As Monk had predicted, Ellerbeck's prints matched up with the fourth set from Sharona's house. Further research led them to Ellerbeck's last known residence. Monk and Sharona were both exhausted—Monk from his panic attack; Sharona from her lingering flu and worry over Ben—but they had insisted on joining Stottlemeyer and Disher when checking out the address. They were greeted at the door by a young man of about 22 years of age.
"Yeah?" he asked abruptly.
"I'm Captain Stottlemeyer with the San Francisco Police. I was hoping you could tell me where to find Michael Ellerbeck."
"I'm Michael Ellerbeck," the young man said, wondering what the police would want with him.
"Um, we're looking for Michael Ellerbeck Senior," Disher said. "The one who used to be on the police force eleven years ago."
"That's my dad, but he's not here," Michael said. He turned when a woman's voice called from another room.
"Mikey, who is it?" she asked.
"It's the police," he shouted back. She emerged from a back room and joined him at the door, confused. "They're looking for dad."
"Ma'am, I'm Captain Stottlemeyer. This is Lt. Disher, Adrian Monk and Sharona Fleming," Stottlemeyer said, introducing everyone. "We believe Mr. Ellerbeck is involved with a case we're currently working on."
"Can we come in?" Monk asked. "We need to ask you some questions about your husband."
"Ex-husband," she corrected. She stepped aside. "Come in."
She led them all into the living room and motioned for them to have a seat. Sharona and Stottlemeyer sat on the sofa. Disher chose an armchair next to the sofa. Monk chose to remain standing on one side of the fireplace. Michael leaned against the doorway to the kitchen while his mother sat in a rocking chair on the opposite side of the fireplace from Monk.
"So what do you want to know about Mike?" she asked.
"You referred to him as your ex," Monk said. He fidgeted with a picture frame on the mantle. "When did you get divorced, Mrs. Ellerbeck?"
"Please, call me Mary. And it was seven years ago," she said. "It took a while to go through. He left us after Casey disappeared. I had to declare him missing and wait for that to run its course before I could get a divorce."
"He flipped out," Michael added. His mother shot him a look. "What? He did, and you know it mom. That's why he left."
"Casey was his little girl," Mary said. "When she was taken he was devastated. Then after the man who took her was killed, he broke down. He quit the police and would hide himself away in Casey's room. He hated it when anybody else went in there and he refused to take any of her stuff out of there."
"Before he left, did he mention my name to you at all?" Monk asked. He pulled out a wipe and started using it to dust the mantle. He stopped when he caught Sharona shooting him her patented 'knock it off' glare.
Mary nodded her head. "He said that you were the one who shot Casey's kidnapper."
"He blamed you for her never being found," Michael said.
"I'm sorry," Monk said, seeing the look of sadness on both Mary and Michael's faces.
"No, it's not your fault, Mr. Monk," Mary said. "Believe me, I was a police officer's wife for seventeen years. I know you were just doing your job."
"Like I said, dad flipped out," Michael said. "He was too upset to think clearly about anything."
"What case do you think Mike's involved in?" Mary asked, curious as to why people were asking so many questions after so many years.
"We think he set up the car bomb that killed my wife," Monk replied.
"And that he kidnapped my son last night," Sharona added.
"Oh my God," Mary said. "I don't know if Mike would be capable of murder."
"I do," Michael said. Mary shot him a look. "Mom, you loved him too much to see it. He was whacked out. There were times when I heard him talking in Casey's room, except he wasn't even talking to himself. It was like he was holding a conversation with Casey."
"I didn't know," she said. "It's just so hard to believe that he could do these things."
"Do you have any idea where he might be?" Stottlemeyer asked. Mary shook her head.
"Didn't he have that cabin, mom?" Michael asked. "Or did he sell that? He and some of his friends from the force would go up there and play poker. I remember that much. He took me up there once."
"I forgot about that," Mary said. "I've only been there once myself. I don't think he sold it."
The conversation stopped when Sharona's cell phone rang. She answered it quickly.
"You left the house, Sharona," the kidnapper said. "That can only mean one thing. You know who I am."
"Michael Ellerbeck," Sharona said cautiously. Everyone watched her as she spoke. "How'd you get my cell phone number?"
"Kudos to you and Mr. Monk!" he exclaimed with a laugh. "I knew you'd figure it out. As for the cell phone, I got that the same way I got your son. Walked right into the apartment." Sharona didn't respond. "Let me guess. You're talking to my wife and son right now and they're telling you all my secrets."
"We know where you are," Sharona said, bluffing slightly. They all guessed he was at the cabin, but they couldn't be sure.
"They told you about the cabin, huh?" he asked. "Well, that's nice of them, but don't bother coming here. I'm in and out. I'd like to arrange a meeting. You, Mr. Monk and me. Tomorrow at 1 pm. Come early and Benjy dies. Come late and Benjy dies."
"What happened to your daughter wasn't our fault. It wasn't Adrian's fault," Sharona said, her voice pleading with him. "Please, just let my son go. Don't make me go through what you went through."
"Sorry, Sharona," Ellerbeck said. For a second, she thought he sounded sincere. Then he hung up.
She put her phone back in her purse and saw all eyes were on her. "He wants us to meet him at the cabin, Adrian."
"My God," Mary said. "It really is Michael. I can't believe he would murder anyone."
"Well, hopefully we can keep him from murdering a second person," Stottlemeyer said. He stood and the others followed suit. "We'll need directions to that cabin."
A/N: I have the next part done, but I decided to make some changes to it. Sorry. You'll have to wait in suspense. Bwahahahaha!
