alicia has her own obligations. "I can't say. She was my client at one time. My knowledge is protected by privilege."
Dr. Hunt is afraid that is tantamount to saying yes. "Do you know where she is?"
"No, I don't. If I were to venture a guess, I'd guess she's left the country. It was the FBI that was looking for her."
"Do you know if she's safe?"
"No, I don't."
Mrs. Florrick's business-like detachment raises her ire. Dr. Hunt can feel her blood pressure rising. "Do you care?"
"Yes, I do," answers Alicia.
Boy, it doesn't show. "She's extremely loyal, even in the face of evidence it is undeserved."
Alicia doesn't miss the insult. "On our best days, it was deserved. And appreciated. But life gets messy."
Yes. I've heard the stories. And I'm sure there are more, worse. Dr. Hunt reaches into her bag and pulls out a post card with a picture of Milan, Italy, its canals lit in the night. "Have a look at something for me." She hands the card to Mrs. Florrick.
Alicia looks at the card, front and back. It is addressed to Alicia & Mike Ferrero. The note says, 'A most wonderful vacation. Heaven on Earth, wish you were here. Missing you. Love you. Mom.' Alicia looks up at the doctor.
"I received that about a week ago in the mail. My mother is dead. My husband's mother lives with us. Her sight is failing. She doesn't travel anymore. She can't really go outside the house without holding on to my arm. My husband never goes by Mike, always Michael. Do you think this could mean something?"
Dr. Hunt watches the light go on. She watches Mrs. Florrick's smile widen as she builds a story in her head. She watches what was a moment ago, a hard face, now radiating with warmth.
"Is there a connection of any kind to anyone in your family; his family? He's got an Italian name."
"We've been through all the members of my family and his family. We've exhausted any family explanation. There's no tie that we can see."
"Does Kalinda know your husband? Does she know about the Mike vs Michael thing?"
"Yes, she does," says Dr. Hunt. "It's a big deal in his family."
"Then sure, maybe she's trying to get your attention. Maybe it's her signaling to you not to blow this off. It's certainly possible she's sending you a message," concedes Alicia, "that she's alive and well. Maybe." This last part Alicia seems to be saying more to herself than to the doctor.
Alicia can't mask the relief in her voice. Dr. Hunt picks up on it. Mrs. Florrick lives in a merciless world where the weak are eaten. But she did care about Kalinda. At one time, before she was quite so calloused, she did care.
Alicia dives into her keyboard. Search Milan, Italy. "Five million people. She can hide." Alicia is focused on the screen. "You'd never find her. No way to know what her name is now. Ha! Fashion capital!" She turns away from the screen to look at Dr. Hunt; to enjoy that thought together. "Can you imagine what she must look like?"
"She must be stunning," agrees Dr. Hunt.
"Yes," says Alicia.
"She came from a very rough world. She can take care of herself. She can start her life over. Do you know this about her?"
"I can't comment."
"It's nice to think that this is her. We can never really know."
"Yes," agrees Dr. Hunt.
"Let her be," says Alicia to Dr. Hunt, almost as plea, "if you care about her."
"Yes, I can see that." Dr. Hunt watches a thought form over Mrs. Florrick's face. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm imagining adding an Italian accent to the already murky combination of accents she used when I knew her." Alicia laughs aloud.
She has a great laugh. The doctor can see that there was an affectionate tie there at one time. She can maybe see what Kalinda saw in her.
Dr. Hunt takes her post card and rises from the chair. "Good night, Mrs. Florrick."
She is maybe a dozen steps away from Mrs. Florrick when she hears her call.
"Wait."
Dr. Hunt turns to see that Mrs. Florrick has followed her.
"She did that with me once, called me mom when she didn't want someone to know who was on the other end of her phone call. And she said, 'love you'."
Alicia pauses a moment.
"Are you called Alicia?"
"Yes," responds Dr. Hunt.
"Do you think you were the replacement for me?"
Maybe, at first.
"When Will died, Mrs. Florrick…," Dr. Hunt starts.
"She was strong because she knew I couldn't be," Alicia interjects. That wound is still fresh.
The woman who cried uncontrollably in my arms for hours was not strong about Will's death. You didn't really know her. Not below the surface. You were entangled in public humiliation, consumed with preservation of self, protection of children. You weren't available. But she was patient.
"Mrs. Florrick, was she an unconditional friend to you?"
Alicia doesn't want to answer. She knows what will be the next question in the cross examination.
"And you to her?"
It's obvious to Dr. Hunt that Mrs. Florrick is not going to answer with words, but her body is speaking.
"Yes, you told me. Life got messy."
Dr. Hunt is remembering Kalinda's story about the 14 year old orphaned girl who felt, down to her pores, that she was alone in the world, without any family, without anyone who cared about what happened to her; whose foster mother put the idea into her head that no one honorable was ever going to have her.
"No, Mrs. Florrick. I don't think she thinks of me as a replacement 'Alicia'. You and I are so very different." Dr. Hunt had formed a first impression. She didn't really care for Mrs. Florrick and her legal world of the hard hearted and the piranha.
Dr. Hunt has always been happy with the choice of her life's work, helping people, with compassion; never more so than now. "I haven't been really sure until this moment." Dr. Hunt takes out her phone and makes a call. She speaks into the phone, but her eyes are on Mrs. Florrick's eyes. "I'm on my way home now. For our next trip to Europe, what do you say we see Milan?" She turns from Mrs. Florrick and boards the elevator.