Lessons of Love
Chapter 7 Seeing the Unseen
Standard disclaimer: I don't own Monk.
Notes: I'm so very sorry for the delay in posting. ~ This chapter (focusing on the Tuesday before the wedding on Saturday) turned out insanely long so I split it in half—I promise the second part- (more relationship-y and less case-oriented)- will be posted in a few days!
Grrr, FanFiction has changed the procedure for editing/uploading of documents-I pre-aplolgize for any typos I may have missed.
Let's do a brief recap: While in Lake Tahoe to get married, Adrian, with Benji acting as his assistant, is investigating the murder of Mike Philips. Meanwhile, Sharona is helping Natalie 'relax' and focus on preparing for the wedding.
At half past five on Tuesday morning, Adrian threw off the covers with exasperation.
After a fitful night of tossing and turning, sleep had eluded him. He dragged himself out of bed, disturbed by the familiarity of both his weariness and loneliness. Adrian surveyed the rumpled bed linens, the silence of the room feeling cruelly accusatory. As he fixated on making the bed, smoothing every wrinkle, his thoughts turned bitter, his resentment of being pulled into an investigation resurfacing with a vengeance.
This should have been a blissful week; a time to celebrate the love and fulfillment they had found with each other. But thanks to his so-called gift, today would be another day spent apart from the woman who had healed his heart and given him a future.
Adrian knew that bowing out of the case was unimaginable. Really, just entertaining the idea was completely out-of-character. Detective Monk was the one person who could solve the unsolvable. It wasn't just what he did, but it was just who he was. Without that, life would be chaotic and unbalanced. Walking away from an investigation was an impossible thought.
And yet now, because of Natalie, he considered the unthinkable.
Didn't he and Natalie deserve a respite? Wasn't it enough that he had identified Mike Philips' death as foul play? Couldn't the sheriffs' department continue the investigation without his continued help?
Adrian trudged to the bathroom and turned the hot water on full force in the shower. He sighed as he pulled the curtain aside. Of course he wouldn't abandon the investigation. He yelped as he stepped into the spray but didn't adjust the temperature, glad for the distraction. As his skin reddened, his anger faded and his thoughts returned to Natalie. At least they would have a few stolen hours together this morning. His heartbeat suddenly quickened. While he had been moping in the shower, perhaps she had snuck into his room and was already waiting for him.
Turning off the scalding hot shower, Adrian hastily toweled down, threw on his robe and, with an expectant heart, flung open the bathroom door. Thick like San Francisco fog, the steam rolled across the room. But despite the temporary murkiness, one thing was certain- his room was empty. Natalie was not at the closet, thoughtfully selecting his clothes for the day. Nor was she perched on the bed, graceful and beguiling, a temptation that roused his emotions and stirred his darkest desires.
Adrian felt a twinge of disappointment. But as he donned his boxers, undershirt and trousers, he had an epiphany- her absence was a gift. He could surprise Natalie in her room!
Returning to the bathroom to shave, he stood at the sink, watching it fill. Excitement raced through his veins and he couldn't help but let out a chuckle. He wouldn't knock, no he would just let himself in. And if she was still in bed, he would just crawl under the covers with her… Eyes downcast, shaking the can of shaving cream the necessary ten times, he didn't see or hear the figure appear behind him.
The can of shaving cream dropped from Adrian's hand as familiar arms slipped around his waist. Natalie pressed herself tight against his back, her chin resting on his shoulder, and Adrian met her gaze in the mirror, sparking and gleeful.
"Nat!" He turned his face to kiss her, but the angle was awkward and he only managed a light peck. Dropping his shoulder, he turned in her arms, a smile lighting his face.
They said their good mornings between soft kisses, nestled together, their heartbeats echoing in harmony. With painstaking slowness they separated and Natalie, a puckish grin on her lips, did a little twirl to show off her outfit, a peasant skirt and cotton pullover. Adrian murmured his compliments and Natalie merrily accepted, playfully hopping onto the counter next to the sink.
