DISCLAIMER: Rating - PG13 (it's a murder mystery after all), for a little cussing & swearing and a body count. and Simon & Simon are not owned by me, they are owned by USA Network and CBS. This is just a stupid fan fiction and I won't make any money off of it. ENJOY!



Adrian and Sharona ascended the stairs in front of the San Diego Police Department. Even though they had been on the road since 5 am that morning, Sharona seemed to be in a very good mood. As they walked, Adrian touched the poles supporting the handrail alongside the stairs and asked, Why are you so happy today? I thought you would be in a bad mood after driving all the way from San Francisco.

Adrian, I'm happy because they're paying us double! That means I can finally take Benjie to the dentist! She laughed, then added sarcastically, Hey, wanna move to San Diego?

No, not really he answered, completely missing the joke.

They reached the top of the stairs, opened the large glass doors, and went inside. They approached the desk sergeant, a blonde man with a mustache who looked to be in his late 50's. Sharona noted his name tag and said Sergeant Nixon, Sharona Fleming and Adrian Monk. We're here to see Captain Brown.

Follow me Ms. Fleming, Captain's waiting for you. Sergeant Nixon led them through the station until they arrived at Brown's office. He knocked on the door, then opened it and peered inside. Your consultant from San Francisco has arrived, Captain.

Captain Brown emerged and greeted them with a wide smile. You must me Mr. Monk! And Ms. Fleming? They exchanged handshakes, and Brown ushered them into his office. Sharona handed Monk a wipe before she sat down, and he stood casually cleaning his hands as Brown took his seat behind the desk. Brown asked, Do you have your contract? Sharona handed him a red folder. Brown opened it up, scanned the document for a few seconds, then quickly signed it and handed it back to Sharona. You're hired!

You aren't even going to read it? she asked with amazement.

Ms. Fleming -

Oh please, just call me Sharona! she said, giving him a warm smile. She was really going to enjoy working with Captain Brown.

Ok, Sharona, he continued, We're in a real bind here, and we could sure use your help. I'm not worried about the cost. If we catch this bastard, it'll be worth every penny spent. He turned to face Adrian, and watched as he wiped off his chair before sitting down. Captain Stottlemeyer told me all about you, Mr. Monk. Hopefully you won't be too uncomfortable working down here in San Diego. He handed Sharona two hotel reservation slips. We've already reserved two rooms for you at the Hilton a couple of blocks from here, and we gave them specific instructions to clean absolutely everything before you check in - even the bedspreads. He smiled at Monk, who had started to arrange items on the desk in an orderly fashion. You should feel right at home!

Sharona and Adrian glanced at each other in surprise, and Adrian actually smiled. Sharona's good mood was apparently rubbing off on him. He put down the Captain's paper weight, shrugged his shoulders, and said Sounds great, Captain! Let's get started!

Captain Brown held up his hand. Hold on Monk, we're still waiting for someone.

Monk's smile faded into a look of concern. Someone else? You mean, you hired another private consultant?

Calm down, Mr. Monk. Captain Stottlemeyer said that our perpetrator is trying to kill you before you catch him. Correct?

Adrian shrugged. Well, yeah.....

Well that's not going to happen on my watch. I didn't haul your happy butt down here all the way from San Francisco just to watch you get snuffed.

A knock at the door interrupted him, and sergeant Nixon poked his head in the door. Captain, they're here.

Send them in, Nixon!

Brown stood up and moved around to the front of his desk. Two men approached the door to the office, and they immediately greeted Captain Brown with a cheerful chorus of Hey, Town! The first man, around 45 years of age, was very neat and well-groomed in appearance. He was about 5'10 with short blonde hair and muscular build, and wore a navy blue blazer with a light blue dress shirt, burgundy silk tie, gray slacks, and black dress shoes. He raised his arm and gave a friendly wave to Captain Brown as he came through the door, and Adrian immediately noticed the nickel plated .357 magnum in it's holster on his right hip.

The man that followed him could not have looked more different. He was tall and thin, a few years older than his companion, with short brown hair and a mustache. He wore an off-white cowboy hat, and tan hunter's coat that he left unbuttoned. The coat had a brown suede patch on the right shoulder, with the cuffs rolled up and held in place by straps that buttoned onto the outside of the sleeves. Underneath the coat he wore a bright red hawaiian shirt with a blue and purple flower pattern. Light blue jeans, a brown leather belt with a plain brass buckle, and brown, well-worn cowboy boots completed his somewhat mismatched ensemble. He also waved at the Captain when he entered the office, and this motion briefly exposed the black .44 magnum he carried in a shoulder holster underneath his left arm.

