Author: ChainGang42
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of someone else.
San Francisco -2022
A tall man with sandy hair in his early thirties knocked on the door.
"Hello Ben"
"Hello Mr. Monk."
"Did you bring everything I asked for?"
"Sure -just like every Monday morning."
"What's in the other sack?"
Ben pulled out a book and read the title outloud. " The Mystery of the Golden Box. This is the first copy of my new novel. It's the fifth in the series, and they say it's going to be another best seller."
Monk spoke as he glanced toward the window. "Did you forget to say to hello to Trudy today?" Ben went over to the window and shook hands with nobody. Over the past several years, Adrian had began to talk to Trudy as if was really there. Eventually, she had become as real to him as anybody else. As she had become more visible, most of his anxiety symptoms had begun to disappear. Now, except for having an invisible wife, he seemed to be normal and happy most of the time.
"Have you heard from your mom this week?" He asked Ben. "Yeah." He answered. "She and her husband David, the dentist, called from New York. They're planning to go on another cruise this summer."
"Are you sure she's happy, is he treating her right?"
(Last time she was here, she kept crying.)
"Yeah, she's fine. She's living the life she always wanted." Ben looked down.
"Well, I have to go meet my publisher in an hour, I'll see you later."
They shook hands as Ben Fleming left.
As Adrian picked up the novel, he read the dedication page.
"To Adrian Monk, who taught me everything I know about mysteries, and is the inspiration for my books."