Chapter 5 Distractions
Standard disclaimer: I don't own Monk.
Notes: Sorry for the delay folks, 'real' life can be so bothersome! Remember where we left off- early Sunday morning; after having breakfast with Julie, Monk and Natalie are called to a crime scene by Randy, while Leland's mind is on TK's upcoming birthday. –Please R&R and if you have any issues or questions, feel free to PM. Thanks!
Randy approached the car with a small grin on his face, looking back and forth between Monk and Natalie. He couldn't help but notice how, because of the jeans and a pull-over, utterly un-Monk-like Monk appeared. Randy's Pisces intuition went on full alert, telling him something had changed between Monk and Natalie. There was a happy vibe in the air and Randy smiled at the pair, wondering if he should pull Monk aside for a chat.
But when he noticed Monk's attention shift to the crime scene, Randy remembered the victim lying on the bench. Randy shook his feelings from his head and, as the smile disappeared from his face, he returned his thoughts to work. "Hey guys, thanks for coming! Not to sound ungrateful, but you said you'd be here a half hour ago. What took you so long?"
"Sorry Randy but I had to do some silly things -like shower and dress." Natalie gave him a sideways look as she grabbed her purse from the car.
"No problemo. But you didn't have to get dressed for us. I mean, dressed up for us." Randy shot Monk a flustered look then pointed to the crime scene. "Anyway, come on across the street and see what you think of our victim."
"Natalie, Monk, thanks for coming." The Captain met the group several steps from the victim and led them over to the bench. "I would like you to meet our unfortunate victim, Bill Martin, attorney-at-law." Leland pointed to the advertisement painted on the back of the bench "As you can see, we have a positive identification. I can think of a million reasons a lawyer might be killed, but the real puzzler is- why isn't he wearing shoes?"
Monk tilted his head and approached the crime scene. Raising his hands, he slowly walked the length of the body, paused when he reached the stocking feet, and walked back towards the victims head. A frown formed on his face. He leaned in and studied the ligature marks around the victim's neck. It was an odd pattern, almost like small dashes. "Did you find his briefcase or wallet?"
"Nope. He was picked clean." Leland crossed his arms and waited.
"Do you know what I think?" Randy stepped up to the Captain, his eyes shining with inspiration.
"Not a clue." Leland rocked back on his heels and prepared himself for Randy's theory.
"His identical twin did it."
"Randy, you always say the identical twin did it." The Captain sighed loudly.
"But listen to this. Say our victim, Bill Martin, has an identical brother, Phil Martin. Phil is a rich playboy and Bill is a workaholic lawyer. Bill wants Phil to switch places for, say a special event, like a move gala. But Phil won't switch so Bill kills him and puts him, Phil, in his, Bill's, clothes. So now everyone thinks Bill is dead, but it's really Phil who's dead and Bill, who is now know as Phil lives happily ever after."
Leland stared at Randy and blinked, his mind sorting through the theory of Bill and Phil. "Lieutenant, could you call in and get some background information on our victim. Namely, does he have any siblings?"
"Yes sir!" Randy pulled out his cell phone and stepped away as he called the precinct. His enthusiasm was subsequently squashed when he was told Bill Martin was an only child. In a most dejected tone, Randy reported "Captain, Bill Martin does not have a twin."
"Really? I'm very surprised, Randy. Okay Monk, what do you think?" The Captain eyed his perceptive friend but received no answer. Adrian was lost in thought and stared past the body as if it were a ghost. "Come here, Adrian." Leland placed his hand on Monk's shoulder and led him away from the body. "How are you doing? Is everything alright?"
Adrian glanced in Natalie's direction before meeting the Captain's inquiring eyes. His eyes met hers for one fleeting second and he felt his pulse quicken a beat. Momentarily tempted to tell Leland everything, Monk involuntarily broke into a smile. "Everything is more than alright. But we'll talk later-" he pointed at the body and his smile faded "when it's more appropriate." Leland responded with a nod and the two walked back to the body. Having missed the glace exchanged by Monk and Natalie, Leland assumed Monk was happy because he had just solved the case and was ready to give one of his summations.
