It was around two in the afternoon when Adrian and Leyla arrived at the apartment where Maria Smith lived. There, as Adrian had assumed, they found Lieutenant David Ryder and two sergeants, who were thoroughly investigating her apartment. Monk asked Leyla to stay in the car while he talked to the lieutenant. It looked like she was going to get useful information out of him.

"Mr. Monk," the lieutenant waved, seeing him approaching. "I was wondering where you were."

Monk returned the salute and waved at the sergeants.

"Lieutenant Ryder, I hope you can let me know how the investigation is progressing?"

Bright gave him a confused look, then reached for the notebook. So much like Randy.

"I thought Captain Stottlemeyer told you that."

"Leland wanted to tell me, but he didn't have time," lied Monk, who was normally so inept at lying.

"We didn't find much," Ryder countered. "It's obvious that the victim was seeing a wealthy man, but we still haven't been able to find out his identity. Neighbors and friends claim they didn't see anything, and so do the people she worked with.

"Do you have a suspect?"

"We talked to her boss, the fashion designer D'Alessandro. The captain tried to get information out of him, but he asked for a lawyer, so we need more solid evidence."

Adrian nodded his head. "Anything else?"

"Oh, yes. We found a business card for the "Green Way Hotel" and learned that she spent a few days at that hotel just before she was killed."

"Green Way," Monk muttered. "What was she doing there?"

The lieutenant flashed him a sly smile.

"Let's say she was seeing a mystery man."

Adrian rolled his eyes but politely thanked him and said he had to go. Bright was surprised that Monk didn't want to inspect the crime scene, but he said nothing.

Monk came to Leyla and gave her directions to drive him to the "Green Way Hotel", where he hoped to find something.

When they got there, Leyla told the reception that she was Maria's friend and that she want to see the room where she was staying. After a short hesitation, the receptionist gave her the key. Monk and she took hurried steps towards the room, but suddenly Monk stopped as he saw a familiar face. Molly was sranding not far from them, talking to a young man. As soon as she saw Monk, she ran into his arms. He hugged he like a daughter. That was Molly to him. The daughter he didn't have until he met her.

"Adrian, what are you doing here?", she asked, then looked at Leyla.

"I'm investigating something related to a case", he said, waving his hand. "This is Leyla Zlatavich. Leyla, this is my stepdaughter Molly."

She smiled kindly and held out her hand, and Molly did the same.

"Is that your friend?", Molly's face flickered with a slight smile.

"Leyla is..."

"Let's say I'm his business partner", she answered for him.

"Partner?", Molly repeated in amazement. "What about Natalie?"

"I'm kind of a replacement for her, since she's leaving soon", she finished.

Monk looked at Leyla in silence, knowing that he wouldn't be able to make up such a story.

"And you?", Monk asked politely.

"I'm here for James. His ex roommate was murdered and he's been trying to figure out what happened for days."

James was Molly's boyfriend, a journalist who worked for a national television station. Monk had met the young man and found him honorable, and he and Molly had much in common.

"What was his roommate's name?", he asked.

"Maria Smith. She was a model, one of Leonardo D'Alessandro's biggest stars. You heard for him?"

Adrian looked at Leyla and she nodded her head.

"Molly, can we talk for a minute?"

"Of course. James is bound to be late."

"Great! Come with us", Leyla ordered and led them towards Maria's room.

The interior of the room was fascinating. Everything was bursting with luxury and Adrian thought that Lieutenant Albright must have shelled out a lot of money for this kind of accommodation. He was sure that he had borne the expenses of Maria's stay in that hotel.

"Molly", he began gently, "I'm working on the case of a murdered model, but promise me you will keep quiet about what I tell you."

"Really? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone anything. Do you know who killed Maria?"

"I'm not sure, but I think I'm on the right way", he replied. "This is the room she stayed in a few days ago. She was seeing a mystery man who apparently paid for this luxury."

"James knows she's been seeing someone, but she hasn't told him his identity", Molly said. "However, he isn't sure that this guy is responsible for the murder. Do you know who he is?"

Adrian folded his hands and looked directly into her eyes.

"I suspect Lt. Steven Albright, Natalie's fiancé."

"What?", Molly looked at him wide-eyed. "Why do you think that?"

"Because of the evidence I found at the crime scene. However, that's not enough. That's why I came here. Maybe there's something the police missed."

"I can't believe it", Molly was still in shock. "Natalie is really looking forward to the wedding. I spoke to her yesterday, she was so excited..."

"That's why we have to act as soon as possible", said Leyla. "She mustn't marry him!"

Molly looked at her suspiciously.

"You aren't Adrian's partner, are you?"

"Leyla works for fashion designer D'Alessandro and she wants to prove her boss's innocence."

"Adrian", Molly said, touching his shoulder, "you know how much I value Natalie, and if Steven really killed Maria, nothing will save him from the punishment he deserves. I will keep this a secret, but I promise, I will help you."

"Thank you", he said gently and hugged her again. "I love you."

