You're the showrunner. You're in what's most likely your final season. You just can't keep Mack around anymore. You either want , or are contractually obligated, to keep Michael Lembeck there.

Some choices:
- just have the other characters continue to refer to where she is(work, shopping, visiting someone, whatever)
-kill her off
-do what they did
-any other option/scenario [This is where you get to show off your sitcom writing skills].

I would have had her thrown in jail. That would have made for a few interesting shows.