Old Friends
Another knock.
"Well, I have a surprise for you," she said. "Guess who's up from Florida, visiting his grandchildren?"
Natalie returned with an thin elderly man, bald and liver spotted, and sporting a large grey mustache.
"Captain - I mean Commissioner," said Monk.
"Just call me Leland,"said Stottlemeyer. "I retired years ago. How's it going, Monk?"
"I'm dying," Monk complained. "They're going to put me in the hospital, I'm . . . ."
Stottlemeyer realized the mistake.
"Do you still do consultant work?"
Monk looked at Natalie.
"It's been five years since he worked with the SFPD," said Natalie.
"The arthritis," Monk explained.
"You know, I figured you'd keep in harness to the end," said Stottlemeyer.
"So did I," said Monk, glumly.
"I have a gift for your birthday," observed Stottlemeyer. "I knew you'd rather stay in the apartment you shared with Trudy.
Stottlemeyer limped out and opened the door.
"There, you've announced me," kvetched a familiar voice.
Monk heard Stottlemeyer limp back, accompanied by the brisk march of a woman in heels.
"Hi, Adrian," said Sharona. She was well dressed, sporting a fancy scarf around her neck.
More conservatively than in years past, yet she still sported the same self-assured posture Monk remembered her by.
"I'm your nurse again, Adrian," she said.