The next day Adrian was at San Francisco Correctional Facility at exactly 8 AM when the guard let him into the visiting room.

…

"Adrian! I'm so glad you're here."

He wished he could touch her, even just brush her fingers with his own. He hated the screen between them. At least it was clear, and they could see each other. Trudy wore the prison jumpsuit and she looked tired.

"I'll be here whenever I can. I promise. And otherwise, I'll be working on getting you out of here. And Leland now is working on it too."

She gave him a small smile.

"That makes me feel a lot better."

He wasn't sure she was really feeling more optimistic, but he had to hope it was a start.

When 10 o'clock came, Adrian reluctantly left promising to return at 8 PM.

"I love you," he told Trudy.

She said she loved him too. He left and she went back to her cell. As Adrian was leaving a guard stopped him.

"You're Mr. Monk aren't you," he asked.

Adrian sighed inwardly. He just knew that this guard wanted something.

"I am," he said politely, "But I have an important case I'm working on, and I-"

"My name is Scarlet," the guard interrupted, "Can we talk somewhere privately?"

She led him into a private office.

"Look," he began, "I can't investigate your case. My wife is on death row."

"I know," Scarlet said, "And I want you to know I believe she's innocent… I'm pretty good at spotting a criminal and your wife is absolutely not one."

He had to admit he was interested now in hearing Scarlet out.

"Would you like some coffee, Mr. Monk? I can't promise it's great but it's usually hot and strong at least."

"Thanks. That sounds like just what I need."

She smiled and Monk noticed the dimples and the way the smile reached her eyes. Somehow the job hadn't defeated her yet. Maybe she was happy to have a case to work on.

She cleared a stack of files from a chair and indicated he should sit.

"I'll just be a moment. Take a seat. Oh, do you need cream or sugar?"

"Black is fine. Thanks."

She came back with two mugs.

She set them down and took a seat on the other side of the desk.

"So what do you have in mind?"

"I'm not sure," Scarlet said, "But I want to help in any way that I can. I consider your wife a friend. Now, for starters on Monday and Friday, after the formal punishment, I will let you in the visitor room so you two can physically be together."

"Is that allowed," Adrian asked, his heart racing.

"Nobody will be in there until 8," Scarlet explained, "There's no way you can get caught. But you can't tell anyone about this. Rickover has ears all over. I would be in so much trouble if the word got out."

"I would never let the word get out. Are you the one assigned to Trudy?"

"Yes," Scarlet said, "I am. I suspect Rickover may have hired someone to kill the child and pin it on your wife."

Adrian never thought of that.

"You could be right," he admitted.

Now he had a new theory to explore.

"Listen," Adrian said, "Please go easy on her, okay?"

"Of course," Scarlet said, "I'll do a 0 on a scale of 1 to 10."

She winked at him. He knew he could relax a little bit.

"If you're right," he said, "If that judge did do it, he destroyed all the evidence he did."

"He's smart," Scarlet said, "But he's not that smart. He can't cover up all his tracks."
She looked at her watch.

"I have to go," she said, "But I'll be back."