"Wasn't dad a born again Christian? Didn't he convert when he got out of prison?" Zach was leaning back against the wall of the church. It was the day before Peter Florrick's funeral. He and Grace were there to make sure everything was okay for the funeral service.

"He just visited Pastor Isaiah a couple of times. He was protestant, which isn't that far off."

"He wasn't religious anyway." Zach added.

"The flowers will arrive tomorrow." The funeral employee told them. "And do you wish to speak during the service?"

"I don't." Zach replied.

"I'll say a few words." Grace informed the employee. "Maybe I'll read a passage from the bible."

"Okay." The employee made the note. "Do you still want our pallbearers or does anyone want to volunteer?"

"Zach?" Grace looked at her brother.

"I don't want to be the only one. Dad didn't have any…we don't have a big extended family."

"Got it. I think that's all for now. If you don't have any other questions, see you tomorrow."

The Florrick kids walked down the church aisle to the front doors.

"The closed casket, is it because of the...?" Zach pointed at his own head. He was unable to say out loud how Peter was murdered. "Couldn't they, I mean, fix how he looks for the funeral?"

"The investigators said it was best to leave him as it is, in case of an exhumation later."

"Where is dad being buried?"

"In Graceland cemetery. The judge bought two plots for him and Jackie but grandma doesn't want it so we're using it for dad."

"Uh." Zach looked at the high ceiling of the gothic church, the chandeliers, the big columns with the angels standing on them were impressive. The sanctuary could hold 1000 people, were that many people attending? "Why are you making the funeral public?"

"I'm making it public?"

"Wasn't it your decision?" Zach looked at his sister. "We could've done this in private."

Grace frowned. "Dad was a public figure."

"Not anymore."

"He was the state governor."

"It was a long time ago."

"Not that long ago." Grace sighed. "A lot of people in Chicago knew dad, they all wanted to pay their respects. The mayor and commissioner already agreed to send patrols. Governor Pritzker is coming."

"So are you doing this for them?"

"Why are you picking a fight with me, Zach?"

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are. You've been nitpicking everything since you got here yesterday."

"I couldn't get here sooner."

"I'm not reproaching you." Grace told her brother. "We are all hurt and in mourning. Nothing seems right."

"Yeah, I know." Zach rubbed the back of his head, he was sweating, despite the cold stone and high ceilings, it was hot inside the church. Record high temperatures were expected for the next couple of days. "I understand."

"Hey, tomorrow, could you take care of Jackie?" Grace asked him. "She's fragile right now and Howard is quite old."

"Of course." He nodded.

"I don't know how she'll handle seeing aunt Ann again."

"She 's coming?" Zach was surprised. "I haven't seen her since...dad's wedding."

"Everyone is coming to the funeral."

After making sure everything was okay with the service Grace drove to Ramona's apartment to check on them.

"Thank you for taking care of the funeral. My mind is somewhere else." Ramona sighed.

"No problem." Grace told her stepmom. "Zach is with Jackie and Howard, he's gonna help them tomorrow."

"Good. It's never right to see your kids go before you."

Grace looked at the time. "I should go."

"You can stay over, you don't have to be alone." Ramona said. "And Angie would love it if you stay."

"No. Lauren is here and I need to do some thinking." Grace said. "Need to finish my eulogy."

"Grace, I…" Ramona was gonna bring up what she found in Peter's office. "Nevermind, see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight."

The next morning, at Owen's apartment, Alicia was getting ready for the funeral along with her brother and mother.

"I don't know what I'm doing here." Alicia sat at the edge of the bed. "I don't know if I should be here."

"You're here for your kids." Owen said as he tied his tie. "It's okay if you don't feel super sad about Peter dying."

"He was murdered...and I can't stop thinking about how Will died too."

"Oh."

"When I attended Will's funeral I sat on the back, I wasn't his girlfriend or his wife, I wasn't even his coworker at the time. Everyone knew I had a relationship with him but I couldn't walk up to his sisters and tell them how much Will meant to me. I was out of place." Alicia stared out the space. "I'm out of place again. I spent 20 years with Peter but I'm not his widow."

"Sis, again, you're here for your kids." Owen finished up getting ready. "God, do I have to wear a tie? It 's hot out there."

"I haven't seen Ramona since Grace graduated from Berkeley." Alicia continued with her concerns.

"It's gonna be helluva awkward. But you gotta do it."

