Author: DragonLady
Rating: Same as the series
Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish it were mine
Author's note: I chose to write this in a script format, as it gave the story more immediacy, as well as lending itself to be interpreted like an actual episode. I did my best to write it as such.
"Mr. Monk and the Novelist"
*Opening teaser*
A man sits at a desk, typing furiously at a laptop. After a moment, he stops, reads what he wrote, then frowns.
Man: "Damn it, piece of crap!" Angrily, he stabs the backspace button, deleting what he'd just written.
Running his fingers through his hair, he cracks his knuckles, then takes a few tentative taps at the keys. He pauses again, reading through the material with his hand to his face. There is a knock at the door.
Man (glancing briefly at the door): "-Minute."
Distractedly, he types a few words. There is another knock, more insistent.
Man (growling under his breath): "damn it all... Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!"
He opens the door.
Man: "Oh, great- Look, I told you, I don't want you coming over here. I'm tired of talking, so why not take a hint, and get lost!"
He turns from the visitor.
Behind him, a gloved hand lifts up, holding a gun.
The visitor fires once, killing the writer, who falls to the floor, knocking over a chair.
Moments later, the killer leaves the apartment, closing the door on the murder.
*Credits*
*break*
*Opening scene*
Adrian and Sharona drive to the airport. Adrian's face is tense, and he nervously keeps touching the armrest on the door.
Adrian: "Are you sure this is the right entrance? Did you, did you write down the correct numbers?"
Sharona (sighing): "Adrian, this is the right entrance, the right gate number, and the right time. Now quit bugging me! God, I knew I shoulda come here alone!"
Adrian twists his shoulders a little as Sharona parks the car.
Sharona: "Ok, I checked the flight time before we left, and there was a delay for her connecting flight. She'll arrive about fifteen minutes late."
Adrian: "Wha-why a delay, did something happen, is-is something wrong?"
Sharona: "Adrian, planes get delayed all the time. It's probably nothing."
Adrian (as they exit the car): "Yeah- b-but it could be something, there could be a problem... maybe she missed the flight, we should call her, do you have your cell..."
Sharona (placing a hand on his shoulder): "Adrian, calm down, just calm down. There's nothing wrong. Just be cool, ok? Ok? Come on."
She leads him into the baggage claim area, where they wait for the plane to arrive.
Twenty minutes later, as Adrian's jumpiness is about to drive Sharona nuts, a crowd of people begin filing into the baggage claim area. Adrian jumps up, twisting to avoid the people pushing to the baggage claim carousel.
Adrian: "Do you see her? Is she there, do you see her?"
Sharona: "Adrian, I've never met her, I don't even know what she looks like!"
Adrian ignores her, continuing to hug his arms, avoiding contact while trying to keep an eye out for that one face. Suddenly, he stares, a slow smile creeping over his face, so bright that he fairly glows.
Adrian: "Mom!"
He begins pushing through the crowd, holding his sleeve-shrouded hands against his chest to avoid contact. The woman he called out to stands at the top of the escalator, one small bag in her hand. She looks a little like Adrian, small and slender. Her hair is mostly silver, with traces of dark running through it. Her eyes are almond shaped and warm, honey brown. At the sound of Adrian's voice, her head comes up, and she smiles widely.
Ardelia: "Adrian! Oh, Adrian!" She steps quickly down the escalator, avoiding the crush of people. As soon as she reaches the bottom of the moving stairway, she throws her arms around Adrian, holding him tightly.
Ardelia: "Oh, my baby, my baby!"
Adrian holds her tightly, with none of the reserve he has around other people, including Sharona. After a moment, he loosens his grip, but doesn't release her.
Adrian: "Mama, I'm not a baby anymore." He smiles while he speaks to her, his eyes shining.
Ardelia (cupping his face with her hand): "Whether you're four, or forty-eight, you'll always be my baby!"
He smiles at her. Then, taking her hand, he leads her to the baggage claim area.
Adrian: "Mama, I'd like you to meet my, uh, meet, um, Sharona- Sharona Fleming."
Sharona reaches out to shake hands, and finds herself wrapped in a hug instead.
Ardelia: "It is so good to meet you dear!"