Monk noted that, curiously, neither man wore a badge, yet they apparently knew Captain Brown quite well. The three men exchanged some friendly banter for a minute,and when they finished, the blonde newcomer nodded towards Monk and Sharona. Are they our clients?

Sharona looked at Monk, and mouthed the word under her breath.

Brown replied Yep, that's them. Adrian and Sharona stood up as the two men moved forward to greet them.

Brown introduced them. Adrian Monk, Sharona Fleming, meet Rick, he pointed to the man in the cowboy hat, and A.J. Simon, and he pointed to the dapper blonde. The Simon brothers are local Private Investigators, and they will be providing security for you while you're here.

You hired bodyguards for me? Adrian mused. Captain, I don't need -

Hey, you can't solve this case if you're dead, Monk. Brown stated firmly. From what your Captain told me, this guy is hell-bent on taking you out. Rick and A.J. are damn good at what they do, and there's no one I trust more with your safety. They'll make sure that you, and Ms. Fleming, get back to San Francisco in one piece.

Brown had a point. Until now, Adrian had thought that he was the only one in the killer's sights. But after hearing the Captain question Sharona's safety, he realized that the killer might go after her in order to affect his ability to work. He couldn't function without Sharona by his side, and this simple fact placed her in harm's way. He looked at Sharona, then back at the Captain, mentally kicking himself for being so selfish, and not thinking about her. Ok - ok, Captain, you're right. He looked at Sharona, and said I'm sorry.

She patted his arm. It's ok, boss.

Ok Mr. Monk, let's get to work. We have all the case files ready for you in the conference room. Follow me. Brown walked out of his office, followed closely by the Simon brothers. Sharona slapped Monk's hand as he tried to move a pen holder on the desk, and with a wounded look on his face, he obediently followed Sharona out the door.

Monk watched the Simon brothers, making mental notes about them as they walked with Captain Brown. A.J., his hands in his pockets, moved at a fairly brisk pace, while Rick moved across the floor with an easy stride. Adrian caught up with Sharona, and asked in a low voice, How could they be so.....so.....different? I mean, they're supposed to be brothers, but look at A.J. He looks like a stockbroker. And Rick, he probably bought that jacket from an Army surplus store! The thought of Rick wearing clothes that had belonged to a previous owner sent a shudder through Monk.

Relax Adrian, he looks a little rough, but Captain Brown trusts them. Captain Brown is the nice man who's paying us a lot of money, remember? She grabbed him by the elbow and hurried him along. Come on boss, it's time to go to work.

They reached the conference room, and after the group made it's way inside, Brown closed the doors behind them. A bulletin board covered with photographs and papers stretched across one wall, and directly in front of it sat a wood table large enough to seat ten people. Sharona put her purse on the table and sat down in one of the chairs near the bulletin board. A.J. took a seat on the far side of the table, sitting with his legs crossed and his hands politely clasped together in his lap. Rick plopped down into the chair next to him, folded his hands under his arms, and propped his feet up on the table. Monk saw Rick's boots on the table, and immediately felt his stress level rising. He put his hand in front of his eyes and turned away from this terrible sight, trying desperately to concentrate on the police photos pinned to the bulletin board. He twitched his shoulder and nervously shifted his jaw.

Sharona left her seat and moved next to Adrian. Ok, what's wrong?

His boots! He said in a hushed voice, They're on the table.....he could have stepped in something!

Ok, hang on. Sharona turned at address Rick. I'm sorry, but could you please move your feet? It's making him nervous.

Rick raised his eyebrows, then looked at his brother. A.J. shot him a dirty look and scolded him. Well? Get your feet off the table. Rick obeyed, and instead leaned back in his chair and pulled his hat down over his eyes. A.J. muttered damn neanderthal under his breath.

I heard that. Rick stated from under his hat.

A.J. looked to Sharona for approval, and she nodded a thank you' at him. Ok Adrian, all fixed.

Maybe you should clean off the table. Do you want a wipe?

she whispered, forget about the damn table! We're on a job here, remember? She looked at Captain Brown, who was waiting patiently by the bulletin board. Sharona patted him on the back, and smiled. Go on, show them what you can do. She went back to her chair and sat down.

Adrian took a deep breath and joined Brown in front of the board. You ready Mr. Monk? He said he was, so the Captain continued. This is the first victim, he pointed to the crime scene photos pinned to the upper left corner of the board. They're arranged in order, left to right, first victim to last, in the order they were killed. We're hoping you can spot something - anything - that we've missed, so we can break the case and catch this guy. Because so far, every lead we've pursued has been a dead end. I even sent this off to the FBI. Behavioral Science is working up a profile as we speak, but it's going to take at least a couple of weeks. He watched Monk, who was standing with his hands clasped together in front of his face. He stared at the first set of pictures, studying them closely, then slowly moved over and examined the second set. He appeared to be in a near trancelike state. Uh, Mr. Monk, are you ok? He said nothing, focusing completely on the case files displayed before him.