"For my kids, I know." Alicia nodded and got up. "Let 's go. Mom, are you ready?"

Veronica walked slowly into the room. "For tricky Peter's funeral? Sure."

"Mom, come on."

"I'm joking. You can't have a funeral without jokes."

The funeral was set to start at 11:00 am in the Fourth Presbyterian Church, the family and close friends gathered earlier in the garden behind the church.

"There is Ramona." Alicia saw the blonde woman across the garden, she didn't see her daughter around. "Wait, where is Grace?"

"I don't know, but we have to go say hi now." Owen attempted to smile at Ramona. "We made eye contact, she saw us."

So the Florricks/Cavanaughs went to say hi to the Florricks/Lyttons.

"Ramona, I'm sorry for your loss." Alicia used her lawyer voice.

"Thank you." Ramona replied. "You remember my daughter Lauren, right?"

"Hi." Alicia said. "You remember my mom, Veronica."

"Sure."

Then all just stood there feeling awkward. Angie staring at Alicia then hiding behind Ramona.

"You know when I looked at you two beautiful and smart women.." Veronica put her hands on the women's shoulders. "I do wonder, what did you see in Peter?"

"Well, he was a good laid." Alicia retorted, making them all chuckle and breaking the ice.

"There's Zach and Jackie." Owen pointed out. The Florricks/Lyman arrived. Zach was pushing Jackie on a wheelchair, the older woman didn't have much strength on that day. Her husband Howard Lyman was trying his best to support her.

"Hey mom."

"Hey sweetie." Alicia gave Zach a big hug. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm hanging there."

"Jackie, I'm sorry for your loss." Alicia told her ex mother in law. Jackie just nodded.

"And your sister?" Alicia asked. "I haven't seen her."

"She texted me that she's a little bit late."

Grace was hungover, she hadn't had a drink since her trip to Paris last year but last night she couldn't help herself. She drank vodka alone in her apartment while writing the eulogy, woke up late and rushed to the funeral. She saw people gathering outside the church on Michigan Avenue. Including some press. She took a deep breath, took off her sunglasses and stood on the door where a parade of people with condolences began:

Dean Woodruff from Capstone Preparatory school.

"Ms. Florrick, I'm so sorry for your loss. We in Capstone Prep School are proud that the Florricks have been a legacy family with us."

You tried to blackmail my dad through me. "Thank you, sir."

"If you want we can discuss putting a memorial plaque on campus.

"It would be such a kind gesture."

The Golds.

"If you ever need anyone to walk you down the aisle, I'll do it." Eli Gold put his hand on Grace's shoulders.

"Dad, she has a brother, you know. She's not gonna ask you to walk her down the aisle." Marissa Gold protested her father's sentiment.

"Anything you need you can call me." Eli insisted.

Why are you still loyal to him? "Thank you Mr. Gold." Grace replied.

"Hey, you know I didn't like your dad, but I'm sorry."

"Marissa Gold tells it like it is." Grace half smiled. "Thanks."

Diane and Kurt.

"My condolences, Grace." Diane Lockhart, looking as elegant as always in black, took off her sunglasses and shook hands with Grace.

Give me a break, dad screw you over how many times? "Thank you, Mrs. Lockhart."

"Yeah, your father was one of a kind." Kurt added.

You mean a son of a bitch. "Yes, he was."

Mike Kresteva

"When my son lost his battle to cancer, your dad called me up." The former republican candidate told her. "A class act your dad."

"Of course."

Evan Van Ray Jr.

"Grace, my deepest condolences." The young man held Grace's hand. "If you need anything from me, you can call me and..."

You didn't knew my dad you just want to fuck me. "Thank you, Evan."

"My dad doesn't know I'm here."

"Does Susie know? I bet she's excited for your upcoming wedding."

"I'll just take my seat."

Cary Agos.

"Hey Grace, how are you feeling?" Cary gently gave Grace's arm a squeeze.

What are you even doing here? "Thank you."

"Your dad was a good boss to me. Taught me so much."

"He was a great teacher." Grace played along

"Hey, how's your mom?"

Do you even still talk to her? "She's hanging there, like the rest of us."

"That's the spirit kid."

Glenn Childs.

"Ms. Florrick, despite our differences, working with your dad was very special."

Oh my God, are you here to make sure my dad is dead? "Thank you, Mr. Childs. My dad had you in very high regards."

