Chapter 10 Lies

Standard disclaimer: I don't own Monk.

Notes: Parental Guidance suggested for violent content.

Thanks to alex hoodle & MonkNat08 for the feedback and Monkwriter & SpaceCadet47 for the encouraging messages- my finger is off the delete key (for now-LOL!).

"Who's been kidnapped?" Leland strode up to Monk and attempted to read the note in Adrian's shaking hand.

"All of them!" Adrian took a halting breath and handed Leland the Berkley student ID that had been clipped to the letter. "That's Julie's new student ID card, Leland." The detective failed to keep the panic from his voice, "Listen to the note-"

My Dear Mr. Monk,

Berkley was surprisingly quiet last night-Julie's abduction went off without a hitch. –But the young lady missed her family, so Natalie and Peg and Bobby joined her this morning! –It's good to be surrounded by family, isn't it? — Adrian, how far would you go to be with your family?

I will be calling soon so don't stray too far away. Do not call the police. Do not attempt to trace my incoming call. When I call -come alone, unarmed, and without a cell phone.

Leland opened his cell phone, "Okay, Monk. Let me get a team over here-"

Adrian clamped his hand over Leland's phone, snapping it shut. "No! Leland, you know what the note says-you can't help me! They're all in danger because of me; I can't risk not following the note to a 'T'."

"Monk, you know this is a set-up! I can't let you do this by yourself." Leland grit his teeth and stepped in front of Adrian.

"I need to do this alone- I, I realize it's a set-up, but that doesn't matter." Adrian glared at the Captain, his eyes charcoal black. "I have to do this and you need to stay out of my way, Leland."

Leland looked away and took a step back, unnerved by Adrian's sudden burst of anger. "Well, what do you think happened here?"

Adrian pressed a hand against his brow and took a deep breath. Talking to himself, Adrian began to mutter 'focus, focus'. He returned to the front door and cast his eyes over the scene. The detective started to bring hands up to examine the room, only to notice that he was still clutching the note. Adrian automatically reread the note then held it out, "Here Leland, please hold this, I need to, you know-"

With his hands now free, Adrian froze after doing a slow circle in the foyer. This was all his fault.

Leland patted his back, encouraging the detective to continue, "Concentrate man."

Adrian shifted his shoulder then slowly walked through the living room into the kitchen, his hands held aloft. Leland closely followed, pausing whenever Adrian paused. Monk's voice trembled, "I know how it happened, Leland-

"Natalie answered the front door and was, was overpowered by-" Adrian's voice faded away, tears welling up in his eyes.

Leland rubbed his friend's back again, "Take a breath, buddy."

Adrian gulped then began again. "Natalie was overpowered at the door-she must have been knocked out, because, you know, she would have put up a hell of a fight- there would have been more signs of a struggle. Since Bobby and Peggy were across the room, the assailant must have pulled a gun to make them submit. Maybe there was more than one guy, I don't know. -Anyway, they went out the back door. I noticed a fresh scuff on the kitchen floor that had to have been made by the kidnapper. Natalie, Peggy and Bobby were all wearing non-marring shoes this morning."

"That's good, Adrian. Anything else?"

"If they went out that back that means the kidnapper had to have parked in the rear of the driveway. You know, off the street-"

"So he wouldn't attract attention. Right! I'll go check with the neighbors to see if anyone saw a strange vehicle driving into or parked in the driveway." Leland opened the door and paused, "Monk, don't do anything until I come back."

"I'm not doing anything, Leland, until I get that phone call."