Don't worry, Captain. Sharona reassured him, He's doing his thing'. This is how he works.

Oh, ok. Brown nodded, and he sat down on the edge of the table next to Sharona to watch Monk work. Everyone waited with anticipation as Adrian carefully studied each set of pictures and their accompanying reports.

Finally, after twenty minutes of this, Adrian broke his silence. He's staking out new territory.

Captain Brown looked a little confused.

He's staking out new territory, in San Francisco. He looked at Brown, and continued. Probably because he knows you're really looking for him now, not like your retiring Captain Nolan. He went over to Sharona and asked her for the Hopkins file from San Francisco. She produced it from her voluminous purse, and Adrian pulled out the crime scene photo that showed how the body had been arranged. Look, the Hopkins murder, it's just like this first one, he said as he pointed at the first set of photos on the board. Both bodies had been placed in exactly the same position, laying on the left side with legs and hands tied with white rope, and the hands in front of the face in a praying' position. He's telling us that he's starting over in San Francisco. If we don't catch him in time, and he kills there again, he paused and pointed to the photos from the second murder, showing a woman's naked body lying face up, feet and hands bound with the distinctive knots, her hands folded across her chest like an Egyptian mummy. I think the scene will look exactly like this.

Adrian handed the photo back to Sharona, then he moved over to the left side of the bulletin board. He removed the pin holding the top photo to the board, adjusted the picture so it was perfectly straight, and pinned it into place. Do you have any more pins for this board? Captain Brown found two boxes of multicolored pushpins in a filing cabinet and handed them to Monk. Thanks Captain. He covered his hand with a wipe and took the boxes from Brown. Adrian picked a handful of red pins out of a box, and proceeded to put one red pin in each corner of the first photo. He started doing this to all the pictures lined up across the top of the bulletin board, making sure each one was perfectly straight, and exactly the same height as the picture next to it.

Rick and A.J. watched, both confused and fascinated, as Monk fussed over the pictures. Rick leaned over to his brother, and asked What the hell is he doing? A.J. just shrugged his shoulders.

Sharona answered the question for him. He likes to organize things, it helps him think.

Monk continued voicing his observations to Captain Brown. He's proud of what he does, he likes to kill. He rubbed his forehead with his index finger. That's why he leaves these objects from the previous murder, and uses the same knots, so we'll know for sure it's the same guy. He looked at Brown. He's playing with you, challenging you to catch him. He's smug and arrogant - he enjoys this game. Monk turned back to the board and began to rearrange the second row of photos, this time with white pins. And that's how we'll catch him. Everything we need to find this guy, he motioned towards all of the cases up on the board, Is right here. We just have to figure it out. That's why he was trying to kill me, he knows I'll see something that everyone else has missed, and then his game will be over.

Captain Brown pressed, Do you see anything yet?

He shrugged his shoulder and rolled his head to one side. Not yet. But it's here.....somewhere...... His voice trailed off, and his brow furrowed in thought. Then he turned to Captain Brown, and with a look of determination in his eyes, he proclaimed I'll get him.





Five hours later, Adrian Monk was still standing in front of the bulletin board, studying each case file, and everyone else was getting tired. About an hour earlier, Rick made a food run and brought back chili burgers and fries for everyone. Monk, of course, had declined to eat the messy hand-held food, and instead continued reading the files on the board while everyone else ate. Now Rick spotted a pile of uneaten french fries in front of Sharona and asked if she was going to finish them. She said no, so he gathered them up and started munching away.

A.J. leaned over to Sharona and asked, How long will he do this?

She looked over at Adrian, then checked her watch. Until now. She rose from her seat, moved to Adrian's side, and gently placed her hand on his arm. Adrian, it's almost seven o'clock. You've been at this for over five hours, now. We should stop for the night and go check in at our hotel.

Adrian looked at her, his frustration evident. It's here, I know it is! I'm missing something!

Look, how about we get a good night's sleep, and start fresh in the morning. You know you don't think as clearly when you're tired.

Adrian shook his head and admitted defeat for the night. You're right. He rubbed his forehead. I am pretty tired.

Captain Brown handed Sharona a stack of manilla folders. We made copies of the case files for you. Mr. Monk, if you'd like to interview anyone tomorrow, I'll be glad to set it up.