Elsbeth Tascioni.

"Hi! Oh God, I didn't mean to sound so cheerful. I'm not cheerful Grace."

This is gonna be exhausting. "It's okay, Elsbeth."

"l'm so sorry. But I'm a little upset about this. The Feds already talked to me and I told them I don't know anything." Elsbeth grabbed Grace's hands. "I really don't, your dad made an appointment with me. He said he wanted legal representation. He was gonna make bail and he wanted to change attorneys. He wanted me. I told him, I'm in New York now! (I've seen your mom once or twice, she's doing great, she looks fabulous.) Anyway Peter insisted on flying me to Chicago to look at his case."

Please, shut up. "Elsbeth..."

"And he called me that night. He called my cell phone and told me he was running late. I told him I could wait 15 more minutes. An hour passed by and I heard in the news he's dad. And then I realized I was Peter's last call. That doesn't seem fair, he should've called his wife, or you!"

"Elsbeth, please calm down." Grace implored.

"Let me show you." Elsbeth took out her iphone. "See? That's his call. I showed it to the cops too. I'm an open book"

"Elsbeth, please, listen to me."

"Okay." The red haired woman stopped talking.

"It's fine. I don't think you're hiding anything." Grace told her. "You can delete the call. You can let it go."

"Sometimes I get too much inside my own thoughts." The quirky lawyer lamented.

"I know. Thank you for coming."

Geneva Pine.

"I met your dad a long time ago. He was my boss twice."

She really doesn't have anything nice to say. "Yeah, he was."

"But that's not why I'm here."

"Then why are you here?" Grace asked her.

"I'm here because I have known you since you were 10 years old, doing your homework on your dad's desk."

"Oh." Grace got a little choked up.

"Sorry for your loss."

Mayor Johnson and Superintendent of Police Waller.

"Your dad was a great man. He'll be missed."

Not by you. He was lobbying against you. "Of course, thank you Mayor Johnson."

"Ms. Florrick, I know you work for the State's Attorney office and you have heard some things about this investigation but I can assure you we've done everything the right way."

"I don't doubt it, Superintendent."

"And we did not leak the surveillance video."

I think you are desperate and you absolutely leaked the video. "I know it, sir. Thank you for coming and for sending the patrols."

The Company Chairman.

"Your dad worked with us for 8 years and he showed nothing but loyalty for our company."

He did your dirty deeds. "Dad loved his work"

"If you or your stepmom need anything. You call me. If you need a lawyer or accountant to deal with anything." The older man said. "We can even set up a college fund for your sister."

"You're too kind, sir."

Alicia.

"Grace." Alicia embraced her daughter tightly. "I'm so sorry, honey."

Didn't you hate him? "Thank you, mom."

"Daniel couldn't make it but he sent his condolences."

Didn't we all hate him? "Okay."

"Are you okay?" Alicia took Grace's face in her hands. "You look pale."

"If I tell you that I think dad is in a better place, would you tell me it's just wishful thinking?"

Alicia stepped back, she remembered that conversation well. It was the day Will died. "Why bring that up?"

"Because that's how I learned about grieving, by seeing you." Grace answered. "I think I'm gonna stretch my legs before the ceremony starts. See you inside."

Grace walked down the church's stairs to the street, the concrete on the street was getting hotter, not a cloud in sight, just bright sunshine and dry air.

"Oh shit." A man who was vaping a few feet away, waved at her. "Hey, Grace."

Grace looked at him, he looked familiar. "Connor?"

"Yeah." He straightened out his jacket and walked to her. Grace, without any apprehension, went to him and hugged him, he hugged her back.

"l'm sorry," Grace stepped back from him. "That was inappropriate."

"It's okay." He gave her a kind smile. "I always like your hugs."

"What are you doing here?" Grace asked. "I mean, you didn't know my dad."

"No, I didn't." He said, "I saw his death on the news and I wanted to reach out to you. But you don't have the same phone number as in high school. And I don't think you live in the same apartment."

"My uncle lives there now."

"And then I thought about contacting you on social media but I figured you'd be getting too many messages. So I came here."

"You didn't have to."

"When Grace Baskin died, everyone in school blame for it. I was the bad ex boyfriend, the scholarship kid. You were the only one who checked on me." Connor shrugged. "I wanted to return the favor."

