The plane carrying Adrian and Natalie from San Francisco to Texas landed at San Antonio International Airport a little before 3:30 PM the next day. Natalie had prepared herself for a somewhat tense afternoon of air travel; but, thanks to the pain medication that Monk's surgeon had prescribed at the hospital for his shoulder, she had it relatively easy, with Adrian falling asleep with his head on her shoulder five minutes before takeoff and not waking up until the jolt of the wheels bounced lightly on the runway upon touchdown.

After the plane landed, Monk tried to get his bearings and break out of his sleepy fog while Natalie reached into the overhead bin and retrieved both of their regulation-sized carry-on bags that were stowed away during the flight. They might have only needed just those two bags and nothing more if it weren't for Adrian running true to form and packing at least four extras of everything that he thought he could possibly need before they left town, including food and water.

It was good they were making this trip, in a way, because even if they stayed they would have to find other accommodations for a few days since CSI agents were still cataloging the crime scene and would need time to clean and sanitize it due to the significant amount of blood left on Natalie's floor. It was even possible they would have to replace part of the Teeger's wood floor, which would have meant that Adrian's area would be disturbed and he might even have to find another place to sleep. Thankfully, Julie was able to stay with the Stottlemeyers (versus Natalie's parents which would have just brought up too many questions), so that was one less worry for Natalie on top of everything else.

In truth, Natalie wasn't sure she wanted to go back to the house just yet anyway, because all she could picture when she thought of her dining room was the horror of seeing Adrian's body lying there covered in blood with Steven lying beside him. Adrian woke up even before the ambulance arrived, and Steven made it through his surgery and was expected to survive. But for a few dark moments, she thought once again that she had lost the man she loved at the hands of the psychotic madman – this time, one whom she used to date.

It would be a struggle to walk through that room when she returned home if things were unchanged, and she figured it might be a good time to redecorate. The house had looked the same for years as it was. So, maybe it was time for a brand-new look, she thought – say, trade out the old green couch for a nice slightly-used but scrupulously clean brown leather sofa with matching armchair and ottoman…. maybe some bookshelves … She smiled as she considered the possibilities. They could clean out the old storage area in back and make that Adrian's room, and then move his furniture into her living room and then later…

"Sweetheart, you're blocking the aisle. These nice people would like for us to go." Adrian said, interrupting Natalie's daydream.

She blushed a little with embarrassment, but he would never know just why, and she was happy about that. How quickly her mind had turned to making their living arrangement permanent and how badly she wanted him to stay and be a part of their lives for always. Of course, this would only happen if things were to work out between them - after all, their first date started wonderfully but didn't end up so great. Maybe she was rushing things, she thought. But then again, she pondered, as she looked over at her boyfriend neatly reorganizing the magazines and help cards stored in the pocket of the airplane seat in front of him, this all just felt so very right. It was going to work out. It had to. So, perhaps they would discuss having him relocate to her house on a more permanent basis later. For now, they had a job to do and a crime to solve both for their own sense of closure and peace, and to bring Caroline justice.

As they stepped off the plane, T.K.'s friend Susan met them just inside the concourse. After warmly welcoming them, she helped them secure a cart to transport Adrian and Natalie to baggage claim in order to conserve on Monk's energy since he had just gotten out of the hospital. While Natalie and Susan waited for the suitcases at the carousel, Adrian excused himself for a few moments in order to purchase something at one of the airport's gift shops. After about ten minutes, he returned with a bag and a grin on his face.

Natalie looked at him suspiciously. "And exactly what have you been up to?" she asked.

He smiled even broader and reached into the bag, pulling out two Dallas Cowboy's ball hats, putting one on her head and one on his, so that they could better "fit in with the locals." Natalie shook her head and laughed. That was her Adrian, full of surprises. Funny…she always assumed that if he had been into football, he would have somehow been a Green Bay fan.

From there, Susan drove them to their hotel where they each went to their separate but adjoining rooms, and then on to the San Antonio police department.

Arriving at the SAPD, Susan whisked them through a security check and on to the office of her good friend, Officer Dale Wood. Dale was a seasoned police veteran who had helped Susan with several of the news stories that she had written about back in Galveston before he transferred to San Antonio three years earlier. Back in the college days they even went to the same school and briefly dated one another during their Junior year. Needless to say, he was happy to see her again.

"Susan! Get over here where I can take a look at you!" he said, warmly wrapping his arms around her as she entered the room. "You look great!"

"Thanks, Dale. You're looking great yourself! I'd like you to meet Adrian Monk and his assistant, Natalie Teeger. Natalie and Adrian, this is my old friend Dale Wood. He used to live in Galveston."

"Pleased to meet you." Natalie said and Monk just nodded and waved his hand, nodding towards his shoulder as his excuse for not shaking hands.

"Adrian and Natalie are here to investigate the murder of a woman that used to live in Galveston but moved to San Antonio earlier this year." Susan continued.

