Chapter 2
" Mr. Monk. It is three o'clock in the morning. Please tell its not another spider." His petite blond assistant groggily said into the phone.
"Randy and Sharona are in trouble, Natalie. Besides you said I wasn't allowed to call before 6am if it was a spider. Remember." Monk stated resentfully.
Fully awake now, she sat up in bed and hollered into the phone. "WHAT!" In the months past Natalie had been able to forge a close bond with Sharona. When Gail became sick right before the wedding Sharona had even asked her to fill in as her maid of honor and she had been friends with Randy for years. Now to hear that they were in trouble, Natalie felt a sharp squeezing in her chest, worried about newlyweds
"Sharona and Randy are in trouble. Benji is here now and just filled me in. Can you come over right away? We need to figure things out."
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Her mind was working fast as she got dressed. What kind of trouble were they in? Where were they? What could she do? She slipped her socks and shoes on and ran down to her daughter Julie's room. Fully expecting her to be asleep, Natalie was shocked by the activity in the room. Julie was hopping on one foot while trying to put her shoe on the other one. That chore accomplished she grabbed up her hairbrush and swiftly ran it through her waist-lengthen chestnut hair. She turned and faced her mother. Before Natalie could say a word Julie spoke up, "I'm coming with you." With that she slipped her hair in a ponytail and slid past her mom heading down the stares. "I'll drive." She called from the living room.
Natalie stood there for a minute until she heard the front door open. Then, she raced after her 18-year-old daughter and jumped into the car as it pulled to the curb.
"How do you know what's going on?" Natalie asked Julie, still in shock by what just took place.
"Benji sent me a text message." She didn't say anything else as she continued towards Monks house, not bothering with yellow lights and going at least ten miles over the speed limit.
Natalie took this in and had the presence of mind to be thankful that Monk wasn't in the car. Now that they had arrived at Monk's, in record time, she fully expected to get some answers, but before she could even get out of the car she saw the two men come rushing out of the house and into the car. Then Julie took off.
"Mr. Monk, Julie, what's going on. Where are we going?" Then she took a double take at what had just taken place. "Mr. Monk, Your in the back seat!" Natalie exclaimed.
"We are first going to Stottlemeyer's house to plan from there. TK and Leland are already making the travel plans. We have to get to Seattle. That's where the police are holding Randy and Sharona." Monk tried to explain.
"When I talked to Benji he told me what the plan was, mom."
"Oh. But what's this about the police? What happened?"
This time it was Benji's turn to speak up. "They have been arrested and charged with first degree murder."
Natalie let out a gasp but didn't ask any more questions. The rest of the ride to the Stottlemeyers house was quiet except for Monks occasional burst of "blinker!" and "Bums! Watch out for the Bums!"
When Julie came to a sudden stop outside their friends house they all got out and hurried to the door. TK opened it and let them all in. They gathered around the table and began making their game plan.
"Okay" said Stottlemeyer, "We have a flight booked to Seattle that leaves in a few hours. I was able to speak to the detective in charge there and he said he was willing to work with us. TK and I will go to the hotel and get us all checked in. Monk, they only had three rooms left so you and Benji will be sharing. As soon as the plane lands Adrian and Natalie will go straight to headquarters and find out just what exactly is going on. Right now we don't have any details."
Three voices were immediately heard as soon as he finished.
"What about me?"
"What about me?"
"Share what?!"
"Benji, Julie, it would be best if you stayed at the hotel. At least until we know more."
"That's not fair!" they both argued at once.
"Share what?" Monk repeated with anguish in his voice. Not only did he have to get on an airplane and a boat but he also had to share a bathroom with someone. When would it all end?
"Monk it's all they had, and it was the only hotel in Seattle that met your requirements, including doing an extra through room clean. Now we don't have much time to pack, so I suggest we do that first and then you can all argue later." He stated in his most authoritive, don't-you-dare-talk-back voice he could muster.
"Monk's already packed, so why don't you guys get what you need and then take Julie and I home to grab some things. Benji, where is your stuff."
"I have what I need in my backpack, Ms Teeger."
"How is Monk already packed?"
"Ever since the submarine incident he insists on having bags packed in case of emergencies." Natalie explained.
Thirty minutes later everyone was packed and on the way to the airport. When they arrived Leland flashed his badge and they where allowed to go to the front of the boarding line. Monk, the last to go through security, was cringing at the touch of the security guards searching hands. Julie ran back to him and, with a wipe, held his hand until the ordeal was over.
After boarding the plane Natalie and Julie, sitting on either side of Monk, were working to keep him calm. "Its okay. You've done this before. You'll do great."
"Ha! The last time I was on one these death traps there was a murder! And don't get me started on the flight attendant!"
Monk went on like this for some time until Leland turned around, looked Monk square in the eyes, and said "Monk, Don't say another word or I will lock you in the facilities!"
The whole cabin was silent and then the passengers erupted in applause. The flight attendant then stood at the front of the plane and gave the safety instructions while Monk squirmed in his seat fighting every urge to scream and run off the plane before it was too late. Julie placed a delicate hand on his shoulder and whispered, "Whatever it takes."