"Thank you." Grace told him. "I need to go back inside, I'm reading John 14."

"I don't know anything from the bible…I'm sure it's good." Connor shrugged. "I'll just sit on the back."

Inside of the church, the family sat in front with Ramona and Jackie closest to the casket.

"Mom?" An older woman knelt before Jackie. "It's me."

"Anne." Jackie whispered. "You came."

"Of course mom." She held Jackie's hand. "I'm here for Pete."

Harold moved seats to let Anne sit next to Jackie.

The ceremony started on time, a little more than half of the church was full. When it was Grace time to speak, she focused on her little sister on the front row.

"My father wasn't perfect, nobody is perfect. But he always striven for greatness, he always tried to be the best he could be. He fell short many times, but my father always tried again. So I'll remember his persistence, his great will and the love he had for his family and friends."

14 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

2 My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

The burial at Graceland was solemn and short. Anne Florrick stood in front of her father and brother's graves. She shook her head. "Oh Pete. You didn't have to be like him."

By 1 pm only the direct family and close friends were at the reception to share stories and share a meal. Grace asked Ramona to let her take Angie for ice cream first.

"It's nice to get ice cream when it's this hot, right?" Grace asked her sister.

"Yeah, thanks." The girl enjoyed her chocolate chip ice cream. They sat on a bench outside the ice cream shop.

"It's been a long day. How are you feeling?" Grace asked her.

"I'm okay." Angie said. "How are you feeling?"

"I am tired."

"You should take a nap."

"I should."

"Hey, Grace, if daddy is gone, who is gonna help Santa on Christmas?"

Grace smiled at her sister's innocence. "I'll help Santa. Don't worry about it."

"Okay."

"You know I love you very much, right?" Grace told her baby sister. "To the moon and back."

"I love you too."

"How much?"

"To the sun and back!" Angie said with a smile.

At the reception, Anne was telling stories about young Peter. "So we all know Pete took the candy from aunt Cecilia's bowl, but he won't admit it. My dad asks him again, and little five year old Pete takes out of his pocket just one piece of candy and says that's it. My dad then lifts Pete from the ground, puts him upside down and shakes him off, and like 30 candies come flying out."

"Ha!" Veronica laughed. "Sounds like Peter."

"You remember that day mom?"

"I do." Jackie nodded. "I do remember my boy."

"What about you, Alicia?" Harold asked. "Do you have a favorite memory of Peter?"

"Hm." Alicia thought for a second. "When he held Zach for the very first time. He was so happy to be a dad, he almost cried."

"He was a good dad." Owen added.

On the other side of the venue Lauren Lytton was looking at Peter's portrait at the reception. "Well, he was handsome. You must be happy you got those genes."

Zach shrugged. "I guess."

"I don't think you look like your dad." Marissa chimed in. "But you're still handsome."

"Thanks?"

"Hi. I'm Lauren. I don't think we have been introduced." Lauren extended her hand to Marissa.

"Oh, but we do know each other." Marissa said. "I've seen your vagina."

Zach almost spilled his drink.

"I'm sorry?"

"Here's a story for a funeral. You were Peter's intern, the staff was wondering if you were wearing underwear or not, and I asked you if it was true..."

"Oh my God." Lauren's face turned red. "I flashed you."

"Yep."

"Well, I was doing dumb stuff back then. Now I'm married and I'm a mom." Lauren told them. "Are you getting married any time soon, Zach?"

"Me?" Zach shook his head. "I'm not sure marriage and kids are for me."

"And your French girlfriend doesn't mind?"

"Nah. They're more liberal over there."

"A waste of good genes, you could have the most beautiful babies." Lauren said.

"I don't think that's a good reason to have a baby." Zach replied.

"Lauren, Lauren!" Angie ran into the room to greet her half sister. "Grace got my ice cream"

"Really? And are you still hungry?" Lauren asked the girl.

"A little bit."

"Let's get you a plate."

"Hey." Grace joined the group "Everything okay?"

"We're good." Marissa raised her glass.

"You're still here." Grace wasn't pleased to see her again.

"Well, dad is still hanging out with the widow." Marissa, without turning around, pointed at the direction where Eli and Ramona were talking.

"Uh." Grace frowned.

Marissa got closer to Grace and whispered. "You also think it's suspicious, right?"

Grace gave Marissa a mean look and then walked over to Ramona and Eli, they stopped talking when she got closer.