"Yes. Caroline Shelton. I got your message. I've pulled everything I can, but have to get Fulton's permission before I can let you see the data. Some new rule he's pointing to. I put in the request this morning, but so far he hasn't responded. Figured I would try again when you got here."

Detective Darrell Fulton was the kind of cop that wouldn't last two seconds, much less have been promoted to full detective, in Commander Leland Stottlemeyer's organization. Cocky, overbearing, and a general control freak, he was often the source of the kind of bureaucratic red tape that would cause the wheels of justice to come to a grinding halt. It was what he was known for, but unfortunately he knew the right rings to kiss and therefore was somewhat protected in his current position. Working under him was Dale Wood who was far more capable, for more instinctual, and far more the man than Fulton would ever hope to be. This working relationship was often a source of frustration, and Wood considered more than once quitting and going back to Galveston. But, his bride-to-be's family was from San Antonio and so he often bit his tongue when Fulton was on one of his power trips and played along, for her sake. Given that Adrian and Natalie had flown all the way from San Francisco to see him, he didn't want this to be one of those times. And so, he knocked on the door and left them out in the hallway while he went in to talk with Fulton and found out what the verdict would be as to whether they were released to see the evidence.

Even from the outside, they heard the two men arguing and were able to make out words like case is closed, 'Califruitcakes', and our jurisdiction, not theirs. After a half hour, a red-faced Wood came bounding out of the office shaking his head even as he slammed the door shut.

"Nothing doing. I'm afraid you have made the trip for nothing. He won't budge." Wood said.

Natalie was alarmed and spoke up, "Well surely he doesn't have the final say. I mean, there should always be someone that we can appeal to...right?"

Wood put his hand on his hips. "His boss is Sergeant Kosko; however, for things like this, you have to go all of the way up to the level of Captain Tiller before you can hope to achieve any sort of remedy. And, Tiller is a very busy man. It's doubtful he would want to bother with something like this."

Adrian squinted his eyes. "Tiller. Is that Captain Eugene Tiller?"

Natalie and Wood both looked over at Monk. "Yes." Wood confirmed. "Do you know him?"

"Perhaps." Monk said. "Does he go to the Federal Criminal Investigator Training in Las Vegas every year?"

"Yes. He's on the board. Why do you ask?"

Monk smiled. "Oh. No reason, other than my best friend, " he paused and put his hand on Natalie's knee, "...that is my best male friend back in San Francisco knows him. I think maybe it's time to give Commander Stottlemeyer a call."

While they awaited the results of Leland's call, Wood snuck Adrian and Natalie out to the crime scene in order to take a look.

Caroline Shelton's San Antonio apartment was in an undesirable part of town, far from the tourist area and the Riverwalk that was the center of so much of the city's activity. She had no doubt chosen this area as a place where she could disappear; yet, it now appeared that such a move had been in vain. Once Albright realized that she had talked to Natalie, it was only a matter of time that he would find out where she was.

The landlord let Monk and Natalie into the apartment along with Officer Wood, to see if there might be any additional evidence associated with the crime that might add to the case. The unit was largely untouched due to its owner's own superstition about disturbing the belongings of the recently dead. Likewise, since it took a full month for them to find Caroline's body, there was a stigma now associated with the 'death apartment' not to mention a bit of a mess to clean up – so literally no one had asked to see the apartment. This was all to Monk's advantage.

When the landlord opened the door and turned on the light, it was clear that there hadn't been anyone in the apartment for quite some time. The sickening smell of death still lingered in the air after all of these months; however, someone sprayed a deodorizer so it was not overpowering. And, everything was left apparently as it had been the last time police had entered the building. There were markers on the floor where they found the body, and fingerprint dust could be seen along the ledges of every window and upon the handles of every door. It was eerie.

Wood told Monk that he was free to look around, but he doubted that they would find anything in there since his own elite San Antonio investigators had already scoured the place. Natalie told Wood that he might be right; however, for now, he should just step aside and allow Adrian to do his work.

As Monk raised his hands and began to frame out each portion of the room, Wood explained the basics to Natalie about what he knew concerning the cause of death.

"We think she may have been a druggie. The autopsy showed a substantial amount of ketamine in her system." Wood explained.

"Ketamine? That's a sedative? Right?" Natalie asked.

"Yes."

"Well, is that likely to be abused?" she asked.

"Anything can be abused, Ms. Teeger. It's probably not one of the top drugs people will abuse; however, it can be used for pain management and has hallucinogenic effects as well. So, yeah. It can be addictive. They call it the 'Drug of War' because it was used for years in the military as an anesthetic in combat situations in order to calm patients down and to get them to rest so that operations and the like could be carried out."

Monk stopped what he was doing and looked at Wood, then Natalie. Hmm...commonly used in the military. He didn't have to say a word. Turning back to his work, Adrian continued to scan the room as Natalie and Dale continued to talk.

