Must I remind ya I do not own Monk?
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MR MONK MEETS THE REDEEMER
CH 32
Natalie managed to pass Monk through the reporters without any major incident. Carlos stayed there giving some information to the press.
At Bianca's office, Natalie sat on the couch as Monk was by the desk, rearranging some papers. Natalie looked fixedly at Monk which made him visibly uncomfortable, "What?" he asked.
"I was just wondering."
"About what?"
"About what are you thinking about."
"About what?"
"That's my question, Mr. Monk."
"I'm fixing the papers." Monk said, touching one last paper with his index finger and walking to the window.
"And also thinking about how will you get to the Judge now?" Natalie surmised.
Monk didn't comment as he faced the window. Natalie kept looking at him and went on "I am not sure about many things, Mr. Monk, but one thing I know for sure: no matter what you plan on doing to find this Judge, you'll carry an extra bag with you."
"An extra bag?" Monk turned and looked back to Natalie. She performed a big smile to him.
Carlos entered the room at that very moment, "Wow, too many people asking too many questions. I hope these bad news did not shake the Hotel's name ... This is what Bianca doesn't need right now." He sat on the couch, beside Natalie.
"I just set up a press conference for tomorrow morning just before you leave. I really want you to be around Mr. Monk."
"Are we leaving tomorrow morning?" Monk asked.
"Yes. Tonight is the Stones concert, and they will leave tomorrow to Argentina, on a jet leased to their Latin American tour. Hope I can put you in the jet because your flight from Argentina to the USA is already scheduled."
"Argentina?" Monk asked.
"Yes, it was the most practical and quick way we found to get you out of here."
"Private jet?
"Yes, the Stones one, Mr. Monk." Carlos said, standing up and heading out to the television.
"With the Stones in it?"
"Yes, Mr. Monk. Many fans would give their lives to be in your place now. "
"I would give my life not to be." Monk complained.
"Come, Mr. Monk, we need your help with the video."
"We need your help with the Judge." interrupted Natalie.
"I cannot do anything, Natalie. You saw how Bertrand responded by taking me off of the case."
"Carlos, let's do this: Mr. Monk helps you with the video and you help us with the Judge." Natalie said, approaching the two men who were near the television.
"Natalie, let's do like this: Mr. Monk helps me with the video and I put you in a plane back to the States."
"I think Mr. Monk prefers help you if you help us back."
"I think Mr. Monk does not mind helping us without charging back."
"I think Mr. Monk . . ."
"Clearly," interrupted Monk "the man in the video playing me is Gilbert. He is taller than me; his pants do not match his shirt; his shirt is visibly mashed and he did not button up the sleeves; the belt does not match his shoes, I never use mismatched shoes, mismatched clothes, mismatched anything. And I do not wear a ring on my thumb."
"This is it!" said Natalie aloud, scaring Monk and Carlos. "I remember now where I know Bertrand from. He is the man who sat a few rows ahead of me on the plane still in San Francisco and I took him for you, Mr. Monk."
"While I was dragged to another airplane and being carried to another country, you were comfortably sitting in a plane checking out the men who were entering; reading London sightseeing leaflets, planning to visit horrific places, and you took that man for me?"
"I wasn't checking out the men who were getting in the plane Mr. Monk." Natalie said in a harsh tone. "He sat up just in front of me; he was dressed like you; and I only realized it wasn't you when I saw he was wearing a ring on his little finger."
"And even then I was left to come here alone."
"I just realized that he was wearing a ring when the door closed. I tried to stop the airplane."
"But not hard enough. I ended up here. Alone."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute! You said Bertrand was on your flight to London, Natalie?" asked Carlos.
"You could have spoken with the pilot, with the stewardess, even with the man sitting in front of you with a ring on little finger. But no, you let me end up here, alone."
"Mr. Monk, the Captain and I . . ."
"Oh, the Captain. Leland Stottlemeyer, 'The Captain'. It doesn't matter Natalie he...he also let you let me come up here alone."
"Bertrand is involved in the scheme too, then. That's why he took me out of the case." realized Carlos.
"Mr. Monk, let me explain!"
"Now she wants to talk! But to stop me from coming here alone; she didn't say a word."
"But what does Bertrand want?" Carlos pondered.
"He is also involved, Carlos. The Judge controls him and the Judge does not want you around because he does not want me to come closer. But even the Judge knows where her pairs are, unlike some people who leave their boss alone, unprotected! At the mercy of humanity kindness in a distant country. Alone."
"Mr. Monk, I . . ."
"You let me come to a strange distant country. Alone."
"So I think we should review our negotiation policy, Mr. Monk. Natalie was right. We must help each other."
"You see? At least Carlos listens to me."
"That's because he wasn't left alone in a distant strange country by you."
"Mr. Monk, I would never . . ."
"You would. You so would that you did!"
Natalie gave up. She looked at Monk, defeated, "I'll be upstairs, packing." She turned round, and left the two men alone in the room.
After a few seconds of silence, Carlos said, "Wow. Thank you, Mr. Monk."
"For what?"
"For showing me what not to do with the most important person in our lives."
Monk stopped for a moment digesting what Carlos had said, tilting his head side to side.
"But, coming back to the subject, we must see what we can do to mine this cartel. This is what matters for you now right, Mr. Monk?"
Monk didn't answer. He was looking at the door with a finger on his eyebrow.
"Isn't it, Mr. Monk?"
Monk looked at Carlos, to the door again and back to Carlos. He then sat down with Carlos to get hold on the next movements.
Thank you, Jayna!