Returning his attention to his scruffy appearance, Adrian reached for the can of shaving cream. He was too slow, however. Snatching the can from Adrian's hand, Natalie lifted an eyebrow, "You sure you have to shave today? Hmm, I kinda like the 'scruffy mountain-man' look you have going. Very sexy."
His eyes turned to slits, "What? Nat, I can't think if I'm all, you know, disheveled!" His hands tuned in circles, vaguely reaching for the stolen item, "I need to be-"
"Sheveled?" Natalie retorted, playfully offering the can. As he took the item from her hand, she reached up and grazed her finger along his jaw, "So maybe you won't shave during our honeymoon?" His brows knit together, his lips forming a protest, but she pressed a finger to his mouth, silencing him, "Don't say no, Adrian, say maybe."
Where did she get such crazy ideas? He was positively dead set against this but alas, he was not immune to her bewitching charms. He shifted, caught in her mesmerizing gaze. Unable to say no, he wavered, "We'll see…maybe." Lathering his face, he quickly changed the subject, "So what's on your agenda today?"
Absentmindedly smoothing her voluminous skirt, she watched as the razor scraped along his neck, waiting for him to lift the blade. "Julie, Sharona and I are going into town this morning. I need to stop in at the caterer and give my final approval of all the arrangements. And then, of course you remember Leland, TK and Randy are all flying in this afternoon. So Sharona and I'll be picking them up. What about you?"
Rinsing his razor under the hot water, he cast a glance her way before taking a swipe along his cheek, "You know, same old same old. I'm going to the Search and Rescue office and then meet with Mike Philips' father Sam. Hopefully something will come of it."
"So how is it, having Benji as your assistant?" Natalie swung her feet, giddy.
He paused from his shave and cast his eyes in her direction. He unguardedly gave her a very slow, very thorough, inspection. First, of course, was her beautiful face…the sapphire eyes, glowing skin and brilliant smile. That was enough to steal his breath. But he couldn't ignore her lightweight blue sweater, which revealed the most wondrous curves and valleys. And then, for a change, she was wearing a long, flowing skirt. It was paradoxically loose but figure-flattering and had threatened to hypnotize him whether she moved or remained still. His gaze stalled and, for one brief second, he pondered what she might be wearing underneath. His heart skipped and he forced his eyes to continue their journey. Lastly was a pair of knee-high boots, so snug along her calf, a strap at the ankle accentuating the daintiness of her feet.
After his not so subtle inventory of Natalie's ensemble, he almost forgot she had asked a question. He roused from his trance and felt a blush creep up his neck, "Oh, Benji! Ahh, Benji's doing fine. He, he's surely not as distracting as some other assistant I know though."
"Really!" Natalie snickered, lightly rubbing the side of her foot along his calf. "I'm glad you're able to focus on the case, sweetie. I know you'll have it solved in no time." He sighed in response and she quieted, patiently waiting for him to finish his shave.
Rinsing out the sink, Adrian rolled a shoulder. He didn't want to think about the investigation. Turning off the tap, he straightened his shaving gear on the countertop. When he finally looked up, Natalie motioned him closer, her eyes trained on his neck. He leaned closer, captivated by her intense expression. Natalie reached out and rubbed a miniscule dot of lather from under his jaw then looked up, a pleased smile crossing her face, "That's better. Perfect!"
Adrian looked at her in complete silence. In his heart grew an unidentifiable ache, a longing that verged on pain. Natalie's hand returned to his cheek and he dipped his face, his gaze dropping, lingering on her lips. Her eyes fluttered shut and her lips parted, enticing him. Closing his heavy-lidded eyes, he grew dizzy as their tender kiss turned hungry.
Her arms encircled his shoulders, pulling him flush against her body. An all-consuming heat rushed through his veins as he imagined her thighs wrapped tightly around his hips, her heels digging into the back of his legs. Every lucid thought fled his mind. This was what he needed- to become lost in Natalie.