"I love you too."

When Molly left to find James, Adrian decided to search the room in his old fashion. Leyla was fascinated, as she had never seen Monk does his work. She also participated in the search, with the goal of finding something that would help them solve the case. A few minutes later, Monk came out of the bathroom, carrying a bag containing a ring. A smile flickered on his lips.

"Looks like our guy was careless. He managed to lose something so precious."

"Impossible!", Leyla shouted. "He lost his ring!"

"I barely found him", said Adrian and shook his head. "Don't ask me where he's been." Then he shook again.

"Mr. Monk, don't tell me that..."

"It was!", he surrendered. "It was in the drain pipe. That's why they didn't find it. Fortunately, I'm much better now than before. Old Adrian Monk would never have risked, searching that place."

Leyla laughed out loud, seeing him frown.

"Well that's great!"

"What?", he asked nervously. "Because I put my hand in the drain pipe? Phew!"

"No, Mr. Monk, I think it's great that you found the ring. Can we find out who it belongs to?"

Adrian picked up the bag and stared at the ring.

"My suspicions have been confirmed. Lieutenant Albright wore a ring like this. I want to be 100% sure, though."

Meanwhile, at Natalie's house, Julie was finishing lunch when she heard the doorbell ring. Opening the door, she saw a worried Lieutenant Albright.

"Hi, Steven."

"Hi, Julie", he said and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Julie accepted Steven as her mother's boyfriend, and he was also a good friend of her late father, so they got along well. She was also excited about their wedding.

"Where's mom?", she asked, letting him in. Steven hastily walked past her and began to search Natalie's couch.

"Steve?"

"Natalie went to Mr. Monk's", he said absently, focused on his search.

"May I know what are you looking for?"

Steven looked at her and sighed sadly.

"I lost the ring that my late uncle left me as an inheritance. I can't find it anywhere, so I thought it was here."

"I'm sorry", Julie said sympathetically. "How does the ring look?" Maybe I can help you?"

Steven looked around and took out his mobile phone and showed her a picture.

"Please, Julie, don't tell Natalie about this. You know what she's like, she will definitely search the whole house."

"But if that ring is so important to you, then you should find it", Julie said confused.

"I will", he agreed, "and you can help me. But please, don't tell anyone about this."

"As you say", replied Julie, still very confused.

"Mr. Monk, I brought you the shirts from the dry cleaners, they look like new now", Natalie chirped happily, entering Monk's apartment, where the sound of a vacuum cleaner could be heard. Natalie smiled seeing him humming while doing his favorite job. She stood like that for almost a minute, not wanting to disturb him in something that really filled him. As soon as he saw her, Adrian turned off the vacuum cleaner and smiled.

"Hi, Natalie. Sorry, I was vacuuming. I haven't done it in a few days."

Natalie laughed out loud and went into his bedroom to put the shirts in the closet.

"I was already worried you'd never think of cleaning again."

"Some habits can't be changed", he quipped.

He watched as she deftly handed his shirts, even though he should have been folding them. He admired her simple movements, the moments of dedication she gave him, and he suddenly wanted to pull her into a hug and kiss her violently. Adrian Monk had never had such thoughts before, so he blushed. Somehow he was standing too close to the wardrobe, so she turned around and almost collided with him. He could smell her scent, which he had already well remembered and loved, as he looked at her lips, imagining kissing them. These thoughts directly affected his libido, even though he thought it would never happen again. He had to stop, now!

"Mr. Monk", she stammered, "I have to tell you something".

Then she moved away from him and headed towards the living room, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just a moment", he uttered barely audible and rushed to the toilet.

He returned a short while later, but luckily she didn't suspect anything. Until now, he didn't believe he could feel physical desire for another being, even though he told Leland he loved Natalie and wanted her in every sense of the word. He had always avoided talking about sex, he hummed when the late Dr. Kroger asked him an intimate question, but now he suddenly became aware that he too was a flesh and blood man. This was caused by the love he felt for Natalie, it awakened his sleeping libido. But, not wanting that to happen again in her presence, he hastily diverted his train of thought.

"Natalie, what did you want to tell me?"

As if she knew she should not do that, Natalie walked up to him and put her hands on his shoulders, as she had done countless times before, after all. Adrian sighed softly and prayed that it would stay that way.

"Mr. Monk, I thought I'd keep this from you, but you are a man who doesn't like surprises, so I will be honest."

"What is it about?

"You know what is coming?"

"Your wedding", he said and immediately shuddered, remembering Steven and the ring he kept in his coat. Due to the sudden physical desire, he completely forgot that he kept the evidence in his pocket that could expose the lieutenant. He decided to do it tomorrow, but he was still afraid of Natalie's reaction.

"The wedding is next month", she retorted, "but before that we have to celebrate something in October."

Adrian looked at her, and his jaw almost dropped. Since he was too busy the previous days, he completely forgot about it.

"Natalie, you don't mean..."

"Yes, Mr. Monk", she said, rolling her eyes. "It's your birthday soon."