Sharona (a little surprised): "Y-you too!" She smiles as Ardelia steps back. "Adrian's told me a lot about you! Yeah, it's great to finally meet you in person!"
Ardelia smiles: "And you as well! You are even lovelier than he described!"
Adrian glances down at his hands while Sharona looks slightly flustered.
Sharona: "Ah, well, ah... I, ah, guess we should get your luggage huh?"
Back at Adrian's house, Sharona and Adrian carry Ardelia's bags into the guest bedroom.
Ardelia: "Just set them on the bed, I'll put everything away later, thank you."
They comply; Adrian makes sure the suitcases are straight.
Adrian: "Is this ok? I could get different bed sheets, or-or pillows, are the pillows fluffy enough?"
Ardelia laughs slightly, holding up her hands: "Sweetheart, it's beautiful, thank you! Now, how about I take you two to lunch?"
Adrian: "Oh, ah, that would, that would, are you sure? I was thinking we could take you out..."
Ardelia: "Nonsense! I'm not hard up, and it's been so long since..." Her voice wavers, and she places a hand on Adrian's arm. Discreetly, Sharona leaves the room, closing the door behind her. Ardelia sits on the edge of the bed; Adrian sits down next to her.
They sit together in silence for a moment.
Ardelia: "I hadn't realized how, much, how very much I'd missed you until I saw you again today. I am so sorry I wasn't there when Trudy..."
Adrian takes her hand: "Mama, no, there was no way you could have come!"
Ardelia: "I should have tried, you were in so much pain, and I'm your mother! You needed me, and I wasn't there." She closes her eyes, hiding the shine of tears.
Adrian: "I-I wouldn't have wanted you here, not how I was. But, Mama, it-it was ok, Sharona was there, she helped me, it was ok."
Ardelia smiles sadly: "I am so sorry, I wanted to tell you that. Trudy was like a daughter to me. I wish I could have..." She stops, looking into Adrian's face. "But we move on, don't we?" She places a hand on Adrian's arm. "I am so proud of you! What you've accomplished, what you do for people. If your father could only see you."
Adrian smiles: "I think he does. And I think Trudy does too."
Later, at the restaurant. Adrian busily polishes his silverware while Sharona and Ardelia talk.
Sharona: "That's a lovely brooch! Can I ask where you got it?"
Ardelia (touching a hand to the jewelry): "My husband gave it to me in 1968, for our anniversary." She smiles. "He had just been promoted, he- he was so proud." Her smile becomes sad. Adrian stops polishing the flatware.
Adrian: "Dad, Dad died just two weeks later." He looks at Ardelia. She glances up, then smiles again.
Ardelia: "You became the man of the house. You were only eleven, but you- you jumped right in and started helping out. I still remember, every Saturday, you insisted on making it a work day. You never went out and played with your friends."
Adrian (matter-of-fact): "I didn't have any friends."
At that moment, their waiter approaches.
Waiter: "Good afternoon, my name is Johnson. May I take your order?"
Ardelia lifts her menu: "Oh, yes. Um, I would like the stuffed crab and a glass of your house wine please."
Waiter (turning to Sharona): "And you ma'am?"
Sharona: "Uh, I'll, ah, I'll have the- ah, the glazed chicken and an iced tea."
Adrian looks up as the waiter turns to him.
Adrian: "Um, the- the ah, saut�ed beef and vegetables- a glass of Merlot, and could, uh, could you..."
Waiter: "Will this be on separate plates sir?"
Adrian: "If you wouldn't mind."
After the waiter leaves, Adrian looks at the other women.
Adrian: "I think he knows me."
Sharona's cell phone rings, and she quickly answers it.
Sharona: "Hello? Captain, yes- yes- we just sat down for dinner. Uh huh, yeah, yeah... It has to be now?" She breathes out heavily. "Ok, ok! Alright, fine, I'll tell him."
She hangs up and turns to Adrian: "That was Stottlemeyer. He says he needs us to meet him at 407 Conway as soon as possible."
Ardelia: "Can't you even have dinner?"
Sharona (shrugging): "Maybe we could have them put it in a doggie bag."
Adrian frowns: "Are you sure you'll be ok? You just got here. Maybe you should come with us."
