CH. 8

Mr. Monk's Wild Ride

As Adrian opened the door he heard an ignition switch, a whoosh, and the room was engulfed in flames. Throwing up an arm to protect his face he stepped back from the heat. He looked hard inside to locate the key. It was on a table at the back of the room. What could he do but go in and retrieve it? Holding his breath, he rushed in, using a hunched position going straight for the key. Pulling his sleeve over his hand, he grabbed the hot key and ran like a linebacker from the room.

By this time, he couldn't imagine what lay ahead in the last room. By now, he was in too much pain to care about anything except Natalie and getting her out of the hell hole they were stuck in. Then a thought suddenly hit him. He knew who had done all of this! He blew on the hot key, tossing it in the air as well, to cool it then attempted to fit it into the lock. It had warped from the heat and wouldn't slide into the keyhole. "No!" Adrian yelled loudly.

From an unseen location, the man with the accent let out a maniacal laugh as he watched the scene before him on a video screen.

Adrian felt anger and rage begin to rise in him. He backed a step from the door and kicked it in. Before him was a 2,000 gallon, glass water tank teeming with almost as many snakes. At the bottom of the tank was a ring of keys. Since this was the last room, the key to Natalie's prison was apparently on it. All Adrian had to do was take the plunge. First though, he had to drag his pain-riddled body up the side and into the tank and get back out. There wasn't the courtesy of a ladder. After tucking in his shirt, he clambered up the side and slid into the tank. His cracked ribs would not allow him to take a deep breath so he took what he could and shot for the bottom.

He felt the cut over his eye sting as rancid water connected with it. Snakes swam around him in a frenzy at the intruder, but Adrian forced himself to ignore them. As he grabbed the ring, he pushed off the bottom hoping the momentum was enough to give him a good launch over the edge of the tank. It was- almost. He still had to call on what little reserves of strength he had left to get himself all the way out. As he made it over the side he fell to the floor. Then he felt it. A snake had found its way into his shirt. The creepy feeling was enough to get him up and out of his shirt. As he ripped open his shirt and tore himself out of it, a flash and squirm of black against his t-shirt fell to the floor and slithered away.

Adrian then ran to the glass room where Natalie now lay unmoving. He leapt to the platform, a new rush of adrenaline pumping him. Could it be the drug kicking in? He didn't care as he began methodically trying each key. "Natalie!" he yelled between keys.

There was no way to tell the difference, they were all the same and all could fit the lock but as he came to the last key. It didn't work either. "Natalie!" he called. He could see she wasn't breathing. He slammed a fist forcefully into the glass door, but he didn't seem to feel it. Then, remembering the axe, he jumped to the ground, retrieving it. He jumped back to the platform. He swung the axe and broke the lock. Adrian gratefully yanked open the door and ran to Natalie's side. He scooped her up and carried her off the platform and laid her on the ground. He positioned her head for CPR then covered her mouth and blew into her lungs. He turned his head to watch for her breaths, but nothing followed. He breathed again, waiting, hoping anxiously. Nothing. "C'mon, don't do this!"

Natalie awoke to find herself in a beautiful landscape. She sat up, looking around and noticed a man and a woman approaching her. As they drew near, she saw it was Mitch and Trudy Monk. She looked around uncertainly, but she felt peace rather than fear. Mitch stood before her and offered his hand to her. As she took it, he drew her gently to her feet.

"Nat" he said softly. "You shouldn't be here."

"Where's here? Why are you and Trudy . . ." then she realized where here was. "Am I dead?"

Mitch lowered his head. Trudy stepped up and took her other hand. Natalie, you need to go back. Fight. Adrian needs you!" she urged.

Natalie suddenly remembered Adrian. "Adrian," she said softly with confusion as she looked at Mitch. "Mitch?" she said, squeezing his hand.

"I'm here with you."

"It's not your time yet, Nat. Please go back. Go to Adrian," he said, finally meeting her with pleading eyes.

Adrian began chest compressions talking to Natalie with every push. "Natalie, C'mon, I need you!" he said tears pooling in his eyes. "I love you!" he blurted out loudly.

Suddenly, Stottlemeyer and Randy pulled open the sliding doors to the warehouse and ran inside to find their friends on the floor.

