Bang! Bang! Bang! Mr. Monk's eyes slowly opened to the obtrusive noise coming from down the hall. Bang! Bang! Mr. Monk! Mr. Monk! The panicked pounding on the door continued as the man made his way to answer the door. Mr. Monk glanced through the peek hole with blurry eyes before opening the door. Standing before him was a young man. Tall, about 5'9'', with soft brown hair that partly covered his fright filled brown eyes.
"Benji? What is it? Are you okay?" Monk asked as he allowed him to enter the apartment.
"Its Mom and Randy. They're in trouble." The words rushed out of his mouth as he sank into the plush, tan couch.
"What do you mean? Start from the beginning and tell me everything." Monk sat next to Benji and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. The gesture was brief but Benji understood how much effort it took Monk to do even that.
He took a deep breath and begin explaining what brought him there so late at night. "Mom called me about an hour ago. She said that a man had been killed and the police thought that it was she and Randy's doing. They've been charged with first-degree murder. She told me I had to get you. You're the only one who can figure it out. Promise me you will!"
The young man, all his energy now spent, bowed his head as the tears slipped down his cheeks. Monk sat there quietly absorbing the information. Sharona and Randy? Accused of murder? Well, maybe Sharona, but Trevor was once again across the country, out of their lives for good. But who would ever really consider Randy a suspect.
"Benji," Monk said and the boy looked into the detectives eyes, "I promise you, whatever it takes, I will find out what is going on."
Benji smiled at this reassurance and let out a sigh of relief. Monk continued, "Where are they being held?"
"Well, here's the thing Mr. Monk. You know they were taking a cruise for their honeymoon. Well it happened on the boat while they were at sea. They were trying to rescue some guy, who had almost fallen overboard, but somehow he died and they think my parents had something to do with it. Right now the ship is anchored in Seattle Washington." He watched as Monks eyes grew round and quickly started talking again. "It's okay Mr. Monk! Really. You will hardly even know you're on a boat. Please! Its Mom and Randy. You can't let this happen."
Monk sighed and mentally agreed with the boy. Surely after all his friends had done for him he could swallow his fears and help. Then he thought about the submarine. Memories of that horrid and sea water filled adventure almost caused him to pass out, but then Benji grabbed him by the shoulders and repeated to him something that Benji's mother often said to him when it was her sister that stood accused of the same crime.
"Whatever it takes, Mr. Monk. You said whatever it takes."
"Alright, Let me call Natalie and we will work out a plan."