Ardelia: "Nonsense, I'll be fine! Besides, I'd just be underfoot."
Sharona: "No, I think it's a great idea! Besides, you've never seen Adrian do his 'thing' before!"
Adrian (half-whispering): "Sharona..."
Ardelia: "I have been curious, I must admit. Well, if you think it would be alright..."
Adrian: "If you don't want to, we understand..."
Sharona: "Great! It's settled. I'll go start the car!"
Adrian: "No, Sharona, but wait..."
Sharona walks away, keys in hand.
Ardelia: "She really is a sweet girl!"
At the crime scene:
Stottlemeyer is leaning against the doorpost as Adrian, Sharona, and Ardelia walk up.
Stottlemeyer: "Well, good timing. And I see you brought a guest."
Adrian: "Captain Stottlemeyer, I'd like you to meet my mother, Ardelia Monk."
Stottlemeyer nods to her: "A pleasure Mrs. Monk." He turns to Sharona. "If I'd known we were having a family reunion I'd have brought my wife."
Sharona frowns.
Ardelia: "Captain, it's so good to finally meet you. I've heard a great deal about you from Adrian."
Stottlemeyer, turning to Monk: "Is that a fact?"
Adrian shrugs, looking uncomfortable: "Yes, well, was there a reason you called, or should we go back to the restaurant?"
Stottlemeyer becomes serious again: "Sharona, why don't you introduce Adrian's mother to Lt. Disher?"
Sharona nods, leading the older woman away.
Stottlemeyer: "Steven Phelps was found dead this morning by a neighbor. The neighbor, one Rosemary Howard, claimed she heard the sounds of a struggle the night before, but didn't feel it was her business to investigate. However, driven by her 'Christian conscience', she decided to check on Mr. Phelps, at which point, she found him with a bullet in his back."
Adrian (kneeling by the corpse): "She didn't hear a gunshot?"
Stottlemeyer: "It seems Mrs. Howard has a weakness for spaghetti westerns, and there was a Clint Eastwood marathon on last night. I still think "Fist-full of Dollars" was one of his best."
Adrian stands, looking about the room, frowning. He catches sight of the laptop.
Stottlemeyer: "He was a writer. He'd published a few books. I even own one. He was no Tom Clancy, but he told a good tale."
Adrian: "Are there any suspects?"
Stottlemeyer: "Right off the bat, his x-wife. Actually, his soon-to-be x-wife. Seems there's a hefty insurance policy on this guy. The divorce isn't quite finalized yet, so the lady stands to gain a tidy sum with his death."
Adrian shrugs again, walking around the room. His brow is furrowed.
Stottlemeyer: "What is it?"
Adrian: "It's just, well there's only one chair knocked over."
Stottlemeyer: "Yeah, the one he landed on, so what?"
Adrian: "If there was an argument, why aren't there more chairs knocked over? He wasn't fighting for his life. He trusted whomever it was enough to turn his back."
Stottlemeyer: "You don't think it was the wife."
Adrian: "It's just too... neat. The wife is an obvious choice. Besides, if you were convinced it was the wife, you wouldn't have asked for me."
*commercial break*
At Adrian's house.
Ardelia: "I had no idea police work could be so exciting! I can see why you love it!"
Adrian (shrugging): "Yeah, I- uh, I g-guess it's, pretty neat."
Sharona: "Adrian, tell me you didn't just use the word 'neat' to describe your job."
Adrian shoots Sharona a dirty look while Ardelia stands and stretches.
Ardelia: "My, I think that jet-lag is catching up with me! If you two don't mind, I think I'll go lie down for a while."
Sharona and Adrian both stand.
Sharona: "Oh, go right ahead! Yeah, Adrian and I need to pursue a few avenues with this case, so we'll be gone for a- a coupla hours in case you wake up."
Adrian looks at Sharona as his Mother leaves the room.
Adrian: "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, she- she'll be all alone, and..."
Sharona: "Adrian, your mom has lived alone for most of her life. I think she'll be fine. Now come on, Stottlemeyer will think you've lost the 'touch' if we don't put forth some effort here."
Adrian gives the room one more look as Sharona leads him to the door.