Thanks, Captain. I'll probably want to talk to the neighbors and family members of the first victim, possibly visit some of the crime scenes.

Got it. He turned to Rick and A.J., and said, They're staying at the Hilton a couple of blocks from here. You know where it is.

Of course, Town. A.J. replied, then he looked over at Sharona and Monk. Are you two ready to go?

Sharona pulled her purse over her shoulder. Yeah, we're ready.

Ok, why don't you just follow us to the hotel, then. I'm parked right out front. Rick and A.J. both waved at the Captain, and said See ya, Town!

Thanks, guys. And thank you for coming on such short notice, Mr. Monk. I appreciate it. He shook Monk's hand.

You're welcome, Captain. He turned to Sharona. She handed him a wipe, and he cleaned his hands as they made their way to Sharona's car.

Rick and A.J. had parked on the street, only a few spaces in front of where Sharona's gold Volvo wagon waited. The Simon brothers got into A.J.'s dark red, 2002 Camaro convertible. A.J. opened the driver's door and took the driver's seat, while Rick just climbed into the passenger seat through the open top. A.J. turned the key and the Camaro's giant engine roared to life. He pulled out of his parking spot, and Sharona followed him to their hotel only a few blocks away. They pulled up in front of San Diego's Hilton hotel, and Rick removed two bags from the trunk as A.J. and Sharona handed their keys to the valet.

Monk approached A.J., and watched as Rick handed him a black leather bag large enough to hold a few changes of clothes. You brought your clothes? Monk looked at Sharona, then back at A.J. You're staying here?

Well, yes. We can't protect you if we aren't there, Mr. Monk.

Don't worry, Rick chimed in, we told Town to get you suites. There's usually a couch in the room. He smiled, and added, You'll hardly even know we're there.

Monk felt panic rising in his chest. You mean, you'll be staying in our rooms? With us?

The Simons looked at each other, then back at Monk. Did you hear what A.J. just said? Rick asked him. We can't protect you if we aren't in the same damn room.

Sharona addressed him with rising impatience. They're our bodyguards, remember? They're just doing their job. She turned to Rick, and reassured him. It's ok, he'll be fine. Let's go guys, I'm tired. She grabbed Adrian by the arm and pulled him towards the hotel's main entrance. Come on, Adrian, I've been driving since 5 am, remember? I want to get some sleep before I fall over! He reluctantly followed her into the hotel, and a hotel clerk pushing the cart laden with Monk's 5 suitcases wheeled their luggage to the front desk.

Rick leaned back against the counter next to Sharona while she handled the business of getting checked in. A.J. kept an eye on Monk. He was nervously wringing his hands, apparently uncomfortable in the crowded lobby, and seemed to be shrinking away from any stranger who came near him. Someone accidentally brushed his coat sleeve as they walked by, and he inched a little closer to Sharona. A.J. walked over to Adrian and tried to engage him in conversation. Mr. Monk, are you all right? You look a little nervous.

Well, um, I don't - he dodged another passerby, -don't like crowds.

I understand, neither do I.

Adrian's sour expression brightened a bit.

Yeah, really.

He seemed to be loosening up a little. Um, Mr. Simon,

Please, call me A.J.

Mr. Sim......um, A.J., uh, he doesn't have to be in my room, does he? He was pointing at Rick, who was busy scraping something off the bottom of his boot with his pocket knife.

A.J. laughed. I understand, I'll stay in your room tonight. I'll be very clean, I promise.
He looked at his brother, who was now talking to one of the hotel managers. A small Mexican woman, obviously one of the hotel's housekeeping staff, was trying to tell the manager something in Spanish, and Rick had wandered over and offered to translate for him. After a few moments, the manager nodded and thanked Rick, who casually went back to the front desk and leaned against the counter .

Look, Mr. Monk, I know Rick is a little unusual, but I'll vouch for him. he glanced back at his brother again, Despite his appearance, he's a good guy.

His belt.



The belt, on the back of his jacket. Monk pointed at Rick, who had turned around and was speaking to Sharona. She appeared to be laughing at whatever he was saying. His hunter's jacket had a belt across the back at the waist. It's not buckled, he just tied it in a knot! And it's not even tied in the center, it's uneven. How can he stand to leave it like that?

Relax, I'll take care of it. A.J. walked over to his brother and ordered him to hold still.

He looked back at A.J., who was fiddling with his coat. What the hell are you doing?

Your belt is crooked, and it's upsetting our client. Just shut up and be still. A.J. untied the belt, and Rick scowled but waited patiently as he slid the straps through the buckle, and centered it in the back. While he adjusted Rick's imperfect belt, A.J. asked, What was all the fuss about? That cleaning lady seemed pretty upset.

