"Still no word from the kidnappers. Whoever took Benjy obviously doesn't want money," Stottlemeyer said, walking into his office and dropping a few files on the desk. "That's all we could dig up."

Sharona snatched up the files and flipped through them. She squinted at the papers, and then at Stottlemeyer. "There's nothing here."

"So what, you dug up nothing?" Natalie asked in disbelief, taking the files from Sharona so she could see for herself.

"There wasn't a single piece of evidence, Captain?" Monk titled his head in question. He had his hands pressed together, like he did when he was thinking.

"Not one of our officers could track anything down," Randy told him. "So unless we find a body–"

"Oh my god." Sharona paled.

"Okay, Randy, you be quiet." Stottlemeyer glared at Lieutenant Disher. "Sharona, there's no body, and there's not going to be a body, because Benjy is perfectly fine."

"Captain–" Monk cut in. Stottlemeyer glanced at him. "It just seems so unlikely that they haven't contacted Sharona, or you, or anyone else whatsoever. I mean, you'd think they'd have a reason for taking a thirteen-year-old boy. Not to mention Benjy."

"What, Benjy not good enough for you?" Sharona snapped.

"He's just – er – boys older than him, um– well you see–"

"All right, all right," Stottlemeyer interrupted. It was getting out of hand. "Look, maybe the kidnappers will come back a second time."

"To kidnap Sharona?" Randy asked.

"That, or to leave a note or something similar."

"So you want us to plan a stakeout?" said Natalie.

"Just for a few hours, to see if anything happens. We can order a pizza and just wait to see what happens," Stottlemeyer offered. "I need a break from Karen anyway."

-SF-

At exactly 6:00 that afternoon, Monk, Randy, Stottlemeyer, and Natalie were all gathered in Sharona's flat. They sat around Sharona's coffee table, Sharona, Natalie, and Randy on the couch; Monk and Stottlemeyer took up the two armchairs across from them.

"Where's Julie?" Randy said, glancing up from his drink.

"She's at a friend's house for a sleepover," Natalie told him, sipping her own ice water. She'd refused any alcohol, claiming she'd rather be wide awake. Monk, as was his custom, wasn't drinking either. But everyone else held glasses of wine.

"I just remember she always thought stakeouts were kind of cool. She told me she wanted to do one with us someday, so she would feel like a spy."

Sharona looked over at Randy. "She wanted to go on a stakeout with you?" she asked incredulously.

Randy shrugged. "I'm good with kids."

Sharona seemed taken aback by this idea, and for once she didn't tease or insult him. She just stayed quiet.

The silence was broken by the doorbell ringing, a sign that the pizza had arrived. Natalie rose to her feet. "I'll get it."

"Did you tell them no mushrooms?" Monk called after her.

"No one wanted mushrooms, Mr. Monk."

"But sometimes they mix up the order. Did you tell them not to mix up the order?"

Natalie came back with a large box and two smaller containers. "I'm sure they haven't." She opened the larger box and the scent of cheese pizza filled the air.

Monk took one look inside the box and sprung backwards. "Ugh, ah!" he moaned. "It's all uneven. Oh god, just look at it! Natalie, you're going to have to order a new pizza. And tell them that no one in their right mind would eat an uneven pizza!"

Sharona rolled her eyes. "No one of your species, anyway." She cut a slice for herself. "Adrian, it's fine."

"It's not fine! How could you say that, Sharona? And – Oh god, you're making it worse! Don't do that!"

"Don't do what? Adrian, I'm hungry!" Sharona finished pulling a piece from the pizza and dropped it onto a plate.

"But now it's–"

"Mr. Monk," Natalie gripped Monk's shoulder, "it's fine. Why don't you have some garlic bread?"

Natalie opened one of the containers, revealing fresh garlic bread. Monk carefully nibbled on it, so as to not appear rude. He didn't take a single bite.

For the next fifteen minutes.

"Monk, you're wasting perfectly good food," Stottlemeyer said irritably. "If you won't eat it, give it to me."

Monk looked appalled. "You can't eat this now! I've put my mouth on it!"

Stottlemeyer sighed. "Well then throw it out. I don't care!"

Monk stood up stiffly and walked over to where Sharona kept the trash can. To everyone's shock, he started shouting and thrashing about.

"Mouse!" he screamed. "Mouse!"

"Hold on, I got it!" Natalie yelled, racing to her employer and searching wildly for the rodent.

"Monk, it's a mouse, it can't hurt anyone," Stottlemeyer grumbled.

"That's a lie and you know it!"

"Adrian, just get over here," Sharona ordered. Monk scrambled to her side, forgetting all about throwing away his unwanted food.

"There it is! There it is!" he cried, shaking Sharona by her shoulders.

"I'll handle this," said Randy. He grabbed the television remote and promptly hurled it at the mouse. The tiny rodent merely dodged.

Monk remembered the bread in his hand, which he threw next. The mouse retreated so quickly Sharona barely had time to blink.

"Wipe! Wipe!" Monk spun around to find Natalie already at the ready, a wipe in her outstretched hand.

"Did you see that?" Monk asked, as everyone tried to regain their control.

"See what?" said Stottlemeyer.

"The mouse practically flung itself away from the garlic bread," said Monk. He was deep in thought, as if solving something important.

Sharona blinked. "So?"

Monk finished sanitizing his hands and used the wipe to pick up the food on the ground, properly disposing of both items. "It didn't run from the television remote."

[A/N] If you're enjoying, don't forget to rate and review! Reviews mean so much to me. I'd like to know if people are enjoying this story, or if there's something I can improve on. Thank you!