At the police station:
Adrian, Sharona, and Stottlemeyer are in the captain's office. Adrian stands, fidgeting nervously, while Sharona and the Stottlemeyer are seated.
Adrian: "I'm just, I'm not convinced it was the wife, I just don't see it. It's too obvious!"
Stottlemeyer: "Monk, what is wrong with obvious? Sometimes crimes are obvious. Not every murder has to be a rehash of J.F.K.!"
Adrian starts to fuss with the pens on Stottlemeyer's desk, Sharona tries to shoo him away with little success.
Adrian: "I'm just saying, I think this deserves further investigation."
Stottlemeyer: "I agree! But while you're investigating, I intend to have Mrs. Phelps brought in for questioning. Now, if you don't mind, I have more than just this case to deal with."
Outside the office, Sharona's cell phone suddenly rings. Adrian fidgets as she stops to answer it.
Sharona: "Hello- hi! Yeah, yeah, I remember! We- sure, that- that'd be great! What time? Uuummm, no, that won't work,"
Adrian tentatively reaches for the phone, then pulls his hand back and tugs at his sleeve.
Adrian: "Sharon-Sharona, we should, you know, get back. . ."
Sharona: "Hold on, Adrian, I'm on the phone!"
Adrian: "Yeah, I see that. Look, we should get back, I don't think we should leave my mother alone for too long."
Sharona: "What, you afraid she's gonna do huh? Wash somethin'?"
Adrian: "Ha, ha, look- just hang up will you?"
Sharona (sighing heavily): "Greg? Yeah, yeah- I gotta go. Look, I'll call ya later kay? Alright, alright, bye." She hangs up. "Geez Adrian, I think you coulda waited twenty seconds!"
Ignoring her, Adrian grabs the cell phone from her, wipes it quickly, and dials home.
Adrian (nervously): "It's just ringing, still ringing- why is it still ringing!" Sharona looks at her watch.
Sharona: "Adrian, we've only been gone forty minutes! She's probably still sleeping, and you're gonna wake her up! Give me that!" She snatches the phone back in mid-ring.
Adrian: "No! Sharona- wait, but..."
Sharona (putting away her phone): "Look, Adrian- she has my number, she has Stottlemeyer's number, and his home phone, and the police station number..."
Adrian: "What if I gave her the wrong number? Oh, God, she could be trying to call, but can't get through because she has the wrong number!"
Sharona: "Adrian, they're the right numbers! Now calm down, solve the case, catch the bad guy, and we'll take your mom to the hearing, kay?"
Adrian breathes out, running his hand through his hair. Glancing up at her expression, he smiles sheepishly: "Ok."
At a publishing firm in Downtown San Francisco:
Secretary: "Mr. Kenning?"
Mr. Kenning sits at a mahogany desk near a picture window. He looks up as his secretary enters the room.
Kenning: "Yes Sophie?"
Sophie: "Frank Dowd called again, he's wanting to know if you received his fax?"
Kenning: "Yes, actually, I was just reading it, thank you Sophie."
Sophie turns to leave, when Kenning looks up again.
Kenning: "Oh, Sophie? Could you please be a dear and drop this off for FedEx?"
Sophie takes the package: "Of course." She leaves.
Kenning looks down at the paper again, sighs, then grabs the phone.
Kenning: "Yes, this is Jacob Kenning, please put Mr. Dowd on for me." He glances at his watch. "Frank... yes, yes I got it right here. No, I think that- I think that would be in very poor taste! -Well that may be the case now, but he was still my client at the time of his death! -Fine, fine, one-o' clock it is. Right, see you then." Frustrated, he grips the phone for a second before dropping on the cradle. He chews pensively at his knuckle for a second, then hits the call button.
Kenning: "Sophie, I need you to cancel my twelve o' clock, I'm going to be out of the office for a few hours."
Sophie: "Of course Mr. Kenning."
Standing abruptly, Kenning grabs his wallet and stalks from the room.
That evening, at Adrian's house, Adrian, Sharona, Benjy, and Ardelia sit around the dinner table.
Ardelia: "Sharona, my dear! You are a fantastic chef! My, two great cooks in the same room..."