Other than their labored breathing, it was eerily quiet in the caged cargo area of the parked SUV. Bobby and Peggy still lay on the carpeted floor, waiting for the kidnapper to come back for them. In Bobby's estimation, the kidnapper had pulled Natalie from the vehicle about ten minutes ago and had instructed them to remain lying down. Bobby had managed to grasp Peg's hand and, for the last few minutes, a light squeeze was all he could offer as reassurance. The duct tape over their mouths was a blessing in disguise; Bobby had no words of comfort for his wife.

~~~~~MN~~~~~~~~

The latch clicked and Peggy and Bobby warily turned their eyes to the opening door. Peggy struggled to sit up and immediately began to mumble unintelligible words."Mrat mre mou mooing mis?"

"Why am I doing this?" Roberts, with his gun in his right hand and a smirk on his face, reached over with his left hand and pulled Peggy from the vehicle. "Peggy dear, you'll find out soon enough.-Bobby, don't move;I'll be back for you in a minute."

As her feet hit the ground, Peggy quickly scanned her surroundings; they were at the edge of an open field, surrounded by woods. When the kidnapper pulled her around the vehicle, Peggy noticed they were parked by an abandoned cabin with a hitching post in front. Listening to the utter silence, Peggy had a feeling that this location was well-hidden and isolated. She stumbled to her knees but Roberts pulled her up and yanked her towards the hitching post that was in front of the cabin."Mlease mop."

"I need you to behave, okay?" Roberts hissed at her as he looped a long length of chain through her cuffed hands and fastened her to the post. Pulling the duct tape from her mouth, Roberts smirked, "Now Peggy, if you yell, I'll take all the slack out of this chain and you'll be very uncomfortable. For now, you can sit on the edge of the porch and enjoy a bit of 'freedom'. Stay put while I get your husband."

Peggy haughtily made eye contact with the kidnapper, "Who are you and why are you doing this?"

The easy smile could not disguise the hatred in his eyes, "I'm someone Adrian Monk shouldn't have messed with. Now stay." Roberts went and retrieved Bobby, chaining him along side Peggy. Roberts climbed onto the cabin's porch and started to open the door, "Keep quiet and I'll be back with Natalie in a few minutes. First, we have to make a phone call."

"Hello, who is this?" Anticipating the incoming call, Adrian already had a death grip on the phone as he paced around the living room. The detective closed his eyes, hoping that the voice he was about to hear would somehow allow him to visualize the man who had taken his family.

"You'll have your answer soon enough. Come alone to this address-" Roberts recited the address of the isolated house and instructed the detective to drive down the dirt road behind the garage. "We'll be waiting for you."

Adrian opened his eyes in frustration; the voice was familiar but he couldn't identify the caller. The Captain had returned and cast an anxious look at his friend.

"Wait! How do I know Natalie and her family are, are alright?" Adrian met Leland's stare. Having already visualized all the possible scenarios, Adrian was trying to erase the horrific images from his mind.

"Tsk tsk, you're so predictable, Adrian." Roberts held the phone to Natalie's face and threatened, "Tell your boyfriend that you're waiting for him."

Natalie gulped as Roberts twisted and jerked her arms sideways, causing her legs to buckle underneath her. She wanted to warn Adrian, to tell him it was Ralph Roberts, but instead, all that came out was a cry from the unexpected pain.

Roberts rolled his eyes and returned the phone to his ear, "I'm sure you've heard that cry before, - hurry up." Roberts closed the phone and pulled Natalie to the cabin's door. Motioning for her to open the door, Roberts menacingly tapped his gun as Natalie's parents came into view, "You can run if you want Natalie, but then I'll shoot your parents."

Natalie stumbled down the steps and, although her hands were still bound, threw her arms around her father's neck. She turned to Roberts, a sneer in her voice. "You'll never get away with this, Ralph."

Roberts felt the three syringes in his pocket and his lifeless eyes focused on the dirt road leading to their location, "But I will."

