I do not own Monk.
Thank you for the reviews! I am glad you're enjoying it. :)
MR MONK MEETS THE REDEEMER
CH 36
Monk and Natalie went to one of the ambulances that were attending the concert. While Monk was being cared for, Natalie got directions to the Tourist Information Center nearby where they could use telephone and call the Captain.
As Monk was released, Natalie saw Carlos talking with the young delinquent a few meters away close to the stage access and she quickly pulled Monk to the back of the ambulance, out of Carlos' sight." They are over there, Mr. Monk. We have to leave without being seen."
Both looked around, searching for a way out.
Natalie saw a group of young people near them, and told Monk, "stay here and do not watch what I'll do."
"Natalie! Wait! Natalie? What are you going to do?" said Monk out loud, but she was already among the group, talking with them.
Monk saw her waving and pointing at him. One of the boys agreed and immediately pulled his shirt off and handed it to Natalie asking for a kiss. As Natalie gave the kiss, another boy also took his shirt and his cap off and placed first the cap on Natalie's head, also requesting a kiss. Natalie gave a kiss. Then he handed the shirt, and asked Natalie for the shirt she was wearing in exchange. The other boys laughed and agreed with their friend. Monk saw Natalie starting to pull her shirt up, and immediately lowered his eyes. Soon she was back, wearing a black official shirt of the Stones Tour.
"Here Mr. Monk, put this on." she said, handing the other shirt and the cap to Monk.
"I won't ... I will not ... you know I won't. What were you doing there?" asked Monk, disapproving Natalie's attitude.
"I was buying our way out of here. At least we will divert their attention wearing these shirts. Everybody is using them! We will be part of the mass, interact with the mass Mr. Monk and we won't be noticed! Put them on."
"No 'interact with the mass,' Natalie."
"Mr. Monk put the shirt and cap on and we will soon call the captain."
"No, I will not put this cap on. Or the t-shirt. It was on that guy. That guy was wearing it. It was on him. It will not be on me now."
"Put the shirt over the one you're wearing. Yours is smeared in blood! And the cap will hide the bandage."
"No, Natalie. I will not wear another man's t-shirt! No."
"Okay, you can use another woman's t-shirt then" and Natalie made the motion to remove her shirt.
"Oh, no! Stop it, Natalie. Give me the t-shirt. No-not your t-shirt, the other t-shirt." Monk said quickly, with a finger in his eyebrow and eyes closed, so that Natalie wouldn't take off her shirt once more. Natalie smiled in victory.
The two went to the Tourist Information Center without problems. There they rented a telephone cabin and called Leland, who answered surprisingly with enthusiasm, "Gee Natalie you have no idea how glad I am to be awakened by you!"
"Uh? ... thanks captain. I guess?" said Natalie, a little suspicious. It was always a problem to call Captain when he was at his relaxing time.
He did not let her go on, "Where have you two been? We called several times to the Hotel and on your mobile and couldn't find you! We have to take you out of there immediately! We already have reservations on a plane and you need to get out of there as quickly as possible. After the massacre at Hotel you are easy targets. Your way out is clear, Monk's clear, and you will be much more useful here alive."
"Well, thanks again, Captain, I think I also 'will be more useful' for Julie if I come back alive."
"Natalie, I did not mean ... You got what I meant, and I have no time for arguing now. Listen, in few minutes there will be some Federal Agents there to get you from that place and escort you to the hotel. Over there you just get your bags, then the officers will escort you to the airport. Your plane leaves tonight, half past eleven Brazil's time to San Francisco"
"Okay, Captain, we just need a bath. It's a quarter to ten here; we do have plenty of time for a shower, right?"
"Let me finish, Natalie. You'll recognize the agents, they wear black uniforms, and the commander is called Bannach. You just do what he says to, ok? I'll call them right away."
"Ok, Captain. Listen, Mr. Monk got some stitches on his head and he's Mr. Monk, I mean, he has to shower. We did not rest today, we've been wearing the same clothes all day long; we walked on the beach; ran upstairs and downstairs; I was kidnapped and tossed on the sand; Mr. Monk fought the guy and went to the sand too; he has blood on his shirt; we're with sand and sweat all over our bodies, like escalope meat! We're not wearing our own t-shirts; and it is quite hot in here, and we . . ." Monk grimaced at the escalope image.
"Calm down there, Monk!" Leland interrupted Natalie, sarcastically. "You will have bodyguards, Natalie. You will be escorted to the hotel and from there to the airport. Do not worry; you will have time for a bath. I only ask you to strictly follow the guidelines from the agents, okay?"
"Okay."
"I'll contact you later. We'll meet in San Francisco tomorrow and discuss the entire Judge thing there, okay?"
"Okay."
"Good girl. One more thing: do not contact Carlos, he's a double agent. He works for the traffickers."
"We already covered that, Captain. But thanks, anyway."
"Get me Monk on the phone, will you?"
Natalie handed the phone to Monk, who took the handset without any delay. "Hello, Leland."
"Tell me something, Monk, are you using wipes to hold the phone?"
Monk swallowed dryly, took the phone away from his ear and looked at his naked hand fully holding the handset; he brought back the phone and answered, with some uncertainty, "No, I'm not?"
"I see. And Natalie said that she's not wearing her own shirt, right?"
"She took hers off at the concert and I . . ." This affirmation got Natalie's attention.
"Oh, my Goodness! This is getting better! At the concert? At the beach concert? And you're not wearing your own shirt either, right?" Leland went on.
"No, she had me put this on, after we . . ."
"Holly Molly, Monk! I understood you two have sand all over your bodies, right? I want to know all about this, but in person. Who would've guessed that? I'll catch up with you later, beach boy!" Leland hung up, laughing openly and avoiding Monk's attempt to fight back his assumptions.
Monk turned off the phone and looked reluctantly at Natalie, who was killing him with her eyes. "I could not .... Leland thinks ... our t-shirts ... I-ah ... we . . ." and continued, gesturing disconnectedly.
"Mr. Monk, I do not really believe you didn't tell him…"
"Not me! He thinks we were together...you and me... we...in the sand…"
Natalie put her hand to the mouth to hide a smile when trying to show Monk some concern on the subject. Before they had any other reaction, a federal police minibus stopped at the door and several agents got out of the vehicle, closing the perimeter. In seconds, Monk and Natalie were introduced to Agent Bannach and brought into the vehicle; everything happened very quickly, without giving the viewers a chance to question what was happening.
Thank you, Jayna!