I do not own the Monk or 'the gang', but it feels pretty good to read what you think about my borrowing...
please, R/R!
MR MONK MEETS THE REDEEMER
CH18
Before Natalie could say anything, her cell phone rang. She continued looking at Monk, without any reaction.
"Your phone is ringing." warned Monk.
"I know!" cried Natalie, barely controlling her impulse to jump on the neck of the extremely irritating man in front of her.
She flipped her phone on and handed it abruptly to Monk, without even replying Leland's hello.
"It's the Captain." she said to Monk.
"Hi, Leland?" asked Monk at the phone, looking Natalie walking towards the road.
"What was that, Monk?"
"What?" asked Monk, without paying much attention to Leland, focusing on Natalie moving away.
"With Natalie, Monk."
"Yes... Natalie." Monk kept his eyes on Natalie, starting to feeling afraid to be left alone.
"Dear God, Monk! What's happening there?"
"I-ah…sh-she…" Monk gave two steps toward Natalie, to keep her visible and reachable.
"For the mother of God, Monk!"
"What?"
"Get Natalie at the phone NOW!" yelled Leland, making Monk pull the phone away from his ear.
"He wants to speak to you, Natalie," he said, holding out the phone towards Natalie. He hid a smile of relief.
She turned back, hopped to Monk and picked up the phone from his hand. "Yes!" she said dryly into it.
"Well, I guess I'm getting used to asking this, Natalie, so what the hell is happening there?"
Natalie sighed, "Mr. Monk is happening here, Captain."
"Look, I do not have time to get into your "Odd-Couple" fights right now, Natalie, you got me? I have to know if you're still interested in my help, or should I just leave you both there?... Forever? And guess what? That sounds pretty good to me right now!" finished Leland.
Natalie sighed again, "No, no. Sorry, Leland. It's just that Mr. Monk… forget it, sorry. Please, go on."
"Yes, okay. That doesn't sound too confident, but, anyway… look, I've established some connections. I have a friend who's working at Interpol, he might help us with the Federal Police there, but first we have to know what's really going on over there. Can you fill me in?"
"He has not said anything to me yet. Better you talk to him directly." She quickly replied, feeling a headache approaching.
"Okay. So is it too much to ask you to get him on the phone without you arguing with him again?"
"But it's him who,"
"Nat!"
"Okay, okay, I am sorry again!... Captain wants to talk to you," she waved the phone at Monk, who was organizing the wooden boxes with his feet.
He ran towards Natalie and got the phone. "Hi, Leland," Monk said into the phone.
"Natalie had heard enough from me already, Monk. Be smart and save you some lecture now. I do not want to know what's happening between the two of you there,"
"There's nothing-"
"… I do not care if anything is happening between the two of you there, and I do not have children at your age, for Christ Sake! "
"There's nothing happening, it's just Natal…"
"SAVE IT, MONK! I've warned you, and do not piss me off; I'm almost giving up on you two!"
Monk gave Natalie a look as she was able to hear Leland screaming. He adjusted his chin and carefully put the phone again near his ear, "H-hi, Leland," he said again.
"Yes, that's better. Now I need you to listen carefully; I have just spoken with agents McCullan from Scotland Yard and Elwood from Interpol, to see if I can get some help, but unfortunately your situation is not good, Monk. They showed us a video where you appear to be trading illegal weapons in a slum in Rio de Janeiro. "
Monk placed his hand on his forehead, frowning his eyebrows.
"I know that is not you, but I am not able to do much while I'm here, in London. So, I need to know where you are, because Crystal can help us get you both to a safe place until we clean the mess you're in."
"Wait, Crystal? Crystal who?"
"Randy's wallet girlfriend."
"Oh, God, Leland! Are you serious?" Monk tilted his head to the side, and adjusted his jacket sleeve, by stretching his arm.
"Yes, Monk, I am serious. She's been a very big help over here, and she had lived in Brazil for long time, so she has some friends that can help you there. Natalie knows about her."
"Natalie knows about her?" Monk looked at Natalie in disbelief, shrugging his shoulders. Natalie was aware Leland was delivering some tormenting news to her boss.
"Look, she is your only chance, Monk. So, we need to know where you are right now."
"Oh... we...we are in Corcovado. In the park." He tilt his head to the side and blinked twice. He just realized the park was closed.
"Okay, then you stay were you are and Crystal will send her friends pick you up."
"Leland, the park is closed now, and we are in the middle of it." Monk shrugged his shoulders, looking at Natalie's bad leg.
"In the middle of the park? But how come? No, no, forget it; you do not have to explain it to me. So, go to the entrance of the park."
"Na-Natalie has injured her leg. I-ah…" Monk's despair was growing at the same proportion he was realizing the complicated situation they were in.
"An injured leg? Oh, God, Monk, but how did this... Damn, you're not painting me a nice picture, Monk. Let me speak with Natalie."
"He...he wants you now," Monk whimpered, delivering the phone to Natalie. Natalie saw the fear in his eyes.
"Yes, Captain."
"Dear God, Natalie! Please, clarify the picture to me; if I take it from Monk, I see you both hopelessly damned and having a terrible death in the park. So tell me, do you think you can walk to the park entrance?"
"Yes, I think yes. Mr. Monk had taken care of my leg, by puttting bandages around it," she looked at Monk, somehow finding a feeling of gratitude inside her mixed emotions.
"Bandages? In the middle of the park, at night? Oh, boy, you do have something big going on there... and I do not want to understand it. Not right now." Natalie noticed the curiosity tone in his words. He won't let it quiet when they meet again, for sure.
"Look, Captain. The park rangers have a patrol car doing the rounds. Is that a problem or can we count on them?"
"No, you cannot count on them, not yet. So, let me see…in 15? No, 20. In 20 minutes there will be a car waiting for both of you at the park's entrance. Do whatever you can to drag Monk with you 'till the entrance, and also be careful to not be spotted by the park police. Crystal will send some friends to get you there and bring you to a safe place. You believe you can do this?"
"Yes, yes, I guess there's no problem, Captain." Said Natalie looking at Monk, who was still arranging the wooden boxes with his feet.
"So go now, and be careful. If the local police got you before us, I'm afraid I won't be able to do anything more, you got it? "
"Yes, I got it."
"Okay. 20 minutes. I'll get back to you then."
"Okay," Natalie flipped the phone off, and looked at Monk. "We have 20 minutes to get down to the entrance, without being noticed by the patrol car."
"That's impossible," complained Monk.
"No, it's not, Mr. Monk. Just follow me, through the forest," Natalie said, taking her stick, her bag and starting to walk.
"Follow You. With that leg of yours... through the forest... Ooooh," Monk whimpered, while started to follow Natalie.
Thank you, Kathy, for always finding some time for me!