"She was dead for a month when they found her. How did the autopsy show that drugs were involved? Wouldn't those be out of her system by then?" she asked.

"Hair follicle analysis. The coroner noted some dried blood on the inside of her clothing consistent with an injection sight, so he tested her hair in order to see what kind of drugs, if any, were in her system. I will show you that information if your commander has any luck with Fulton. That's where he ran into the Ketamine. Still no idea how it got there. We never found a syringe."

"Would a needle tip suffice?" Monk asked, interrupting.

"What's that?" Wood asked.

Monk reached into his pocket and pulled out his tweezers, slowly bending down to pick up a piece of evidence. Because his shoulder was still sore, he looked up at Natalie and then stood back up, motioning for her to assist him with gathering his find. She took the tweezers and bent down, immediately seeing the needle tip as it laid wedged between the carpet in Caroline's living room and the metal transition strip by the linoleum in her kitchen. The needle point had been broken off, was bent slightly at the tip and also appeared to contain traces of what was likely blood.

Wood walked over and pulled a small baggie out of the evidence kit that he brought along with him just in case.

"Well I'll be darned." Wood exclaimed. "An entire team of trained investigators and none of them saw that."

"None of them are Adrian Monk." Natalie said proudly, looping her arm around Adrian's and hugging it tightly.

Adrian smiled and then winked at Natalie as the three of them finished looking through the apartment and then headed back towards the station.

When they arrived at the station, the earlier hesitancy to deal with them over what was considered to be a closed case had suddenly eased. Apparently, Commander Stottlemeyer's call from the SFPD had engendered a change of heart. Detective Fulton greeted them warmly when they entered the squad room, where he immediately had folders and evidence laying out for them on the table.

"Please, Mr. Monk. Ms. Teeger, won't you come in. I…I talked with your Commander, who apparently knows my boss, well actually My boss's, boss's boss, Captain Tiller, from many years back, and he informed me in no uncertain terms about your credentials. Please. Accept my humble apologies and come in. I…I've assembled all of the evidence on the Caroline Shelton case. As you know, we consider it to be closed. But, there are witness interviews, forensic evidence, and…"

"Excuse me sir, you can add this to the pile of forensic evidence too." Wood interrupted. Fulton stopped.

"What is this?" Fulton asked, looking at the evidence bag.

"It is the likely instrument used to subdue Caroline Shelton."

Fulton took the bag and looked at the needle. "Looks like the end of a syringe."

"It is. And, it's bent on the end indicating that it was used with some amount of force. Look closely and you can see blood."

Fulton looked at the needle and then back at Monk and marveled. "You're everything that Commander Stottlemeyer said you were. I will have this sent up to forensics and have them test it for Caroline Shelton's blood."

"Also, for the presence of Ketamine." Adrian said. "I suspect that this was what was used to administer the drug and once she stopped fighting so much, the assailant then strangled her."

"Well, that didn't work out too well for him. As we said, the man left fingerprints on the actual murder weapon itself. It seems that fate stepped in for him and saw to it that he paid for his crime before we could." Wood noted.

"Yes, you said that. Do you have any information on this person, on his associations? Was he, by any chance former military?" Adrian asked. Natalie paid rapt attention.

"We have a full biography of the man including his rap sheet." Fulton offered. "It's all in that folder over there. Started out a petty criminal and graduated up to organized crime."

Wood walked over and picked up the folder then opened it up, handing it to Monk. Natalie came behind Adrian as he began to flip through the pages to read.

Suddenly, he froze in place and his whole body stiffened. As he stood there in stunned silence, the papers all slid from the folder in his hands and fell onto the floor.

"Adrian! Are you okay?" Natalie asked, alarmed at his demeanor. He was positively pale and Officer Wood was quick to come over and bring him a chair. Moving as if in a daze, Monk looked quite disturbed and then brought his hand to his forehead. He sat down.

"Adrian, What's wrong, do you feel sick? Darn it! I knew we shouldn't have made this trip!" Natalie said as he continued to stare at the floor.

Monk's eyes shifted while he pondered the new information. Then he stopped, slightly smiled and quietly shook his head yes. He raised his eyes to Natalie and took her by the hands. "Unbelievable!"

"What? What is it?" she probed, yet again. His eyes looked into hers with a knowing amazement. "You've got something, don't you!" she asked, recognizing the look. He looked down and to the left and shook his head yes again.

"I…I think I just solved the case." He said, raising his eyes to his girl once more. He looked up at Wood and at Fulton who displayed a quiet interest in what he had to say.

"You solved Caroline's murder?" she asked.

"But we already know who killed Shelton. His fingerprints were on the murder weapon." Fulton protested.

Adrian shook his head. "Yes, you know who killed her, but you don't know why he killed her or how it was all set up."

"So, you've got the evidence you need?" Natalie asked.

He looked at her amazed. "I think so...I've got that and so much more. We just need to follow through and get a few subpoenas, but it all makes sense.…Natalie, sweetheart...here's what happened..."