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.

Hang on everybody, here we go!!!






Monk, Sharona, and A.J. sat on the rear deck of Rick's houseboat, drinking bottled water and debating about what to do with the white, plastic-wrapped bullet proof vest that sat on the table before them. I don't think I need it, Sharona. Adrian whined. Besides, how do you clean one of these things after you wear it? It's not like I can just take it to any dry cleaner.

A.J. pleaded with Monk yet again. Mr. Monk, this suspect is highly resourceful, and will apparently stop at nothing to get to you. I know these vests are a bit uncomfortable to wear, but in your case, it is a necessity.

Sharona scolded him, You will wear this vest. You told Rick that you'd wear a brand new one, and A.J. went through a lot of trouble to get this for you. Come on, Adrian. I'm wearing mine, it's not that bad. She pulled open the collar of her new t-shirt to reveal the navy blue protective vest underneath. She had purchased several cheap shirts that morning because the vest would not fit underneath her usual tight apparel. Besides, you know I won't stop pestering you about this.

Monk picked up the vest and examined it again. It was a different model than the one Sharona was wearing. Hers was the typical standard police issue, constructed from many layers of tightly woven kevlar fabric. But the one A.J. bought for Monk was a much better, and probably more expensive design. He got this one because it was the only vest in Adrian's size that was still in the factory plastic. Not only was it made of kevlar, but it also contained large steel trauma plates' in front and back, providing extra protection for the vital chest region. Adrian turned the vest over in his hands, scrutinizing it closely, and finally acknowledged defeat in the war against Sharona's stubbornness. Ok, I'll wear it, but I won't put it on until we get back to A.J.'s house. I don't feel comfortable changing clothes here. I didn't get to finish cleaning everything, and it's still so dirty!

Sharona leaned over to A.J. He has an appointment in half an hour to interview a witness, so we'll swing by your place afterwards so he can change. He just said he'd wear it, let's take what we can get and do it this way. Besides, by then it will be time for his second daily shower.

A.J. sighed. Ok Monk, you can wait until you're through with the interview. But as soon as you are finished, you will put on your vest.

Rick emerged from the main cabin, carrying a large, plastic fruit bowl in his right hand, and plopped down in the chair next to Sharona. He had finally managed to separate his bowl from his kitchen counter using a hammer and chisel, but a large chunk of the counter's surface was still stuck to the bottom of the bowl. Rick sat there with a sour look on his face, glaring at Monk. A.J. saw this and was immediately burst out laughing. Rick turned his heated stare towards his brother. This isn't funny, A.J.! This declaration only made A.J. laugh harder, and Rick was not amused. He chucked the bowl overboard into the water

Adrian reprimanded Rick, You can't do that! You're littering! Hearing Monk scold his brother reduced A.J. to a simpering mess. He was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face.

Rick shot back, Well why don't you just jump in and get it, Monk!

Adrian turned around in his seat to watch the bowl sink beneath the surface, then faced Rick again. Um, no, that's ok.

A.J. wiped the tears from his cheeks and came to Monk's defense. Oh....come on, Rick! You got exactly what you deserved on this one! You remember last week when you let me borrow your damn fuel guzzling truck without telling me it was out of gas, and I had to spend sixty dollars of my own money to fill it up?



Well, keep your money, you don't have to pay me back anymore. Seeing this is worth sixty bucks! He started laughing again.

Gee, thanks. Rick replied, his voice laden with sarcasm.

Sharona looked at her watch. Hey guys, we have to get going. We're supposed to interview a witness in less than half an hour.

They all rose from their seats and made their way along the ship's walkway to the dock. Rick and A.J. led the way, followed by Sharona, who was leading Monk by the arm. The brothers stepped onto the dock and waited, while Sharona tried to coax Adrian to step across the gap and exit the boat. Adrian looked extremely nervous and uncertain about making the crossing, so A.J. held out his arms to provide a steady support. Come on, Monk, I'll help you across.

Adrian kept his right hand on Sharona's shoulder, and reached for A.J. with his left hand, which he had covered with a wipe. Monk looked over at A.J., who had grabbed hold of his outstretched arm, and was about to cross over when something on the neighboring boat caught his attention. He let go of A.J. and pointed at the boat moored directly across the dock. There it is! Sharona, there it is! he exclaimed.