"What's going on?"

"We're just chatting." Eli shrugged.

"Fuck you, Eli." Grace told him.

"Oh!" Of all the people who had said 'Fuck you' to Eli, this was one of the 2 times he felt the insult. The other time it was from his ex wife during the divorce.

"Grace, be calm." Ramona told her stepdaughter.

"We have a deal." The young woman told her. "We don't hide things from each other. So what's going on?"

Ramona looked over Grace's shoulder to the rest of the funeral reception. "Not here. We'll talk about it at home, when this is over. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Eli?"

"I'll be there at 7." Eli told them. "Now, again, sorry for your loss. Excuse me."

Eli left the funeral reception in a hurry with Marissa behind him.

"Dad, I'm your ride. Hold up." The young woman was looking for her car keys in her purse.

"Just drop me off by my apartment."

"That's all I get?" Marissa protested. "You really aren't gonna tell me why you were talking so much with Ramona when you're #TeamAlicia."

"Not everything is a joke, Marissa."

"I'm not joking." She said. "As your lawyer, if you know anything about Peter's murder you should tell the cops."

"You're not my lawyer, you're my daughter." Eli said very seriously. "Now, just drop me off by my apartment."

Alicia made her way to her kids to say goodbye.

"I got to go." Alicia hugged Zach first. "I'm so sorry, sweetie."

"Are you going back to New York already? Aren't you gonna stay for the will?"

"Hm, I don't think I'm in your dad's will."

"No, of course, but I meant…" Zach mumbled his words.

"It's okay." Alicia patted Zach on the back.

"Thank you for coming mom." Grace said.

"Of course." Alicia hugged her daughter but she was still thinking about that comment. 'that's how I learned about grieving, by seeing you'

"Mom?"

"Sorry, sorry." Alicia broke the embrace. "I love you kids."

"We love you mom."

At 7 pm in Ramona's living room, Grace and Eli waited for Ramona to put Angie to bed,

"I still think you shouldn't know any of this." Eli said.

"Why?"

"Because of deniability. You can honestly say you don't know anything."

Grace raised an eyebrow. "Are you already envisioning a trial?"

"No. But you work for the State's Attorney."

"Okay, Angie is sleeping." Ramona entered the room and sat down in front of them. "Where do we start?"

"The money. It's always the money." Eli said.

"I found an overseas bank account in my name with millions of dollars in it." Ramona told Grace. "I believe Peter opened it with my Norwegian passport."

Grace shook her head. "Dad committed embezzlement."

"I believe so. The investigators haven't found it." Ramona continued "They took Peter's computer but I found the bank statement with an security token. I think Peter accessed the account in some other way on another device."

"How much money?" Grace asked.

"According to the statement: $5 million dollars."

"Jesus Christ." Grace exclaimed. "Is that enough reason to kill a man?"

"Well, Eli." Ramona pointed at her husband's friend

"Peter called me about a month ago before he died." Eli got up and walked around the room with his hands behind his back. "He said he wanted to run for Mayor of Chicago. He saw how Lightfoot failed, he saw Johnson approving ratings through the floor. He thought he had a chance of a comeback. Peter also said he already had the money to launch his campaign."

"Is that what the money was for? What about the alleged bribes?" Grace asked. "That's why dad was arrested. He was making deals for the new Bears Stadium."

"My theory is that by taking the company money and mishandling the bribes, Peter jeopardized a $2.3 billion dollars development contract including tax breaks and government bonds." Eli said.

"That's enough money to kill someone." Ramona said

"The chairman talked to me during the funeral." Grace recalled. "He told me that if I need a lawyer or an accountant I can give him a call."

"He wants the money back?"

"Do we go to the cops?"

"It won't matter. The company will blame dad, that it was all his idea, that dad took the money, nothing but a known crook." Grace said. "And not in a million years they'll admit they put a hit on my dad. Nothing but conjectures."

"So I keep the money." Ramona said. "And do what?"

"Welcome back to WGN news. Today, it was the funeral of former governor Peter Florrick who was murdered on August 19th. The funeral took place at the Fourth Presbyterian Church where several public figures including Mayor Johnson paid their respects. Florrick's daughter talked to the media outside the church."

"My dad was a controversial man, but he loved Chicago and it's wonderful to see how many people in Chicago want to pay his respects"

"No arrest has been made in relation to his murder."