~~~~~MN~~~~~

Cursing Adrian's stubbornness, Leland sped back to the police station, the abduction note and Julie's student ID in an evidence bag. Although he knew the odds were slim, the Captain had called the forensic lab to alert them to his impending arrival. Perhaps they could find a fingerprint or DNA to identify the perpetrator. He had also alerted all units to be on the lookout for, but not to approach, Natalie's car. Adrian had gone to meet the kidnapper and Leland was hoping one of his officers would be able to offer a clue as to which direction Monk was headed.

~~~~~MN~~~~~

A cloud of dust billowed out from behind Natalie's grey sedan as Adrian drove it up the dirt lane. During the entire trip over to this assigned rendezvous spot, the detective kept replaying the voice from the phone call in his head. It was so familiar but, to his frustration and dismay, remained hovering just out of reach. When the car finally reached the open field, Adrian first spied the SUV and the cabin. Looking closer, he was relieved to see Natalie and her parents- and their captor. The elusive voice finally had a face-

"Oh God- It's Ralph Roberts." Adrian quickly realized that Dale's message-'He lost his family'had not been a meaningless ploy but a vague and calculated warning. Because of his fraud conviction, Roberts had received jail time and had lost his cult followers. The kidnapping of Natalie and her family was quid pro quo. This also explained the legal troubles experienced by both the Davenports and Neven Bell and Sharona's close call narrowly avoiding a fatal car accident. Roberts was hell-bent on taking his revenge against anyone in Adrian's life- Adrian's family. But with such complicated plans, Adrian knew Ralph Roberts was not working alone.

In the few seconds it took Adrian to exit Natalie's car and approach the cabin, Roberts had positioned himself behind Peggy, the SIG-Saur to her head. Unable to suppress the glee in his voice, Roberts loudly demanded, "That's right Mr. Monk, come on over and join us."

Adrian approached the cabin, his hands held away from his sides. He slowed when he was within ten feet of the group.

Roberts flashed the gun, "That's good, stop there. You know what to do- hands behind your head and on your knees, Adrian."

Lacing his hands together behind his neck, he dropped to his knees and furtively cast his eyes around. Adrian was looking foremost for Julie but also for any accomplices. Seeing neither, Adrian exchanged a lingering look with Natalie, wordlessly vowing to protect and free them, no matter what.

The detective then returned his scrutiny to Roberts. Adrian could plainly tell that Roberts wanted to rant and rave, to explain and justify his motives. One simple question would divert Roberts' attention from Natalie and her parents; Adrian quietly asked, "Why?"

Robert laughed and pulled a syringe from his pocket and held it out to Natalie, "In a minute, Adrian. First I'm going to send the Eager Miss Teeger over to give you a little shot. It's quite fortuitous you're wearing a short sleeve shirt today, Adrian. By the way, you're not still afraid of needles, are you?"

Adrian stared at Roberts impassively, taking his measure. Roberts' anger and agitation was so elevated, Adrian believed he would hurt Peggy and Bobby if provoked. This was not yet the time for the detective to resist. He stared at the needle Roberts had given to Natalie and remembered Sharona's stoic advice, 'Suck it up, Adrian.'

Natalie, however, hesitated and grew argumentative, "What's in here? I won't do it!"

Roberts placed his handgun against the side of Peggy's face and, after pushing Peggy forward, squeezed off a round into the dirt. The gunshot was deafening and Peggy screamed. Roberts snarled at Natalie, "The next shot goes into Mom's head- Let me see you give him the needle so we can get on with it."

Natalie approached Adrian with the needle, an apology in her eyes. She didn't know the syringe was filled with Haloperidol. Also known Haldol, the fast-acting sedative routinely used to quickly sedate violent patients and had been described as a 'Chemical Restraint'. Natalie glanced back at her mother; Roberts was still holding the gun to her head. Natalie hesitated, and then she heard Adrian's calm voice.

"Nat, whatever it is, give me the shot before he hurts your mother. It's okay." Adrian slowly tilted his head, hoping she understood that Roberts' vendetta was solely against him. If the detective could draw Roberts' attention away, Natalie and her family would have a chance to escape.

Adrian unlaced his fingers and began to lower his arm, only to stop when Roberts shouted, "Hands back where they were, Monk. Natalie, there's no need to be precise. You can just stab him in the bicep; you don't need to find a vein. Don't block my view, though, I need to see that needle go in."

Stepping to Adrian's side so Roberts could see the liquid injected into Adrian's arm, Natalie loudly called, "Okay, I'm giving him the shot." Natalie pushed his sleeve out of the way and placed the needle against his skin. Keeping her face frozen, Natalie held Adrian's gaze and murmured quietly, "I'm sorry Adrian. I love you."

Feeling the needle pierce his flesh, Adrian sucked in a breath and winced from the pain. He closed his eyes and slowly released the breath, "I love you too, Nat." Adrian shuddered, knowing that some unknown chemical was now in his body and would affect him in unknown ways.

Before the full dose was administered, Natalie shifted her weight to block Roberts' view. She swiftly withdrew the needle at an angle, making a few drops of blood appeared on Adrian's arm. She yelled, "There- it's done, Father." Throwing the needle in anger, Natalie hoped Roberts had been fooled and wouldn't look for the syringe.

Adrian tilted his face down and away and softly uttered, "Nat - listen, I need you to take my wallet." He returned his gaze to her and imperceptibly twitched, inviting her closer.

Natalie raised an eyebrow, not understanding his plan. She looked to Roberts and froze when her eyes met the kidnapper's cold stare.

"Natalie, get back here! I have something to show you." Roberts yelled as he took a Polaroid from his pocket. Tapping the picture against his chest, he laughed, "I'm afraid I have some bad news for you- about Julie."

"What?" Natalie's voice faltered and she gripped onto Adrian's shoulder, dread filling her heart.

"Over here, Natalie!" Roberts briefly showed the picture to Peggy and Bobby; he laughed as they both went pale and sank to their knees. "Your folks are a bit shocked."

Reluctantly leaving Adrian's side, Natalie rushed over with her hands out, wanting to see the picture. "What's happened to Julie?"

A sudden drug-induced lethargy overtook Adrian and he struggled to keep his focus on Roberts and Natalie. He swayed but remained kneeling, everything now in slow motion and distorted. Adrian strained to pay attention; Roberts handed Natalie the photograph and their voices became distant, rippling like a stone skipping on water. The dizziness became worse and Adrian's head lolled. He lowered his arms and found himself slumped on the ground, barely able to sit up.

Natalie snatched the picture from Roberts' hand- Julie was laying on a concrete floor, her eyes were closed and a garish red stain haloed her head. Natalie choked back tears, "What happened to Julie?"

Swaying with each breath he took, Natalie's question echoed in Adrian's mind. Struggling through the sedative's haze, Adrian raised his head up and eventually focused on Roberts.

Roberts ignored Natalie and stared directly at Adrian's dazed countenance. A look of triumph was etched across Roberts' face. "Julie is dead."

A/N- I know that last sentence was horrible to read (this whole story has been difficult to write) – Adrian and Natalie are in for some tough times, but it's necessary. Hang in there.

A/N2-I'm also trying to hang in there, so please review! (& not just my fellow Americans! That means ya'll in Europe, Asia, Africa & South America too!)