A.J. gave Sharona a puzzled look. Is he ok?

She shrugged her shoulders, then looked at her boss. There what is?

The knots! They're the same ones the killer used! To the amazement of his companions, Adrian jumped onto the dock, apparently forgetting about the dreaded gap, and ran over to the next boat. There was a middle-aged man wearing yellow shorts and a red Hawaiian shirt sitting on the deck. He was lounging in a chair and reading a newspaper. Adrian excitedly called out to him from the dock. Sir! Excuse me, sir! May I ask you a question?

The man looked up from his newspaper and saw Monk addressing him. He shrugged his shoulders. Uh, sure, I guess!

Adrian pointed to a length of rope that was tied to a chrome hand rail on the side of his boat. Where did you learn to tie a knot like that? It's very unusual.

He looked over at the rope. Oh, that? My father taught me back when we lived on a farm. It's called a pronto' knot. He walked over to it, grabbed the right end of the rope that dangled beneath the knot, and gave it a quick tug. The knot immediately unraveled and the rope came away in his hands. It's a quick-release knot that you use to tie horses to something, like a fence or a post.

Did you say horses?

Yeah. If the animal panics while it's tied up, you just pull on this end of the rope, and BINGO! It's free. I leave these pieces of rope all around my boat, so I can grab some quickly in case I need to lash something down. I'm always using them. It really comes in handy!

Thank you, sir! Thank you! Monk ran back to Sharona and the Simon brothers, obviously excited to have found such a promising lead.







Monk called Captain Brown during the drive over to the interview and informed him of their discovery back at the marina. Adrian, Sharona and A.J. rode in the Camaro, while Rick followed at a distance in the Power Wagon, covertly providing back up. They arrived at the apartment building at 1 pm without incident, and went to speak to the neighbor of victims number five and six, a seventy-five year old black woman named Mrs. Wilson. Rick parked the Power Wagon on the street and kept watch from a discrete vantage point, while Adrian, Sharona, and A.J. visited the witness.

Mrs. Wilson, an elderly widow, was warm and amicable towards her most recent visitors, and was trying to be as helpful as possible. Adrian was particularly interested in these two victims because both women lived in the same apartment building. They lived just one floor apart, and were killed within two hours of each other on the same night. Adrian sat on the couch across from Mrs. Wilson in her recliner and asked questions, while Sharona fixed her some hot tea. Mrs. Wilson had asked A.J., whom she referred to as that nice young man', to change some of the light bulbs in her apartment, and he was busy rooting around in the kitchen looking for the necessary hardware.

Mrs. Wilson, Adrian began, How did you know the two women who were killed in this building three months ago?

Oh, they were my neighbors. They were the sweetest girls, too! They came by to check on me every day. I'm getting along in years, and those two always made sure I had everything I needed. The girls were inseparable you know, they were the best of friends! Sad to see them go at such a young age....

They knew each other? Adrian was intrigued. How did they know each other? Sharona entered the room and handed Mrs. Wilson her cup of tea, then sat on the couch next to Adrian.

Well, Sherry was a nursing student, and Jill was a cashier at the market around the corner, and they met when they moved in to the building. They just happened to be moving in on the same day. Neither of them had anyone helping them, so they just decided to help each other get settled. Mrs. Wilson took a sip of tea and continued. Sherry lived upstairs in the apartment across the hall. You know, the one with the big window in the dining room? Anyway, when I went out for my evening walks, lots of times I'd see them sitting in front of that window eating dinner together, talking about who knows what.

They ate dinner together? In front of the window?

Yes, I could see them from the street. They did that at least once a week.

Adrian had heard enough. Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. Thank you! He and Sharona got up, and as soon as A.J. finished changing the light bulbs, they went upstairs to the apartment of victim number five, Sherry Moore.

The building superintendent opened the vacant apartment for them, telling them to take as much time as necessary, but Adrian said he only needed a few minutes. He immediately went to the dining area to investigate the wide, floor-length window that looked out over the city. He opened the heavy curtains, stood where the dining table would usually sit, and looked out of the window. Adrian was careful not to look down at the street since he was deathly afraid of heights.