Sharona: "It's my mother's recipe, who knew she'd actually pass down something nice for a change!"
Benjy pushes away his plate: "Mom, can we have dessert now?"
Sharona (quietly) "Benjy..." She gestures to Adrian's mother.
Benjy: "Oh, I'll get hers first!"
He darts to the kitchen. Sharona looks embarrassed.
Sharona (smiling uncomfortably): "Kids."
Ardelia: "Oh, he's an angel! You should have seen Adrian at that age!"
Adrian: "What about me at that age? I was a normal kid..."
Ardelia: "Adrian, for your twelfth birthday, you alphabetized my spice rack. When I asked why, you just told me it was something you'd been meaning to do."
Sharona chuckles: "You should see my kitchen, I practically have to nail the cupboards shut whenever he comes over!"
Benjy returns to the room: "Here we are! Chocolate cheesecake for us, and a bowl of strawberries for Mr. Monk!"
He serves the people at the table. Adrian stares at the fruit.
Benjy: "Don't worry, I even measured them, they're all the same size!"
Adrian: "Thank you Benjy, it looks great!" He silently begins counting the diced berries.
Ardelia: "Adrian, dear, wouldn't you like some cream on your fruit? It seems so plain."
Sharona: "No, no, Mrs. Monk, Adrian likes it plain..."
Adrian: "It's fine Mom, I don't need..."
Ardelia: "Nonsense! Here, let me get you some..." She reaches for the bowl.
Adrian: "I said, it's fine!" He grips the bowl tightly. Sharona, Benjy, and Ardelia all stare at him.
Adrian: "I'm, I'm sorry, please excuse me." He stands up from the table and retreats out the door.
Sharona: "I'm sorry, he really didn't mean it..."
Ardelia: "I know." She sits down again, staring at the table.
Sharona: "Benjy, how about you go watch some TV ok?"
Benjy (giving Ardelia a worried look): "Ok Mom."
The two women sit quietly together for a few moments.
Ardelia: "Sharona, when I heard what happened to Trudy, it nearly destroyed me. I had prayed so long that Adrian would find someone like that, someone to love him for every part of who he was. When I was told that she had been killed, I knew that whatever I felt was not even a fraction of what Adrian would be going through. But no matter how I tried, I couldn't bring myself to go to him. I knew he was receiving treatment for depression, but I had no idea..." She looks up. "What happened Sharona, what happened to my son?"
Sharona: "Adrian suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He's also Bi Polar. He can get completely distracted by something like a crooked tablecloth. He'll spend hours trying to get it just right. When he gets really stressed, he'll clean everything, not just here, but at my house too... which needs it!" Ardelia smiles slightly. "I've heard he was a little like this went he was younger, but when Trudy died... it- it's like he felt he needed to, you know, make everything perfect, like, if he could fix a tilted picture, it would make everything ok."
Ardelia: "I'd always known he was a little different. He'd always been very polite as a child, and his room was spotless! I was always a bit smug around other parents. But he never really had any friends either. I was amazed when he took up running in school. Now that I think about it, he probably loved all those straight lines!" Her smile is sad. "But he didn't stay with it. He quit after a few months. He told me he needed that time to study. I knew that wasn't really the reason, this boy got straight A's without even trying! But he never told me the real reason."
Sharona: "Uneven laces."
Ardelia: "That's my son. I wish I had known..."
Sharona: "Mrs. Monk, your son is an amazing person! He's wonderful at what he does, Benjy thinks he's a hero! And, and I think of him as one of my best friends!"
Ardelia: "Thank you Sharona. You really are a gem. I hope my son knows that."
Sharona: "He will, I'll tell him myself!"
*break*
The next day:
Stottlemeyer and Disher walk to a ditch along a wooded road. A body lies in the grass a few steps away.
Stottlemeyer: "Randy, have forensics run a type on that stain on his lapel. And make sure they get a clean sample this time!"
Disher nods: "Right away Captain. You heard him boys, let's make it a good one this time!" The cops glance at each other as Disher walks past.
Stottlemeyer turns to see Sharona and Adrian walking up.
Stottlemeyer: "God, what is it, I thought you guys already had a case!"
