Monk came back to reality and slid his hand out from under her hand, turned and got up. Natalie also came back to reality and got up. They took the broken pieces to the trash can. Monk then started cleaning up where the cup had fallen even though there was no coffee in the cup. Natalie stood back and watched him.

'I can't believe that he's my boss and he could never love anyone other than Trudy. I have to get my head on straight'. Natalie thought

'She is my assistant and not to mention, beautiful. She would never go for someone like me. I have to stop this.' Monk thought.

Natalie walked from the kitchen to the living room and sat on the couch. Monk followed soon after and sat next to her. There was an uncomfortable silence between them. Monk shifted his eyes to Natalie. Natalie did the same to him.

'OK just act normal... like nothing... well nothing did happen. I just touched his hand... and he didn't jerk away... and I looked in his eyes but I've looked at him before... but not like that I haven't. Oh God I hate weird silences. Where's a dead body when you need one?' Natalie thought to herself.

'I'm sorry Trudy... I can't help it... she's so beautiful and sweet. I know you want me to be happy but I can't help but feel like I'm betraying you. But I know I'm not. Even if I did... she would never even consider me.' Monk was lost in thought and didn't hear Natalie's phone ring but the sound of her voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Hello" Natalie greeted.

"Yea OK we'll be right there" she said and hung up the phone

"OK Mr. Monk that was the Captain we've got a case" She said getting up from the couch and heading for the door, grabbing her purse as she exited. Monk followed and they got into her car.

"Where is it?" He asked.

"At the museum" Natalie responded short and to the point.

It took them twenty minutes to get to the museum with no conversation and no eye contact. When they arrived they found Captain Stottlemeyer and Randy waiting for them at the entrance.

"Hey Monk, Natalie" said Stottlemeyer nodding to them both. Randy also nodded a greeting.

"Hey Captain what do we have?" Monk asked as he entered the museum. Randy looked at his notes and began briefing Monk.

"The victim, Amber Kincaid, 38, was found by her husband, Steven Kincaid 40, at a little past eight this morning as he was getting ready to open. He is the curator for the museum."

"What about the night watchman and other employees?" Natalie asked as they approached where the body was.

The victim was in a display case, wearing a pink dress hunched to her left with her legs bent up in front of her. As Monk circled the display case, holding his hands up like he normally did, he could see a clear contusion on the right side of her head near the back.

"The other employees didn't get here until eight fifteen and when they all went to find the night watchman, Jack Simon. He was unconscious and didn't regain consciousness until the police arrived at eight forty eight" Randy informed them.

"What time did they call the police?" Monk asked as he continued examining the scene.

"After they found the night watchman... so about eight thirty" Stottlemeyer jumped in.

"Why didn't the husband call when he found his wife?" Natalie asked.

"Well apparently when he found her he passed out and the employees found him laying on the floor in front of the display case... he woke up when one of them slapped him in the face." said Stottlemeyer

Natalie was watching Monk very closely. She loved when he 'did his thing'. He could spot things the other detectives didn't and could understand more. Stottlemeyer noticed her staring at Monk and wondered why. She had never paid him this much attention, she usually stayed away from a body but now she was standing within a close distance and was, what he thought to be admiring Monk. She also had a dreamy look on her face.

"Have you been able to talk to the night watchman... Jack?" Monk asked as he bent down to get a better look at the wound.

"Yea... he said that at about five forty five he started his third round of the night, exited his office and someone came up behind him and put a cloth over his face. Must have been chloroform." Randy explained.

"Are there cameras?" Monk asked

"Yes"

"Did he mention that he saw anything before making his rounds?"

"No he said that he is supposed to make a round every hour as routine."

"It had to be someone with a key... who has a key to the museum?" Monk asked standing up and turning his attention to the floor.

"The curator Steven Kincaid, his assistant Rachel Carter the girl who slapped him, and the night watchman Jack." Stottlemeyer said walking over and standing beside Natalie and looking from Monk to her then back again.

"Could someone have easily made a copy?" Monk asked walking around now looking at the immediate area.

"Ummmmm..." Randy said flipping through his notes.

"Can I talk to them both?" Monk asked turning to Stottlemeyer

"Yea they are right over there." He said pointing to a man wearing a suit with short brown hair and a woman wearing a dress shirt and a short skirt. She had black hair and looked to be in her late twenties and she had her ears and nose pierced. Each ear had six earrings lining it. Monk, Natalie, Stottlemeyer and Randy approached them.

"Mr. Kincaid, Ms. Carter this Adrian Monk,a detective and private consultant with the San Francisco police, and his assistant Natalie Teeger."Stottlemeyer introduced them.

Ms. Carter shook Natalie's hand while Mr. Kincaid shook Monks then switched. After shaking Ms. Carter's hand Monk motioned to Natalie for a wipe and when he took it his finger touched Natalie's finger and they both jerked away and looked at Ms. Carter and Mr. Kincaid.

"Mr. Kincaid I'm sorry for your loss." Monk began, wiping his hands then handing the wipe back to Natalie, being careful not to touch her. Mr. Kincaid nodded and Monk continued "I understand you both have a key to the building... Is there any way someone might have made a copy of it?"

"Well after I unlock everything I put my keys in my desk... I don't like to wear them all day because they make too much noise." Mr. Kincaid responded

"And I also put mine in my desk... but I only leave to go get lunch." Ms. Carter told them. Monk nodded.

"Mr. Kincaid what do you do everyday?" Monk asked

"Well I come in, unlock everything and get things ready for the day make sure everything is in order. Then when we open, I walk around and keep a eye on things." Mr. Kincaid said crossing his arms.

"Can you tell me about this morning?" said Monk.

"Yes I woke up and got ready, I arrived here at eight and unlocked the front door and then I saw my wife... and I walked up to the display case and then next thing I know Rachel is slapping me." He said, putting his hand on his forehead.

"Well I had to do something to get you up you big wimp." She responded.

"And Ms. Carter?" Monk turned to Rachel.

"Well I got here at eight ten and waited for Kelly and the others and we walked in and saw Steven on the floor and his wife in the display case. I ran up to them and Kelly screamed and someone said he had probably passed out, so I slapped him. He woke up and we all went to find Jack." She said.

"Mr. Kincaid did you think anything when you woke up and your wife wasn't there?" Monk asked suspiciously.

"No we had a fight a few days ago and she said she was staying at a friend's house." Mr. Kincaid said in a defensive tone.

"OK one last question. Where were you at about five forty five last night?" Monk asked putting his finger tips together.

"At home asleep. I get up at six... am I a suspect?" Mr. Kincaid said pointing at himself.

"Sir we have to be able to rule you out... And Ms. Carter?" Monk said turning to her.

"Asleep, where else? I don't get up till six thirty " She said. At this they nodded and Monk, Natalie, Stottlemeyer and Randy all walked back to the entrance.

"Well what do you think Monk?" Stottlemeyer asked him as they exited the building.

"It was a crime of passion and was not planned, she wasn't killed here, and the murderer is left handed." He summed it up and waited for them to ask how he knew all that.

Please continue to review and keep my spirts up. Everytime i get a review it keeps me going. Thanks!!