The gold walls of Governor Greenway's office provided a rich backdrop for the ornate 20th century woodwork and furniture throughout the room. Coupled with the warm sunlight shining through his window, Greenway looked somehow warmer than Stottlemeyer and Monk had expected. Truthfully, he had a reputation of being a jerk, and almost everyone knew that his wife was really the one with the money. But, he put on a good show and could be quite the charmer in his $8,000 Kiton suit and his solid gold cuff links. In fact, things initially looked hopeful as he put forward his large bear claw of a hand to shake their own. However, when Adrian felt the fat man's hand wrap around his own, he took note of the sweaty palm as well as the sweaty brow and immediately surmised the Governor was nervous.

"Certainly gentlemen, it's always a pleasure for me to talk to the San Francisco PD. What seems to be the issue that I can help you with?" the heavy man said, taking a chair and motioning for the detectives to do the same. Once seated, Stottlemeyer took the lead.

"Sir, we are just following up on leads concerning the disappearance of a young woman that we know, Mrs. Natalie Albright, and we have reason to believe that Steve Wagner may have had something to do with it." Leland responded.

"Steve Wagner? Ah, now it makes sense. You suspect Steve Wagner of a crime and you seem to think that since I pardoned him I might have had something to do with it." the governor surmised. Leland glanced at Monk, curious that the Governor had immediately jumped to that conclusion.

"Well, um, actually sir, we're just trying to gather facts here." Stottlemeyer replied. "Nobody is accusing anyone of anything just yet."

Sensing the governor's discomfort, Monk decided to press the issue further, knowing that the man likely knew more than he was letting on. "But we would like to know why you felt it necessary to let a scumbag like Wagner out of jail." Adrian interrupted, his dark eyes flashing with barely restrained anger.

The governor stopped for a minute and sized up his visitors. "I pardoned Wagner because it seemed to be the right thing to do."

"For murdering a woman? He only did about 7 or 8 years in prison." Adrian responded.

"I understand. But, frankly our system is way overcrowded and Wagner had been a model prisoner. I figured a man of his talents could continue to serve society better out of prison than inside."

Leland squinted his eyes. "His talents? The man is a murderer."

"Crime of passion." Greenway replied. "He went to prison and paid for that crime. Why let his kind of ingenuity go to waste?"

Stottlemeyer was about to ask another question involving how Wagner had used his 'ingenuity' for evil in the past when he was interrupted by Adrian.

"He's working for you, isn't he?" Monk replied in a low and even tone, taking special note of Greenway's continued emphasis on Wagner's talents and abilities and deducing that the only reason the governor would be focusing on them was if he somehow benefited from them. Little did he know, he hit the nail squarely on the head.

"Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't." the governor replied, coldly. "But, unless I am a suspect, I don't particularly care for the tone in your questioning."

Monk furrowed his brow. "You don't particularly care for..."

Stottlemeyer quickly interjected, realizing the conversation was escalating rapidly. "That's enough Monk." he said, placing his hand on Adrian's arm to get him to back down. "Sir, I'm sorry for my friend but he's taking this case a bit personally since the girl is friend of is."

"She's your friend too, Leland." Monk replied, offended for the captain's apology for him and standing up to walk over to the fireplace. As he approached the mantle, he stopped. "What the...?" he said noticing a particular photograph that made his blood begin to boil.

"Friend or no friend, I don't know anything about the girl's disappearance, and as for Mr. Wagner working for me, that's my own busin_"

Suddenly, Monk charged across the room with a framed photo in his hand, slamming it on the desk and grabbing Greenway by the collar.

"A woman's life is at stake you pathetic piece of trash, so I don't want to hear how your professional relationship with Steve Wagner is your own business."

"Monk!" Stottlemeyer yelled, pulling Adrian away from Greenway.

'Let me at him!" Adrian barked back straining to reach him, even as Leland pulled him further away."Enough! Monk! Governor, I'm sorry for the behavior of my friend... he's"

"Guards!" the governor yelled.

Stottlemeyer was still having to hold Monk back when he spotted what had set him off in the first place. It was a picture of Governor Greenway putting a medal of honor on Steve Wagner alongside Judge Ethan Rickover. "Oh my word..." the Captain proclaimed.

"If anyone hurts her, Greenway..." Monk said as the guards drug him out of the room. "You will pay! Do you hear me? YOU. WILL. PAY!"

Outside, Stottlemeyer grabbed Monk by the shoulders and said "What the heck was that?!"

"That vermin was hanging around..."

"I know, I saw the same picture. Nobody said this was a good guy, but he's the Governor of California for crying out loud!"

Monk still looked enraged and began pacing back and forth.

"That's it, Monk." Leland replied. "I'm sorry. You're too emotionally involved. You're off the case."

"What? What are you saying?" Adrian replied.

"I can't let you continue. You practically accused the Governor of being an accomplice to kidnapping and the facts don't support that. You're going to get us all fired, and may even get yourself or even Natalie killed. I have to take you off the case."

Monk stopped pacing and turned to Leland, glaring.

"Fine." he said, with the same seething anger shining throughout his eyes. "I'll just sit at home and wait for you to call me with the news of where you found her body."

"Adrian! Just stop!" Stottlemeyer exclaimed. "We want her back safely as badly as you do."

"No you don't." Monk replied. "You can't even risk your job for her. That's okay. You have a job to do. Go ahead and do it. And I will do what I have to do."

He turned to walk away.

"Now Monk! Stop! What are you doing Monk? Don't go do something stupid." Leland responded.

"Oh don't worry, Captain. I may appear out of control, but I'm not. I know where Natalie is, and I'm going to make sure she gets out of there alive." he said as he took off on foot to hail a taxi.

"Monk! Stop right there!" Stottlemeyer yelled.

"Leland, you've always been a friend to me. You've seen me through thick and thin. Go and do your job and I will call you if there is trouble."

"Where are you going?" Leland responded.

Monk just smiled. "Natalie will be free tonight."