Author: DragonLady
Spoilers: Mr. Monk and the Whale
Disclaimer: Monk is the property of USA Network
and Mandeville Films.
Rating: G
Echoes
They rang against the concrete surrounding him,
ricocheting like bullets off the stark gray walls. How
loud the explosion must have been�
"Bread and butter, those were her last words weren't they?"
Adrian closed his eyes, forcing the words away. She hadn't
died instantly. Trudy lived long enough to send him a message.
"What could she have meant, bread and butter�"
Her voice had been soft, almost sleepy as she whispered that
final promise. She was leaving him, but not forever.
A squeal of tires interrupted his thoughts. A gray Cadillac
took a corner just a little too fast, barely missing the wall. Monk
stepped out of its way as it took the parking spot he'd been occupying
moments earlier. An older businessman stepped out, brushing
a hair off his coat as he did so. "Excuse me, do you happen to
have the time?"
"Nine-forty two." Answered Adrian without glancing at his wrist.
The man muttered a curse and raced to the elevator. Adrian turned
away from the sound of retreating footsteps to gaze once more
at the parking spot. Unfortunately, the presence of the Cadillac
wiped out the peace that had occupied the concrete space only
minutes before. Sighing deeply, Adrian shrugged his shoulders
unconsciously and walked towards the exit.
As he strode along, Adrian pulled other fragments to the surface
of his perfect memory. When Trudy left for work that morning,
she had been wearing her favorite outfit. Her blonde hair had
shimmered in the light cast by the window near the door. Adrian's
slowly forming smile faltered slightly, then died completely.
That house was now gone as well, and was the current property of
Mr. Biterbeck, a.k.a, Dale the Whale. In fact, at their last meeting,
Mr. Whale had taken great delight in informing Adrian what he now
stored in their former dream home.
Without being completely aware of it, Adrian reached out and tapped
a concrete post, quickly wiping his fingertips on his coat. He glanced
up slightly as a quiet female presence appeared at his side. They walked
together for several minutes in silence, Adrian softly counting the
posts as they passed. Sharona glanced at her boss through her lashes,
taking in his impeccable appearance, and fully aware of that damage that
lie under the surface. There was really only one thing she could say to
him. "You missed one Adrian." Smiling, Monk reached back and tapped
the post that had slipped past his radar. "Fifteen." Sharona carefully
slipped an arm around his shoulders, careful not to come in contact with
any skin. "Let's go home." Beyond them, a gull flapped across the water
of the bay, its lonely cry carried by the wind. The two paused for only a
moment to watch the white bird as it circled the bay once, then flew out
towards the open water. Then, they too continued on their way.
End