Rick looked over his shoulder at his brother. Something about someone stealing her key.

What key?

Hell if I know, all I did was translate for a few seconds.

Sharona noticed A.J. fixing Rick's coat and laughed. Well, one less thing I have to do! Come on Adrian, we're done. Let's go.

A.J. took the luggage cart from the bellhop, deciding he wanted as few people as possible to see which rooms they were in, and they went up in the elevator. Adrian pressed himself against the back wall of the elevator, and as soon as the doors opened on their floor he rushed out into the hallway. A.J. went next with their bags, telling Monk to stay behind him, and pushed the cart down the hall in front of him, leading the way to their rooms. Sharona pulled on Adrian's arm and scolded him for being impatient, and Rick brought up the rear.

Ok, this is my room. Adrian, She handed him one of the electronic room keys, Here's your key, you're right next door.

A.J. left the luggage and turned around to watch Monk, who was standing a few feet away from Sharona on her left. He was busy cleaning his key with a wipe. Rick was standing to Sharona's right, watching as she fumbled with her room key.

Hey Monk, Rick asked, already knowing the answer to his question. Who ya want in your room tonight? Me or A.J.?

Um, neither, actually. But, he pointed back over his shoulder at A.J., I guess....he's ok.

Rick laughed as Sharona unlocked the door. You hear that, A.J.? You're.......
Sharona had opened the door just a few inches when something caught Rick's well-trained eye.

SHARONA STOP!

Rick quickly grabbed her right arm and yanked her towards him. He pulled Sharona down the hallway, making sure she was behind him and out of the doorway. A.J. grabbed Adrian's left arm and moved in front of him, his .357 already in his hand. Rick put his back flat against the wall and drew his gun as well. Rick placed his ear against the wall for a few seconds and listened. Hearing nothing, he motioned for A.J. to stay low and join him on the other side of the doorway. A.J. ordered Monk to stay where he was, then he crawled to the other side of the door and took up a position behind his brother.

What is it, Rick?

A.J., you see what I see? Rick was looking at something through the narrow opening in the doorway.

Oh yeah, I see it.

Fortunately for Sharona, Rick saw the rope. The bathroom door in her hotel room had been left wide open, and Rick's sharp eye caught sight of the rope in the bathroom's mirror, giving him just enough warning to pull her away from the door before she opened it too far and set off the trap. Rick holstered his gun and pulled a telescopic corner peeper' from inside his jacket, a small device with an eyepiece on one end and an angled mirror on the other, enabling the viewer to look around corners. He crawled over to Monk's side of the door, lay down on the carpet, and used the device to look inside the room. After a few seconds, he said No one inside. Let's disable this thing.

A.J. joined Rick on the other side of the door. He held the door's handle still while Rick reached in and cut the rope with his knife. They both stood up, and Rick carefully opened the door wide, being mindful to stand to the side. Nothing happened. A.J. told Monk and Sharona to stay where they were, then Rick pulled his gun and the brothers went to clear the room. After about a minute, A.J. poked his head outside the room and said Room's clear, you can come in now.

Monk ran over to Sharona and asked her if she was ok. Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little sore spot on my arm where he grabbed me, that's all. she said, rubbing her arm. As they entered her room, they finally saw what made Rick and A.J. act so defensively. Someone had tied one end of a white nylon rope to the door handle inside Sharona's room. The other end of the rope was attached to the trigger of a sawed-off, double barrel 12 gage shotgun that had been fixed to the back of a chair with silver duck tape. The gun was pointed directly at the door, with the rope rigged to pull the trigger when the door swung open. If Rick hadn't stopped her, Sharona would have opened the door and received a shotgun blast to the chest.

Sharona put her hands to her face. Oh my God.... She felt her knees go weak, and she started to sink to the floor.

Adrian quickly slid his hands underneath her arms to support her. It's ok, you're all right! A.J moved to her side and helped Adrian hold her up until her legs regained their strength.

Oh my God, I could have been killed! A.J. and Adrian helped her to the couch so she could sit down. Monk sat beside her. Sharona started shaking. She was obviously very upset, so Monk put his hand on her arm and tried to comfort her. To his surprise, she buried her face against his shoulder and clung to the front of his jacket. Adrian put his arm around her and patted her back, trying to calm her down, as she had done with him on countless occasions.

Rick pulled drew his gun again, and firmly told Adrian and Sharona Stay here. He looked at A.J., who also drew his weapon. Come on, A.J., let's go check out Monk's room. He smiled. Bet you a hundred bucks that we find a little surprise waiting for him, too.