With Will on suspension and unable to take on cases, Alicia is assigned to represent Kalinda in a case against the IRS who are investigating her for checks she received doing freelance work. What appears to be a cut and dry case gets a bit dicey when an FBI investigator, Lana Delany, shows up at Alicia’s office and questions whether Kalinda’s done freelance work for Lamont Bishop, a client of the firm. Unsure of what exactly is going on, Alicia gets Lana out of her office and lets Kalinda know that the FBI are sniffing around.
Kalinda meets with Lana and it’s obvious these two have some sort of history, although what is not very clear. What is clear is Kalinda is definitely up against something and it doesn’t seem good.
In addition to working on Kalinda’s case, Alicia agrees to sit in on a ‘Blue Ribbon Panel’ at Diane’s request. The panel’s made up of judges, another attorney (played by Matthew Perry) and a pastor; the reason they’re there is to review a shooting involving an undercover officer and a civilian. The officer and her partner claim the man they shot and killed charged at them while the victim’s son claims the officers never identified themselves. The purpose of the panel is to review the evidence presented and come to decision, much like that of a jury. But Alicia shakes things up when she takes things a step further with her inquiring questions, and even admitting to investigating a claim made by one of the officers. Seems like she’s shaking things up and no one on the panel is too happy.
After being “warned” by Mike, the chairman, that she should watch out what she says and does and not piss of these judges, especially since she goes up against them in court, Alicia turns to Diane and Will for some advice. Diane makes it clear that her career can be affected so she needs to weigh the pros and cons of challenging the panel.
Alicia continues to push when she wants one of the witnesses recalled to testify. What she doesn’t realize is the ties this has to the State’s Attornies office and of course Peter himself. Mike takes full advantage of this connection and before wrapping things up lays it out for Alicia; he can write-up his report which would in turn hurt Peter and his career, or one that would protect him. Leaving the decision in Alicia’s hands she has no choice but to recuse herself. Looks like Mike won and of course lays a hefty heap of guilt on Alicia.
If things aren’t crazy enough, Alicia learns that while her bid and even heartwarming letter she wrote to the owner of her previous home is not going to get her the house, another Florrick has. Her first thought is Peter, but after confronting him and realizing he didn’t even know it was on the market she figures out it was her mother in-law Jackie who’s bought the house. Angry and ready to blow Alicia goes in search of Jackie and is ready to confront her.
Back at Lockhart Gardner, Eli, David and Julius are all fighting to have Will removed as name partner while he’s out on suspension, believing that Diane holding his seat for him is a bad move, one that will ruin the firm. While each lobbies for themselves to be Will’s replacement, Will and Diane pull a move that gives them what they want, but not one of them gets the position. Turns out Howard Lyman, who’s been with the firm longer than anyone is ready to “step up to the plate” until Will’s suspension is over.
Looks like everyone’s got some sort of craziness going on at Lockhart Gardner. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds.