His hands descended, caressing her thighs. The sudden need to claim her, right there as she sat perched on the counter, overtook his senses. The hem of her skirt was soon above her knees. He kissed her harder, demanding, a crushing tension sparking through the air. One hand came up to cradle her face while the other slipped beneath the hem of her skirt, his fingers stroking higher and higher. So close to possessing her.
It became too much for him and he pulled away from the kiss, desperate to catch his breath. He watched as her eyes open slowly, glazed and sultry. It was all too tempting. But one clear thought sliced though his desire- Natalie had insisted on separate rooms for a reason. He sheepishly averted his gaze, embarrassed by how easily he had given into his primal urges. Taking a small step back, he carefully, reverently, drew her skirt down past her knees. He slowly raised his eyes and grudgingly murmured, "Nat, we should, you know, go."
She tilted her head, her eyes shining but her expression unreadable. Adrian gulped. Was she angry? After what seemed like an eternity, she finally answered, her voice barely audible, "Okay."
Taking her hand to help her down, Adrian followed her from the bathroom. He was determined to put his longing, and this lustful encounter, out of his mind. There was just one problem; his pulse would not slow down.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
Benji and Jonathan stood in the doorway as Adrian glided through the Search and Rescue office, his hands held aloft. A huge map hung on the wall, the plan for the avalanche scripted to the smallest detail pinned beside it. When asked by Adrian, Jonathan verified that the SAR office remained unlocked during the day. Anyone would have known Mike Philips' exact location the morning he was killed.
Adrian paused at the desk, turning several pages of Mike's weekly calendar. He quickly assessed the patterns, finding the same initials and abbreviations penciled in. But one entry caught his eye; during the previous week, Mike had written 'FI800'. It matched nothing else in the journal. Adrian remembered the work schedule for that week; Mike had been off that day. The detective called Jonathan to the desk, "Do you know anyone with the initials F.I.?"
Jonathan and Benji crossed to the desk, the former shaking his head, "Not anyone I know. Let me check his computer directory." Jonathan sat at the desk and, in a few keystrokes, called up Mike's contact list. He shook his head, "No one by those initials, Adrian."
"So is this is a case-breaking clue?" Benji asked.
Adrian shrugged, "It means something, but I just don't know what." Retrieving the work schedule, Adrian asked Jonathan, "Did Mike tell you what he did on his day off?" Jonathan shook his head no; Adrian now had two questions. Rolling his shoulder, he thanked Jonathan for his time and motioned to Benji, "Let's go see Sam Philips, Mike's father. Maybe he'll have some answers."
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
The detective and Benji followed the housekeeper from the cavernous entranceway, through a maze of hallways and eventually to the open door of Sam Philips' home office. Inside, Sam and Tiffany sat separately, she on a sofa and he at his desk. The housekeeper announced their arrival and, as the couple rose to greet them, Adrian subconsciously sized them up. Sam, with dark circles swimming under his unfocused eyes, was an easy read, but the wife, with an overly-solicitous gaze, seemed off to Adrian.
After offering his condolences and humbly deflecting their thanks for his involvement, Adrian asked, "Can you think of anyone who might have been holding a grudge against Mike?"
Sam sat back behind his desk and adamantly shook his head, "I've been racking my brain ever since I heard Mike was murdered-" he paused and his eyes hardened, "but I can't think of a single enemy."
Stepping behind her husband, Tiffany Philips rested her bejeweled hand atop Sam's shoulder, "Mike is, was, well-liked. But-" She sighed and removed her hand.
Sam glanced at his wife, "Tiff suggested to me that perhaps Mike got mixed up with some girl with a jealous boyfriend, but I don't know. He didn't mention a girlfriend to me."
Adrian nodded and asked Sam to describe Mike's normal schedule and what he might do on a day off from work. As Sam reflected on his son, the detective suddenly walked behind the desk, distracted by a cluster of pictures hanging on the wall. He stood with his back to Tiffany, scanning the dozen photographs. They were all recent and depicted ski-related family outings. Adrian noticed Mike and his stepmother never appeared together. Curious.
