Just a thought ... sometimes this works. Could you call one of the RCC rooms at ORD (not the B22 one it closes at 7). I know they're super busy but maybe someone there will have an idea of how to retrieve your friend's luggage. Maybe the person they asked about the luggage didn't want to deal with it or just gave the "standard" answer. How I miss the 1K rooms!
(I love seat 9B too)