Adrian: "Captain, I think this may be connected."
Stottlemeyer: "In what way? Steven Phelps was shot in the back, allegedly by his almost x-wife. Mr. Dowd here was stabbed in the throat by his fountain pen."
Disher: "Well, the pen is mightier..."
Stottlemeyer: "Shut up Randy."
Disher clears his throat: "I'll just, I'll just be over here..." He walks away from the group.
Stottlemeyer: "You were saying about a connection?"
Adrian: "Well, it establishes both victims knew their killers."
Stottlemeyer: "How do you figure?"
Adrian: "Who would kill someone with his fountain pen, and in the middle of the day? If I planned to kill someone, I'd do it at night with a gun. No, this was personal."
Stottlemeyer: "That may be, Monk, but it doesn't answer my first question."
Adrian: "The dead man is Frank Dowd; he was the publisher at FineLine Press. Steven Phelps had just signed on as his latest client."
Stottlemeyer turns around: "Randy! Find out what Dowd was doing out here, and do it double-time!"
Adrian squints his eyes as he regards the man on the ground: "Ink stains."
Stottlemeyer: "What was that?"
Adrian: "There are ink stains on his jacket."
Stottlemeyer: "Are you sure?"
Sharona: "Trust me Captain, Adrian knows his stains."
Stottlemeyer: "Well, he WAS killed with a fountain pen..."
Adrian: "There's too much ink, and it looks too thick to be pen ink."
Stottlemeyer: "Maybe he got it on him at work, maybe he didn't have time to change! Either way, his connection to Phelps doesn't prove they have the same killer." He crosses his arms, sighing. "But it's still something we need to follow up on. Look, you head over to Mrs. Phelp's place, see if you can weed any more out of her. Randy and I will check out FineLine and see if we can get any answers there."
Adrian and Sharona start to leave.
Stottlemeyer: "But Monk," Adrian turns, "I'm not giving up on her yet, she's still my first suspect." Adrian smiles, then leaves with Sharona.
At the Phelps's home:
Adrian talks on Sharona's cell: "Yes Captain, hm, interesting... ok, we'll be over there in about an hour." He hangs up, and Sharona retrieves her phone.
Adrian examines a shelf of knick-knacks, reaching up now and then to adjust their positions.
Sharona (softly): "Adrian..."
Morgan Phelps enters the room.
Morgan: "I'd appreciate it if you didn't handle those, they are figurines from Tibet, and quite valuable."
Sharona grabs Adrian's arm and pulls him away from the figurines. He reaches out with one hand and straightens one last figure before Sharona gets him far enough away.
Morgan: "What can I do for you Mr. Monk? I've already spoken to Captain Stottlemeyer. He has this interesting theory that I killed my husband."
Monk: "Ma'am, no disrespect, but you are a likely suspect."
Morgan: "Really? And what motive do I have? I have my own wealth, I need none of his. And, if you read the police report, you'd realize that I kicked HIM out. The terms of our divorce stipulated that I would retain half his assets, including the house. So, I ask again, what motive?"
Adrian looks around the house. He spots the computer.
Monk: "Is this yours or Steven's?"
Morgan: "I guess you could say I inherited it. Steven bought it originally, but hated being confined to one place. So when he bought his laptop, I got the PC."
Monk: "Do you write at all?"
Morgan: "I dabble. Poems mostly, though I did start one novel. Never got very far with it; Steven was the writer."
Sharona: "How did you meet?"
Morgan: "I was living in Boston, attending M.I.T. Steven was staying in the apartment next to me. I came home late from school one evening and ran into him outside the building. At first I thought he was a mugger or something, he acted so intense. After awhile, I sorta got used to him. We started dating." She sighs. "And you know the rest: We got married, he started publishing top selling novels, he cheated on me, I kicked him out, he got murdered. Pretty standard love story wouldn't you say?"
Monk: "You say you attended M.I.T. That's a pretty intensive collage as I understand it."
Morgan: "You can say that again. I had a classmate commit suicide the night after she failed a geometry test. Seems that was a fairly common thing."
Monk: "But you passed with flying colors. In fact, you were valedictorian, weren't you?"