Adrian's gaze was fixed on something he saw from this new vantage point. Sharona and A.J. watched as Adrian slowly raised his hand and pointed to the parking garage directly across the street. He turned to them, and exclaimed, The parking garage! He looked over at the cars that were parked there. The first row of cars were parked facing the apartment building, and he could see their windshields from where he was standing. He sat in his car, in the parking garage, and watched them. That's why they were killed on the same night! He saw them eating together, and decided to kill both of them! Adrian started for the door, clearly exhilarated over this new clue. Come on, let's go to the parking garage! I need to see the view from there!

Five minutes later, Sharona, A.J., and Adrian were standing on the third floor of the parking garage, looking across the street at Sherry Moore's apartment. They had found a spot that provided a perfect view of the victim's dining room. Adrian said, now we know why he always leaves their bodies in front windows. He's telling us that this, he pointed to the apartment, is how he chooses his victims. He sees them through an open window. He stared at the apartment for several minutes. Who knows how long he watched them. They would never see him sitting here, in his car, at night. Adrian shifted his shoulder and tilted his head to the side, then continued voicing his observations. He probably watched them until he knew their patterns of behavior, then waited until the perfect night, when Sherry had the night off, and Jill worked late. He killed Sherry first, then broke into Jill's apartment, and waited for her to come home. Monk shook his head, then just stood there, looking out at the apartment window and saying nothing.

Sharona knew that her boss was thinking about their horrible deaths, and how terrified these two women must have been during their last moments in life. Adrian Monk was determined not to let such a crime happen again. She moved over to him and patted him on the back.

After a few minutes of silence, A.J. spoke up. Mr. Monk, are we done here?

He nodded. I think so.

Ok, then. Let's go. He then grumbled under his breath, Time for you to run up my water bill even further with yet another shower. A.J. led the way as they casually walked back to his car. They had reached the exit driveway for the parking garage, and were just stepping over the curb onto the sidewalk when Monk resurrected the debate about his controversial protective gear.

Sharona rolled her eyes. Oh God, not again!

Oh come on, Sharona! Monk whined. I don't want to wear a vest. They're so uncomfortable!

Well I'm wearing one, She shot back. and that means you will, too! End of discussion!

But Sharona, I don't need -

The sound of squealing tires interrupted their argument. A red Honda Civic with dark tinted windows was approaching them at a high rate of speed. The driver abruptly turned into the driveway beside them and slammed on the brakes. The front passenger window rolled down, and suddenly, A.J., Adrian, and Sharona were staring down the barrel of a black, twelve gage pump action shotgun.

A.J. pulled his .357 magnum and yelled GUN! GET DOWN! to his companions. Adrian had already grabbed Sharona and was pulling her to the ground in an attempt to shield her from the line of fire. A.J. aimed his .357 at the driver, and the driver leveled his gun at Monk.

Before either man could pull the trigger, Rick came charging in with the Power Wagon and rammed the tiny Honda with tremendous force, crushing the entire back of the car and sending it flying into the thick cement wall of the parking garage. The truck's engine roared as Rick hit the gas and smashed the car up against the wall, and the Civic's passenger compartment crumbled, pinning the driver inside his demolished vehicle. Rick jumped out of the truck, his .44 magnum at the ready, and carefully moved to the driver's side of the decimated Honda while A.J. covered the passenger side.

Rick yelled.

I'm fine Rick! Let's clear the car! A.J. removed the shotgun from the car as Rick checked for additional weapons. Finding none, they holstered their guns and immediately ran back to check on Monk and Sharona.

They were already back on their feet, and Adrian was frantically wiping dirt and bits of gravel from his clothes. Sharona waved to the Simons. We're ok, guys.

Hey Rick! A.J. called to his brother, Don't you recognize the driver? He walked over to the smashed car and leaned down to look in the passenger window.

Rick strolled over to the driver's side and crouched on the sidewalk, staring at the battered driver. Well, well, well. If it isn't Bad' Billy Oshman. How ya doin', Billy?

