One Night Changes Everything

The next day all Monk could think about was the way Natalie had kissed Night. The way she had seemed lost in the kiss, as if she had waited for him to kiss her in such a way.

To say the least – he was a bit grumpy!

The captain hadn’t said a thing at how Monk and Natalie had been acting towards each other, but from the rumors floating around the precinct, he knew that it was because Natalie had gone out with one of his new officers.

Of course he said nothing. Stottlemeyer just glanced every now and then at either of them, seeing if there was any real danger brewing. Thankfully he realized that Natalie was trying hard to keep her – what was it that he saw in her demeanor? Anger?!

Which was normal really……but she had this look in her eyes.

Stottlemeyer stared at her as she looked over the photos on his desk with Monk sitting down beside her as she stood and leaned over the desk.

Her eyes……her eyes showed such sadness. Pain even.

He had never really seen her eyes like that.

Stottlemeyer looked over and Monk and stared into his eyes as well.

Monk had never been the type of man to be……well…..happy. At least not since Trudy died……but……Monk almost had the same look in his eyes as Natalie did.

He could tell that Monk was confused……and he could see the anger and pain in him too.

Sucking in a deep breath he let out a huge sigh as he looked back at the pictures on his desk.

A murder had occurred downtown with no evidence except one man’s dead body. By the time he had gotten there the coroner had already removed the body before it decomposed any more.

So now he sat in front of two people that had become part of his family, and waited for a clue that would help him solve this case. After all……Monk could find the tiniest details to mean something.

But as Stottlemeyer remembered the way that both Monk and Natalie had arrived- barely speaking to each other – and not a smile from Natalie……which was just odd, he realized the Monk may not be up to a challenge today.

He knew something had happened between them……but he didn’t know what. He assumed it was because of Officer Night – but he knew Monk wouldn’t give her such a hard time about not being there for him. They had been through that song and dance when Natalie quit to be the Lotto Girl.

He was brought out of his musings by Randy as he walked through the door.

“Captain,” Randy said as he walked up to the desk and handed him a file, “We ran the warehouse address through the computer and found it’s owned to a corporation out of Europe.”

Stottlemeyer looked at the file with the company name and information on it.

“What’d they say about the warehouse being completely empty except for a dead body?” Stottlemeyer asked as he continued to look at the file.

“Said that the warehouse was supposed to be empty,” Randy said gesturing with a pen he had in his hand, flipping it he pointed at the captain with it, “and get this…the last person that was there was Nicholas Novikov. Russian sailor that worked for the company for twelve years with out missing a day. Hasn’t been heard from in over a week. ”

As Randy said Russian sailor, Monk titled his head as he stared at the man’s torn shirt and slightly bare torso. The pictures had been taken before the body was moved and showed the position that the body had been found in.

Monk extended his hand and picked up a magnifying glass that had been on the desk. Looking through the magnifying glass he stared at the small exposed area of the man’s chest.

It only took him a few seconds to recognize the tattoo on the man’s chest.

“Well…” Monk began with a scrunched nose as he continued to stare at the tattoo, “I believe we found Mr. Novikov. There is a tattoo on his chest.” Monk said. Straitening up he stared at Stottlemeyer.

“It’s a rose.”

Stottlemeyer huffed out a breath. Knowing what it meant.

Natalie of course did not and looked up from the photo that Monk had been examining and looked at first Monk and then the captain.

“What does that mean?” Natalie asked, curious at the significant.

Stottlemeyer and Monk had not turned their stares away from each other – until then. Stottlemeyer looked up and over at Natalie before answering.

“It means that are victim was either a Russian gang member……or a Russian Mobster…..” Stottlemeyer said, letting Natalie soak in the information.

Monk continued, wanting to explain the significance of the tattoo.

“The rose is the tattoo that’s given to initiate a gang member.” Placing the magnifier in his hand he placed it over the photo and pointed to the tattoo.

Natalie looked through the magnifier.

“See how the tattoo has a blue tint to it?” Natalie nodded at the question. “It’s common for a Russian prisoner to have a tattoo with a blue tint to it. (getting closer to Natalie’s head he again pointed) See how the tattoo is blurred…it’s due to the instruments used can’t draw fine lines.”

Neither of them noticed how close they were to the other as they stared at the photo.

Natalie caught something else. (Pointing at the spot ) “ What’s that?"

Both leaned in closer to the magnifier and stared at the slightly exposed underarm of the dead man.

“It…..It looks like a club with a diamond ontop.” Natalie said.

The information caused Stottlemeyer to lean back and breath out slowly.

Monk slowly pulled back as the information hit him.

It was then that Randy spoke up as he finally made the connection.

“Hey……doesn’t the diamond mean that he’s an informer?”

Monk nodded his head slightly, swallowing slowly as he stared up at nothing. Natalie turned her head to look at him and was suddenly frightened at how pale he had gotten.

Forgetting her anger, and everything that she had held against him not five minutes ago, she leaned over and quickly felt his forehead.

“Mr. Monk are you ok? God your freezing cold.”

Oddly to both Randy and Stottlemeyer, Monk didn’t pull back or anything as Natalie kept her hands on his face and forehead. A second later her hands left his skin as she retrieved a wipe and began to clean his face of the cold sweat that had suddenly come over him.

“Monk calm down! He’s obviously an informer!!”

Natalie looked over at the captain and then back at Monk as she continued to wipe away the sweat that had formed on his forehead.

“Why is he panicking?!” Natalie asked with a voice as close to yelling as was possible.

Stottlemeyer lifted both arms and dropped them back on his desk, “Because the club means his and ex-warrior – it means the guy was part of the Russian Mob!!” Stottlemeyer explained.

Again Natalie looked between Monk and the captain before speaking.

“That doesn’t answer my question!” Natalie exclaimed as she quickly looked back to see Monk finally regaining some color.

“Are you ok?!” She asked in a high worried voice.

Monk couldn’t answer so he just nodded his head as he took the wipe from her fingers and wiped his face.

“The Russians are known for their secrecy! Whatever happened in that warehouse is probably going to remain a mystery!” Stottlemeyer tried to explain, before Monk butt in.

“Please don’t make me do it! Please don't make me do it……”

“Monk I wouldn’t punish prisoners so severely anyway!!” Stottlemeyer said, understanding what Monk had thought. Monk was crazy if he thought that he would actually make him go undercover in a prison.

Again Natlaie looked back to the captain. “What’s he talking about?” Natalie asked curiously. Satisfied that Monk was starting to look better.

“If this guy (pointing at the picture) was in the Russian Mafia, then were talking about a whole boat load of trouble.” Stottlemeyer began.

Natalie just stood there and listened.

“If it wasn’t someone in his own group, then it was either the Italian Mafia or one of the Chinese Triads. (Waving his arm around for emphasis) Your talking about the most dangerous criminals in the world! The only way to get information is to talk to one of the higher ups.”

Shrugging her shoulders Natalie questioned “So….what’s the problem.”

At this all three men chortled. For a second Natalie’s anger flared but quickly deflated as Randy continued.

“The higher ups are usually either impossible to meet with………or in prison!” Randy said as he raised his eyebrows for emphasis.

Shaking his head Stottlemeyer continued. “Besides that one of their crime bosses was recently killed. Everyone’s scrambling for the powerful positions it opens up.”

Before anyone could say anything else………..John Night walked in the room.