Chapter 4
"What? How would you know, Monk? Have you added omniscience to your repertoire?" asked Randy, a little derisiviely.
"No, I'm not omniscient," replied Monk, "it's just that Joy has been talking to me."
If the earth was to open up and swallow him, Randy couldn't have been any more shocked.
"What do you mean she's been talking to you?" said Randy, his blood pressure rising.
"I mean, she and I have been talking about--- stuff," replied Monk.
"Adrian!! Why didn't you let me know," queried Sharona, just as shocked and a little hurt.
"Well, she asked me not to say anything," replied Monk, a little defensively.
"And you did a good job of it, too," stated Randy, "and look where it's gotten her!"
"Hey! It's not Adrian's fault," snapped Sharona, in defense of her boss.
Realizing that he made a major mistake, Randy backpedaled and said, " You're right, Sharona, it's not Monk's fault. Sorry, Monk. It's my fault." Sobered, Randy sat back down and held his head in his hands.
Seeing how despondent Randy was, Sharona softened her tone and told him, "It's not your fault either, Randy."
Looking up at Sharona, through red-rimmed eyes, Randy told her flatly, "I don't believe that."
Monk looked down at him and said, "I'll tell you a secret. Joy wouldn't want you to blame yourself. She told me that, even though she doesn't show it, she appreciates you taking her in, even if it's because of your promise to her brother."
"Monk, how long have you been talking to Joy?" asked Randy.
"Since yesterday evening. She started calling me when she came across my number at your house," said Monk.
"Can you tell me what led her to want to kill herself?" pleaded Randy.
"She and I have a common bond---we both lost people we deeply loved. When I first spoke to her, she didn't believe I could understand what she was going through," remembered Monk, as he thought back to his conversation with Joy.
Late, the evening before……"Hello, this is Adrian---Monk, who is this?" questioned Adrian, picking up his phone, wondering who would be calling him.
At first, silence greeted him--- he could tell someone was on the other end--- he could hear soft breathing coming over the phone. "Hello?"
"Hi," came the soft reply, "my name is Joy Robertson."
'Joy Robertson…why is that name familiar,' thought Monk. Then it hit him, Joy was the young girl living with Randy Disher.
"Hi, Joy. What can I do for you?" asked Monk.
"I found your number and I wanted to talk to someone. I thought that 'Adrian' was a girl," said Joy.
"Well, 'Adrian' is a boy," said Monk, "and why can't you talk Disher?"
"Yeah, right, like he'd understand," snorted Joy.
"Well, have you given him a chance?" asked Adrian, surprised that he was talking to a stranger, yet alone a thirteen year old girl.
"You know, I think that I made a mistake calling you," said Joy, angrily.
"No, wait. I'm willing to listen," said Adrian, for some odd reason wanting to talk to Joy.
"Oh, alright. But you have to promise not to tell Randy," stated Joy.
"I won't," promised Adrian.
"Randy doesn't understand what it's like to loose your whole family," cried Joy, "he only took me in out of debt to my brother, Trent. He doesn't really love me, he doesn't even know how to take care of a kid."
"I think Randy understands more than you credit him," said Adrian, "After all, he lost his father when he was younger. And I'm sure your brother's death hurt him very much," said Adrian.
"I hoped that he could find out who killed my sister," said Joy, sadly. "I guess he's not all that hot of a detective."
"Lieutenant Disher is a very good detective, you haven't given him time. You only have just come to live with him and he needs time to adjust," said Adrian, happy that he didn't have a thirteen year old living with him.
"I have this scrapbook I keep. My mom started it when I was born. It has only a few pictures of my dad, he died after I was born. Trent and Julie were so much older than me but, they helped mom care for me. Then when I was nine, mom found out that she had leukemia. It was too far advanced, that only after a few treatments, she died during the night. Trent and Julie took care of me. Trent had graduated from the Police Academy by then and was going out on patrol. When I was ten, Trent got called to assist in a hostage situation. The guy, who had the hostages, opened fire on the police, killing Trent and three others.
Julie was crying when I came home from school and told me about Trent. I couldn't believe it at first. Trent's friend, Randy, helped Julie through that time. He helped us get groceries and was nice to us but, I didn't pay too much attention to him. He'd come over and check up on us, I resented him because he was still alive and Trent wasn't.
Then last year my whole life fell apart when Julie died. Do you know how that feels, Adrian?" questioned Joy.
"Yes," said Adrian, who had been silent during the time Joy was talking.
"Then you understand how angry I am," said Joy.
"Yes. After my wife's death, I couldn't go outside for three and a half years," said Adrian.
Hearing the pain in Adrian's voice, Joy asked him, "What happened to your wife?"
"She was killed in a car bomb," replied Adrian.
"I'm sorry. How long ago?" asked Joy.
"Eight years," replied Adrian.
"Does the pain ever go away?" cried Joy.
"I don't know. It hasn't for me," said Adrian.
"We went on to talk about different stuff and I told her to call me anytime. She called me this morning," said Monk.
"What did she want?" asked Randy.
"She was looking for her scrapbook," replied Monk, remembering that morning's call.
"Adrian! Adrian!" cried Joy.
"What's wrong, Joy?" asked Adrian.
"I can't find it anywhere!" wailed Joy.
"Find what?"
"My scrapbook. I was looking at it last night, when Randy caught me up. I must have dropped it when I ran back to my room. Now I can't find it anywhere," cried Joy, getting hysterical. "What am I going to do?"
"Calm down, Joy, it is bound to show up," reasoned Adrian. "Did you look everywhere?"
"Yes! I have torn Randy's house apart and he's gonna kill me for the mess. The only places I haven't looked are his bedroom and his office. He told me to stay out," sobbed Joy, upset at the loss of her beloved book.
"Maybe you should call Randy and he might know where it is," offered Adrian.
That suggestion calmed Joy down somewhat. "Ok," she sniffled, "I'll try Randy. Thanks, Adrian."
"Bye, Joy."
"Bye, Adrian."
"I figured she would call you," said Monk.
"I never received a call at all," exclaimed Randy, now sick to his stomach.
As Randy said that, the young resident doctor came out to look for Joy's family.
"Are you here for Joy Robertson?" asked the doctor.
"Yes! I am," said Randy, jumping to his feet. "How is she?"
"Mr?" said the doctor, inquiringly.
"It's Lieutenant. Lieutenant Randy Disher," said Randy, anxiously.
"Lieutenant Disher, I need to talk to you privately," said the doctor, gravely.