A/N: I don't own Monk, Trudy, Skulduggery or Valkyrie.
Monk surveyed the crime scene, taking a pen out of his pocket to prod the carpet. "I've already checked the crime scene." Skulduggery said sulkily.
"Shut up, Skulduggery!" Valkyrie snapped and Monk smiled. The two went on bickering but he tuned them out, reconstructing the crime through the clues. He could see what everyone else had missed. It was a blessing and a curse and today it was also a puzzle.
"Why is there sand in this carpet?" He asked frowning as he dug particles out with the pen. "I need this analyzed, we need to know what region it is from. And here," His voice got a little excited as he scooted over to the couch. "This could be most useful. Evidence bags, please." He said and Valkyrie went to him, opening bags for him to slip sand and a bracelet he'd found into.
"Would you check inside the couch?" He asked nervously. "I would, but you know, germs-" She smiled and nodded. Monk felt his heart go soft. He watched her put on fresh gloves and examine the couch, opening the slip covers, pressing the cushions, removing them, slipping her hands into places that had to be a warren of germs and he started to reach out a hand to stop her and blinked. He'd wanted to touch her. That was odd, even if it was from wanting to protect her.
Monk sighed inwardly. He remembered being a fearless and brilliant detective before he'd lost Trudy. Then his mind had turned in on itself somehow and there was no cure. He brought his mind back to the case, feeling the skeleton watching him closely. Monk moved closer to see what Valkyrie was finding and thought he heard an annoyed grunt, but when he looked Skulduggery was standing stock-still seemingly looking at nothing.
Valkyrie showed him what she'd found, sounding disappointed. "Just some change and- Wait a minute, that penny is brand new but this house had been abandoned for two years."
"Good girl." Skulduggery murmured, moving at last to come stand beside her and tilted his head to stare at the coins. "I'm getting soft, Valkyrie, I missed so much."
"No, sir, you didn't." Monk said and the both turned to face him. "I mean, look at this place. It was clearly cleaned by a professional crew after you left. But I found evidence? Come on, clearly it was planted." He said smiling at them encouragingly.
Valkyrie gasped in wonder and even Skulduggery's façade looked a little awed. "I'm glad we called you in." He said faintly. The skeleton put a hand to his forehead and weaved slightly. "Valkyrie? I don't feel well." He said, then hit the floor and didn't move.
Valkyrie was on him in an instant, searching his clothes. "Something had to have been done to him, he just doesn't pass out, he doesn't even breathe."
"He was playing with the curtain cord." Monk said, feeling guilty for saying it but Skulduggery had been playing with it. Valkyrie went to examine the cord and Monk heard her curse softly. She took tweezers out of her pocket and removed the piece of plastic Skulduggery had been batting at.
"Enchanted." She said, bagging it, and Monk wondered just what kind of case he'd gotten himself into.
And Skulduggery goes down for the count! Seems like our criminal not only knew about Monk, but Skulduggery's need to fiddle with things when he is bored as well. The mystery deepens.