Morgan looks slightly surprised: "You know more than you reveal. Yes, I was valedictorian. Though I'm not sure how that has anything to do with the accusation that I'm a murderer."
Adrian glances around the room again, there's a portable phone on the wall next to a Kinkade. In addition, several other paintings decorate other walls near the computer, fax machine, and scanner.
Monk: "Did you know that Thomas Kinkade has a staff of artists to touch up his prints? He makes a better profit if the reproductions simulate the original."
Morgan: "Fascinating. Look, unless you have any more questions, I really need to get back to work. Tell the Captain I hope you catch your killer."
Monk: "Thank you for your time; we'll show ourselves out."
Outside, Sharona frowns as she gets in the car.
Sharona: "Adrian, you have that look."
Adrian: "There's- something just isn't right."
Sharona: "Maybe it's her attitude. God, what a bitch!"
Adrian: "I think we need to talk to Jacob Kenning."
Sharona: "Who?"
Adrian: "Steven Phelps's previous publisher. He's also talking to Captain Stottlemeyer right now."
At the police station, Adrian and Sharona sit in the viewing booth while Jacob Kenning is interrogated on the other side of the glass.
Stottlemeyer stands with his arms crossed, watching the proceedings.
Disher: "Sir, we know you set up an appointment with Frank Dowd yesterday afternoon. We also know that your secretary confirmed that you cancelled an afternoon meeting in order to attend the meeting."
Kenning: "Yes, that's correct. And I don't believe I've made any effort to hide those facts."
Cop 1: "Sir, you do realize that this makes you the last person to see Frank Dowd alive."
Kenning: "And do you realize that I'm not obligated to say anything else without legal council?"
Stottlemeyer rubs his eyes: "Monk, I need to apologize. I think your right about our suspect. It's looking like Mrs. Phelps may be in the clear after all."
Adrian twitches his shoulders: "Actually Captain, you may have been right."
Stottlemeyer looks up: "Come again?"
Adrian: "I just need to ask Mr. Kenning one question."
Stottlemeyer gestures to the glass.
Taking the hint, Adrian walks through the door to be escorted into the interrogation room.
Sharona remains behind with the Captain and watches Adrian through the glass. He enters quickly, speaks briefly to Kenning, then returns to the observation room.
Adrian: "Do you have your handcuffs on you?"
Stottlemeyer: "Why?"
Adrian: "Because your gonna need them for Mrs. Phelps."
Back at the Phelps residence:
Morgan: "Mr. Monk, we meet again! What, did you forget to straighten one of my pictures? Perhaps you'd like to wash my dishes or vacuum?"
Sharona shoots her a dirty look.
Adrian: "Not at the moment, your maid looks like she's keeping up with the housework. Actually, we're here for something a little more serious."
Stottlemeyer: "Morgan Phelps, I'm placing you under arrest for the murder of your husband, Steven Phelps. As well as the murder of FineLine publisher, Frank Dowd" He approaches her, but she backs away.
Morgan: "And what evidence do you have, his say so?" She points to Monk. "I'll have you know I retain the services of a very good lawyer."
Adrian: "You'll need them. Mrs. Phelps, what did it feel like to find out your husband recently put most of his wealth into a fund to be paid out over course of fifteen years... to his favorite charity organization?"
Morgan laughs: "Mr. Monk, surely you aren't going to suggest I killed him for his money?"
Adrian: "No ma'am, that would be too obvious, wouldn't it?" He folds his arms as he begins to walk about the room. "I was confused for awhile. The evidence pointed in the other direction. In fact, it seemed as though Mr. Kenning was the likely suspect. He set up an appointment to meet Frank Dowd, who had taken away his client, Steven Phelps. He certainly had motive. But publishers lose clients, they don't usually kill them. Then I started thinking; you said you'd been a writer in college. Must have been disheartening to live with such a successful writer as your husband. You were jealous, and couldn't stand it that his work was being published while yours was denied. His indiscretions weren't why you wanted to divorce him. In fact, you yourself had an affair with Frank Dowd about four years ago."
Morgan: "Who told you that?"
Adrian: "Frank Dowd's secretary. Seems she set up several "appointments" for yourself and Mr. Dowd on more than one occasion. You were hoping your relationship with Mr. Dowd would give you an edge the next time you tried to publish."