"Bill Martin's wife definitely had a part in his murder. She's 'the guy'."
"So how did you come to that conclusion? How do you know one of his dissatisfied 'clients' didn't kill him? Lawyers usually run in the same circles with really bad criminals." Leland played devil's advocate as Randy and Natalie stood by in rapt attention.
"Most criminals want their victims to disappear so they can't be linked to the crime. But he was left here so we could get a positive identification. Why? His wife needed the body to be discovered, so she could collect on his insurance. After all, who benefits when someone dies? Usually the spouse. She assumed we would ascribe the murder to one of his shady clients. She probably had help disposing of the body but the wife is definitely 'the guy'." With a satisfied smile, Monk stepped away from the dead body; soon the wife would be arrested and one of the world's wrongs would be righted.
"What about the missing shoes?" Randy asked, pointing to the stocking feet.
"I'm not sure, yet. Perhaps he stepped in something, like paint or tar, which would connect him to the actual murder scene, which is probably his home. They must have noticed that the soles of his shoes were marked when they put him on the bench, that's why they removed them."
"Follow us to the lawyer's home so we can question the wife, okay?" Leland pulled his car keys from his pocket and nodded towards Natalie. Hesitantly, the Captain amended his request and handed Natalie a slip of paper. "Actually, here's the address, meet us there. On the way there, I need to run a quick errand."
"We'll meet you there, Captain." Natalie took the slip with the address and sidled up to Adrian. "Let's go." She looped her arm through his and smiled. This case was wrapping up fast and she couldn't wait to be 'off the job'.
---------------
"Well Captain, what do you think?" Randy followed Leland from the jewelry store into the card shop.
"Think about what?" Randomly selecting birthday cards from the slots, Leland quickly perused the verses written inside each card. Frustrated by the choices, he imagined himself in the fable of Goldilocks and the three bears. One card was too sentimental, the next was too formal, and he wanted to find one that had the right amount of mushiness.
"Monk. He seemed different, didn't he?"
"Because he's wearing jeans? Believe it or not, but I've seen him in jeans before. That's not such a weird thing." Leland finally selected a card and brought it to the counter to purchase. Pleased that this card had a picture of daffodils, TK's favorite flower, he pulled out his wallet. He was relieved he now had both the necklace and the card for TK's birthday. All that was left was the trip itself.
"It's not just the jeans. Didn't you notice?" Randy asked as he held his hands up.
"Notice what? – Don't make me guess, Randy!" Leland pocketed his change and started toward the exit, slipping the card into his jacket pocket.
Randy hustled to the exit and held the door open for the Captain. "His wedding ring. He wasn't wearing it!"
Leland walked through the door and stopped when he got to the middle of the sidewalk. He looked upward and, in his mind, he replayed the image of Monk at the crime scene, specifically zoning in on his hands. "Damn Randy, you're right! Ha! Let's go finish solving this crime. I need to corner Monk and give him the third degree!"
-------
Monk and Natalie were parked outside the home of the murdered lawyer, waiting for the Captain, Randy, and back-up patrolmen to arrive. Natalie scanned the street and then turned to Adrian, putting her hand on his knee. "Since you've pretty much solved this case, does that mean we can have the rest of the day off?"
"Natalie, we still need to question the wife and hopefully, find the murder weapon. It's a little premature to be planning the rest of the day." He ruefully answered as he slid his hand under hers and let his fingers entwine with hers. He had to confess he was beginning to enjoy Natalie's easy displays of affection. "Maybe we should tell the Captain we can't work on any cases tomorrow?"
Natalie's face brightened "That would be perfect. Finally! Here comes the Captain." She looked towards the maroon Crown Victoria and released Adrian's hand. As they opened the car doors to join their colleagues, Natalie playfully reminded Adrian, "Don't be distracted, you have work to do!"