Aww hell, not you two again! The driver lamented. Just shut the hell up and call me an ambulance!

Monk and Sharona joined A.J. at the passenger window. Wait a minute, you two know the killer? Adrian was bewildered.


He's not your killer, Monk. A.J. explained. This guy is just a local rent-a-thug, we've run into him before. Really nasty guy, though. Your killer obviously hired him for another assassination attempt.

Rick walked back to his truck and got in the driver's seat, while A.J. spoke to the driver. Well Billy, we'd like to, but I'm afraid we just can't do that until you give us some information. We need to know who hired you to kill our friend, here.

Screw you, Simon!

A.J. stood up and looked at Rick, who was watching him from inside the truck. He's not talking yet, Rick. Hit the gas! Rick pressed the accelerator, and the Power Wagon slowly moved forward, shoving the car into the wall and crushing it even further.

Monk and Sharona stepped back several feet to avoid flying glass as the remaining windows shattered. He turned to Sharona and asked, Is this legal?

She turned to her boss and replied, Do you see either of them wearing a badge?

Bad Billy' began to scream and panic. Hey, you can't to that! That's police brutality damn it!

A.J. smiled and reminded him, We aren't cops, Billy! He signaled for Rick to keep going, and the Honda continued to crumple.

OK OK OK! I'll tell you EVERYTHING! Just stop him!

A.J. Held up his hand, and Rick eased his foot off of the gas pedal, then put the truck in reverse and backed away from the annihilated Honda. The only damage to the Power Wagon was a broken headlight and a lot of scraped paint on the massive steel bumper.

Ok Billy, A.J. asked, who hired you?

I don't know, never seen him before, I SWEAR! He just hired me an hour ago! He said he'd give me five thousand bucks to cap that guy! He pointed to Monk, who was watching this interrogation in disbelief. He paid me half up front, the rest when the job was done, and said the mark would be here at one o' clock sharp! He even gave me a picture to make sure I killed the right guy! Said he took it himself! The driver pulled a photograph out of the center console and handed it to A.J.

A.J. took the 8 x 10 picture and looked at it, then walked over to where Adrian and Sharona waited and handed it to Monk. Rick left the Power Wagon and joined them, standing behind Monk and looking over his shoulder at the picture. It showed a frontal view of Monk, who was walking up a set of stairs outside of a building. Sharona was also in the photograph, seen walking beside Adrian, but most of her body had been cropped out of the frame. Part of a window frame was visible on the left side of the photo, so the photographer had obviously been standing inside the building that they were approaching when he captured them on film.

Rick yelled to the driver. Thanks, Billy! Ambulance is on the way!

Oh, my God...... Adrian muttered, causing everyone to turn and look at him. He was staring at the photograph with a shocked look on his face, his right hand pressed to his temple.

Sharona put her hand on his arm. Adrian, what's wrong?

Monk looked up at the Simon Brothers, obviously apprehensive about something. Call Captain Brown. I need to see him immediately. And tell him........tell him not to let anyone - and I mean anyone - know that we're meeting him. The somber tone of Adrian's voice had everyone worried.

What is it, Monk? Rick asked over Adrian's shoulder. Sounds like something has you spooked.

Just look at the picture! Don't you recognize this? Adrian pointed to the stairs shown in the photograph. Those are the steps in front of the San Diego Police Department! And look at the window, here....... He pointed to the window frame at the edge of the photo. This picture was taken from inside the building! Whoever took this photo was inside the police station!

Jesus Christ, Rick! A.J. exclaimed in astonishment. He's right!

And another thing.....You and A.J. aren't here. Adrian pointed to Sharona's cropped form on the other side of the picture. Sharona is, but you two are nowhere to be seen. The only time that I walked these stairs, without you two walking next to me, is when Sharona and I first arrived at the station on Thursday. This means that the killer was waiting for us before we even showed up!

Rick and A.J. stared at each other in disbelief. After a few moments of ominous silence, Sharona asked Monk, So what are you saying, Adrian?

He looked at her, and uttered the words that none of them wanted to hear. I think.........we may be looking for a cop.