Benji remained stock-still on the far side of the desk, willing himself invisible. Though he was there to help, above all, he didn't want to distract Adrian. But as he watched the scene unfold, the young assistant couldn't help but notice how Tiffany studied Adrian when his back was turned.
Adrian turned away from the wall of pictures, thoughts already gathering. Thanks to Jonathan, Adrian already knew Mike's family history: his mother died four years prior and Tiffany and Sam married three years ago after a very short courtship. Adrian waited until Sam finished before asking, "And you were out of town the two weeks prior to Mike's death?" Sam confirmed he was away on business, lamenting the bad timing. Adrian then turned to Tiffany, "Mrs. Philips, when was the last time you saw your stepson?"
Tiffany quietly answered, an odd lilt in her voice, "I saw him the day before…I went to the SAR office to tell him about the surprise homecoming party I was throwing for Sam the following Tuesday…He seemed fine, preoccupied with work, but he was always a workaholic." She pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed her eyes, "I didn't know that would be the last time-" she grew silent and reached out for Sam's comforting hand.
Adrian furrowed his brow, temporarily distracted by the crumpled tissue in her hand. Benji quickly moved to the detective's side, touching his arm. "Mr. Monk."
Adrian snapped out of his haze. "Mr. Philips, is there any truth to the rumor that you've been having problems with Sugar Pine and might need to sell?"
Sam sighed heavily, "We've had a string of bad luck lately, a few problems with the ski lift equipment, several minor accidents … Jim Kelly, who owns Donner Ski Resort, has had his eye on Sugar Pine for years now, but I'd never sell the resort." Shifting his gaze, his last sentence appeared to be directed at his wife. Tiffany remained quiet, her jaw set.
An uncomfortable silence washed over the room. Benji and Adrian exchanged glances and Adrian turned back to the couple, "One last question. Do either of you know anyone with the initials F.I.?"
Tiffany immediately replied, "No." Several beats later, Sam asked, "No, why? Are they a suspect?"
"They're just initials so far," Adrian answered noncommittally. As he and Benji took their leave, the detective's mind was whirling with scraps of information and unrelated facts. Before long, they would all fall into place.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
Leaving the caterer's shop in downtown Lake Tahoe, Natalie turned to Sharona, "I'm so glad that's settled….Honestly, do you think I was out of line when I suggested she use a T-square when she decorates the wedding cupcakes? Am I a bridezilla?"
Opening the car door, Sharona snorted, "Not at all, it is your wedding." When Natalie slid in and started the car, Sharona fought back a laugh, "Besides, I wouldn't expect anything less from the future Mrs. Adrian Monk."
Natalie set the GPS for the airport and pulled into traffic. She shot Sharona a smirk, "What are you insinuating? Is it awful I've grown accustomed to his quirks?"
"No, it's great you understand him so well. You two are perfect for each other." Sharona answered, wonder in her voice.
While they continued the drive to the airport, the women exchanged confidences and teased each other about the men in their lives. Time flew and, before they knew it, they arrived at their destination.
Entering the airport terminal, Sharona led Natalie over to the airport directory and excitedly exclaimed, "Wow, this airport is huge. It's got everything!"
The girls perused the directory to get a bearing on where they needed to meet Leland, TK and Randy. They also noticed that, leading out to the numerous terminals, there were dozens upon dozens of shops and eateries. Natalie and Sharona shared a conspiratorial laugh as they oohed and ahhhed over various shops. Though Leland and TK's flight would arrive almost two hours before Randy's, they would have lots of distractions to occupy their time.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
Arriving at Donner Ski Resort's main office, Adrian and Benji quickly found James Kelly's office. His secretary alerted James that Adrian Monk, private investigator, was there to discuss a sensitive matter. Receiving her boss's approval, the secretary hid her curiosity as she showed the detective and his young assistant into the office.
James Kelly rose to greet them then retook his seat behind his desk. "I can only spare a few minutes. How can I help you, Mr. Monk?"