Morgan: "You have no proof of that, and even if you did, it still doesn't mean I killed Steven!"
Adrian: "No, but it does give you motive for the murder of Frank Dowd. It really burned you that he didn't publish your work. In fact, you broke it off with him the next day, didn't you?"
Morgan: "Steven and I attended counseling, we tried to get our marriage back together- it didn't work."
Adrian: "And when Frank took Steven on as a client, you knew you had to kill him. Mr. Kenning's afternoon appointment with Dowd was just a stroke of luck. You followed them. After the meeting, you approached Frank. You wanted to convince him to publish your novel. He refused, so you killed him. The pen was a nice touch by the way... almost- poetic." Adrian straightens one of Steven's books on a coffee table. "To paraphrase a famous quote, you killed three birds with one stone. You eliminated an inconsiderate lover, as well as implicated Steven's previous publisher for his murder, as well as the murder of Frank Dowd."
Morgan: "Mr. Monk, this has been a very entertaining story, no pun intended. But throughout your entire monologue, you've yet to provide one shred of evidence that I had anything to do with either of those murders."
Adrian walks over to the fax machine. Bending down, he lifts something from the nearby wastebasket with a Kleenex.
Adrian: "Captain Stottlemeyer, this may interest you. It's a fax report, dated and timed at the precise time Jacob Kenning received the fax from Frank Dowd. It seems you intercepted the signal. You knew about the meeting, you knew where it would take place, and what time." He hands the paper to Stottlemeyer. "Your studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology came in pretty handy didn't they? You knew how to program your fax for an intercept. Unfortunately, right in the middle of printing, your fax ran out of ink. You changed it, but got some on your hands. The meeting was taking place right away, so you didn't have time to clean up. You should have taken the time Mrs. Phelps, your fax ink ended up all over Mr. Dowd's jacket."
Mrs. Phelps clenched her hands.
Morgan: "You son of a bitch!" Reacting angrily, she whirls and grabs a small handgun from her desk drawer. Adrian reacts by shoving Sharona out of the way. She lines up for the shot, but just before she pulls the trigger, Stottlemeyer pulls his own gun.
Stottlemeyer: "Drop it, NOW!"
Morgan hesitates, and Stottlemeyer pulls the hammer back: "I said drop it!"
The handgun clatters to the floor. Stottlemeyer holsters his weapon while Disher slaps on the cuffs and reads Mrs. Phelps her rights.
Stottlemeyer: "Good job Monk."
Sharona pats Adrian on the back. Meanwhile, he watches, smiling, as Morgan Phelps is led away.
*break*
Back at Adrian's home:
Adrian, Sharona, and Ardelia sit in the living room sipping coffee.
Adrian plays with his cup, not meeting his mother's gaze.
Sharona: "I- I think I'll go call Benjy, make sure he's doing his homework." She discreetly leaves the room.
The two people remaining sit silently for a moment. Then, Adrian clears his throat.
Adrian: "Mom, I- I'm sorry, you know, about the other night..."
Ardelia: "You have no reason to be. It's my fault, I should have been sensitive. There's just, there's just so much I don't know about you. I told myself I was giving you your space. In reality, I was distancing myself from your pain, in hopes it would lessen mine. I was selfish, and I am so sorry."
Adrian sets his cup down and quickly stands, moving to kneel by Ardelia's side. He puts his head in her lap and wraps his arms around her.
Adrian: "Oh Mamma, there's nothing to apologize for. I didn't want you to be concerned about me. And you don't need to be, I'm doing good." He looks up into her face. "I love you Mamma."
She smiles through sudden tears, placing her hands on both sides of his face: "I love you my darling." They smile for a few moments. Ardelia wipes her eyes.
Ardelia: "What do you say you, Sharona, and I go out to a movie?"
Adrian's face tenses up, and Ardelia smiles: "Well, maybe we could just rent one?"
*credits*
Author's note: It's funny; I didn't even know who the killer was! Through most of this story, I was convinced it was the publisher, Mr. Kenning. Not until Monk solved the clues did I find out it was the wife after all!