"Leland!" Adrian cried frantically, "Randy! She's not breathing!" Adrian had no time to ask how they knew they were in Modesto. He'd ask later. Randy ran to Monk and Natalie, taking a place opposite Adrian to take over the chest compressions for him. His exhaustion was evident. "I'll do these, you breath." Adrian waited his turn rubbing his thighs nervously. The room was waving. Randy nodded the go ahead. Adrian again breathed deep into Natalie's lungs.

The Captain came up when Monk finished his round, grabbing his shoulder. "Let me take over my friend," he said, kneeling beside Adrian ready to do the next round. "Ambulance is on the way."

"No!" Adrian pushed Leland away with a force that startled him and Randy. "I'll do it!"

Police officers began to flood the warehouse and Stottlemeyer reluctantly gave in to attend to directing the troops. He watched as Adrian went back to work. "Breath, damn it!" Adrian swore. Randy shot his Captain a look.

"Natalie, He loves you, did you hear him say it?" Trudy asked encouragingly. Mitch released Natalie's hand and turned to leave.

"Mitch!" Natalie called. He wouldn't turn.

"He loves you, Nat. You need to go back," he answered softly. Natalie looked to Trudy who smiled at her with a nod.

"Go!" she urged. Trudy now seemed to be moving away without moving but yet, getting further away.

Adrian's head was bowed in near defeat when Natalie took a sharp breath. Her eyes fluttered and Adrian's face brightened slightly. He grabbed Natalie as Randy backed off. Natalie sucked in air for all it was worth. Adrian sank into a sitting position pulling Natalie close but careful to still give her breathing room.

"Adrian," she spoke weakly. "You did it."

"No, you almost died."

"But you brought me back. I came back for you." She attempted a smile as she touched his haggard face. She noticed the trickle of blood running down the side of his face and frowned sadly. "I'm sorry I put you through this," she said, then slipped into unconsciousness.

Adrian saw she was still breathing and was relieved when the paramedics arrived. They administered adrenaline and oxygen to Natalie before loading her into the ambulance. Another set of paramedics attempted to attend to the beleaguered detective, but he just pushed them away.

Stottlemeyer noticed the Agitation building in Adrian and stepped in to diffuse the situation. He pulled the paramedics aside. In the distance Natalie's ambulance pulled away, the sirens fading in the distance. "Hey fellas, let's let him cool down a bit. He's been through a lot. I'll handle it," he said, starting to walk toward his friend, then he stopped and added, "but don't go too far."

Stottlemeyer approached Adrian Monk carefully. He was now seated on the edge of the platform. The Captain looked his friend over, wondering what he had been through. A police officer walked by with a dog from one of the rooms. Adrian didn't notice. "A friend of yours?" he offered to his friend trying to lighten the mood, also noticing the bite marks on his left arm. Adrian didn't respond.

After several tense moments he finally spoke up. "Leland, I know who did this" he said in hushed tones. Leland rubbed his legs nervously. He knew too. He was afraid to tell Monk, but the conversation was headed that way.

"Oh?" he replied twisting his mustache.

"Dale Biederback."

"Yeah, I know." Leland mumbled reluctantly.

Adrian didn't hear. "I got a call telling me to meet someone in Modesto, are we still in Modesto?"

"Yeah."

"That they would tell me who 'The Judge' was. When we got here there was a message from someone, New York Angel Underground, who wears the crown." He noticed Leland's discomfort but continued. "All bars budge, I'm your Judge. Those all lead to Biederback." Then, what he'd heard a few moments ago sank in. "What do you mean, you know?" he asked almost with accusation.

"Monk, how do you think we found you?" Adrian didn't have an answer. He stood up and stepped away as if he had been betrayed.

Leland stood as well. "He's out."

"Out?" Adrian repeated as he processed that information.

"He must have paid some people off." Leland shrugged uncomfortably. "It's gonna be hell trying to find him." As if on cue, Leland's phone rang. He stepped away from Monk as the caller caught him off guard. "No, I will not, haven't you done enough?" Then Leland had to jerk the phone from his ear because of the volume on the other side. Reluctantly he stretched the phone to Adrian who furrowed his brow in confusion. "It's for you. Beiderbecke," he said quietly.