After exchanging the usual pleasantries, Adrian unconsciously scanned the room, noting the pictures on the wall, his many certificates of education, including his Law Degree from a college back East, the numerous framed articles about his ski resort on his shelves, and finally, Adrian's eyes returned to Mr. James Kelly. Middle-aged but with an athletic build, arguably handsome, sans a wedding ring, the resort owner's blank expression quickly fell away and annoyance lit in his eyes. Mr. Kelly tapped his fingers on his desk, "Well? I haven't got all day."
Adrian shifted his shoulder, "Sorry. Thank you for seeing me, us, without an appointment, Mr. Kelly. As your secretary told you, I'm a private investigator from San Francisco, but I'm in town for personal reasons. Anyway, I'm currently looking into the death of Mike Philips. As a neighboring resort owner, I was wondering if you knew him."
James braced his hand on the arm of his chair, shifting in his seat, "I know his father Sam…I've had several occasions to meet his son, but I really didn't 'know' him." His eyes narrowed, "I don't understand, why are you questioning me, Mr. Monk?"
Adrian stammered, "You aren't attempting a buy-out of Sugar Pines?"
James let out a sigh of annoyance, "Oh, so Sam sent you… Well, you can give him a message for me- I didn't have anything to do with his son's unfortunate death. I'm a businessman, Mr. Monk, not a killer."
Reaching out to straighten something on Mr. Kelly's desk, Adrian accidentally knocked a thick file to the floor. As he and James simultaneously reached for the pages, Adrian fussed, "I apologize. Let me Red that up for you."
Without a flicker of confusion, James pulled the papers from Adrian's hands and huffed, "Never mind, I'll clean it up!" Shoving the file into a drawer, he snorted with distain, "Mr. Monk I can easily end this wild goose-chase Sam has sent you on. I read in the paper Mike died early Sunday morning. Is that correct?" When Adrian nodded, James tipped his chair back, relaxing, "I have an alibi for Sunday morning. I was out in Grass Valley for the weekend. You can call the Fox Inn and I'm sure they'll confirm that I was there."
When asked by the detective, Mr. Kelly revealed that he lived in the penthouse suite of Donner Resort. Several innocuous questions later, the interview was over. Thanking Mr. Kelly for his time, Adrian and Benji walked the hallways of Donner Ski resort. As they exited the building, Adrian's steps slowed and an enigmatic look crossed his face.
Benji stopped short when he noticed Mr. Monk was several steps behind. "What is it, Adrian?"
With a shoulder roll, Adrian barely suppressed his gleeful relief, "He's the guy, Benji. Call Deputy Alexander."
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
James Kelly stood at the picture window, his eyes wandering from the mountains down to the road that traveled away from his resort. A sedan with two passengers came into view and held his attention. Watching the vehicle head towards Sugar Pine Lodge, James unclipped his cell phone from his waistband and dialed the rarely called number from memory.
There was no exchange of pleasantries when the call was answered. This was business, and the message, while vaguely worded, was in fact crystal clear. A problem had come up and needed to be resolved. Soon.
~~~~~LOL~~~~~
"I am so glad we got to the airport early," Natalie snickered, her arm linked with Sharona's . As they perused the menu posted in the Airport café, a sudden craving for chocolate and peanut butter arose. Her eyes slid to the list of ice cream flavors and she unconsciously touched her stomach with her free hand. Trying to appear casual, Natalie sighed, "Everything looks so good- I might just have to get a few things."
"You can't decide, hmm?" Sharona gently pushed her hip against Natalie's, "Watch out girl, he's rubbing off on you!"
Clasping a hand over her mouth, Natalie choked back a laugh. Although a plethora of responses danced on the tip of her tongue, Natalie quickly changed the subject, her biggest worry she might reveal her pregnancy. Unfortunately, for the expectant bride, bigger worries were lurking unseen on the horizon.
A/N: Chapter 8- 'Relationship's Change'- coming soon ;)