"So, Adrian Monk! You surprised me. I didn't think you had it in you. You almost lost Natalie though. Tsk, tsk!" he taunted. "I suppose the good Captain told you that I'm free now. Guess those bars couldn't hold me after all. Hey, you're cute when you get mad!" He laughed long and hard. Adrian winced as he listened. Then Biederback continued. "Better watch your back!" he roared. Adrian began to shake and suddenly threw the phone down to the ground, breaking it in half.

"Hey!" Leland started but Adrian shoved him aside and found the axe. Picking it up he strode forcefully to the glass room, jumped to the platform and with a roar of anger from deep inside he swung the axe into the glass. The room exploded causing Randy and Stottlemeyer to leap out of the way.

Everyone in the warehouse turned in sudden attention to the man with the axe. Adrian was not aware of his surroundings anymore. His sole focus was on the chamber of horror the woman he loved had almost died in. He stepped off the platform and started hacking at it, striking again and again with growling fury. Some of the police officers put their hands to their guns afraid he might turn on them.

Leland intervened. "Stand down, clear the area!" he shouted. Randy waved everyone out but stayed with his Captain and Adrian. His eyes were like saucers, amazed at the mild gentle man he thought he knew.

"Monk!" Stottlemeyer called. "Monk, calm down buddy! Whatever he said, he said it to get you into this state. Don't let him control you buddy!" Stottlemeyer yelled so Adrian might hear. Then turning slightly to the Lieutenant, "Randy, call Dr. Bell!"

"Already done! He'll meet us at the hospital."

"He's the Judge!" Adrian shouted. "He's the Judge!" he finally stopped swinging out of sheer exhaustion. He was crying now. He turned his back to the two men he called his friends, letting the axe fall from his hands and clatter to the floor. Stottlemeyer and Randy moved toward him cautiously announcing their approach.

"Monk, I know this is tough," he said quietly, but we're here for you. We'll walk with you through this. Right now you gotta focus on Natalie." Stottlemeyer was about to put a comforting hand on Adrian's shoulder. He never got the chance. Adrian whirled around and sucker punched Stottlemeyer squarely in the face. He went down hard, and Adrian turned to Randy. Fortunately, Randy's reflexes were quicker than the captain's and he ducked soon enough to avoid Adrian's fist. Adrian then grabbed his arm and threw him toward the shattered room. Stottlemeyer managed to get up and met Randy at the platform.

Randy used the momentum to push off the platform and take off after Adrian who was sprinting toward the door. Suddenly Adrian went crashing to the ground under the weight of Randy's tackle. Adrian struggled like a wild animal, feeling trapped and panicked. Stottlemeyer grabbed one arm while Randy grabbed the other holding on to the flailing man with all their strength.

"Monk, calm down it's Leland and Randy! Medic!" he yelled.

Adrian didn't care that every fiber in his body raged with pain, that the tackle had broken the previously cracked ribs. He had to get out of there. He had a Judge to find. He had a Judge to kill. His eyes were wide and wild as he continued to struggle not recognizing his friends.

The paramedics came running with their medical bag and stopped short. "Can you sedate him?!" Stottlemeyer inquired desperately.

"We can paralyze him."

Randy looked at them incredulously "What?!"

"We use it in emergencies, when the patient is combative, and we need to open an airway!"

Stottlemeyer looked at Randy, struggling to hold Adrian. Randy was very strong, but his strength was waning. Adrian had eased his struggle only for a moment. "Do it!" he ordered.

When Adrian heard that, he panicked again and dredged up another burst of fight. "No!" he breathed heavily "No!"

"Your gonna have to hold him still! Don't want to get the wrong guy!" One paramedic said, as he filled a syringe with the appropriate drug. The Captain and Randy stood him up. Then Leland pulled Adrian's right arm forcefully behind his back and in the same motion slammed him into the wall with his other arm across his throat, effectively pinning him to the wall. Adrian breathed heavily, covered in sweat as Randy held His left arm out for the medic. The medic expertly and quickly slipped a rubber tourniquet onto Adrian's arm.

Leland looked at his friend who was squeezing his eyes shut randomly, gritting his teeth. "I'm sorry," he apologized quietly. The drug did efficient work as Adrian Monk suddenly relaxed into the arms of his friend. A dose of sedation followed, and Adrian's world became quiet.