It was not the blustering wind as it swept through the entryway of the Enterprise Detective Agency nor the squeaky hinge that always distracted her whenever she was trying to concentrate; rather, it was the clickety clack of umbrella sticks being rearranged within a rectangular stand that signaled to Heather Monk that her brother-in-law had arrived.

By most standards, Adrian Monk should have been dead, having recently gone through not one but two near death-experiences. Just to look at him, one could scarcely imagine the horrors through which he had travelled nor could one have known how terribly close the world had come to losing one of its most unique and brilliant intellects. But there he was, standing strong and eager to get back to life – for that, all who loved him would be forever grateful.

Heather rose with a smile, walking quickly into the hallway to greet her boss and friend. "Is that Detective Monk I hear?" She paused at the threshold when he seemed to pay her no mind. He was too busy comparing umbrellas.

Heather smirked and shrugged it off, redirecting her attention towards Adrian's wife and partner, Natalie, who, as usual, was right by his side. Natalie was six and a half months' pregnant with their third child and growing by the day – still, Heather was not the least surprised to see her. Through the years the couple had developed their own special way of relating to one another and truly were each other's "second skin." But since Monk's ordeal, they had become even closer. Natalie was protective and Adrian reassuring; and, while they still bantered on occasion, neither wanted to take for granted a single minute of their life together. Many assumed the clinginess would fade with time, but in the weeks since Monk was hospitalized, that never happened. Wherever her husband was, Natalie was sure to never be too far away.

While Adrian continued his project, Natalie looked towards Heather and smiled. How many times in the fifteen years that she had known him did she have to stop whatever she was doing in order to wait for him to complete some "necessary" task? She had lost count. Be that as it may, she knew that if left to his own devices, that necessary task would be the only thing that got done. It was therefore time for her to intervene. Gently, Natalie reached forth her hand to get Monk's attention.

"Sweetheart, it's good enough." She said, caressing his sleeve.

Monk moved only slightly in recognition of her touch. "Almost got it, daarling." He mumbled. "I'm just trying to angle them so that the water drips towards the back wall rather than into the foyer where someone could slip."

Natalie sighed. "But, Adrian…someone is here who wants to say hello."

Monk nodded dismissively. "Almost there."

Natalie glanced at Heather apologetically but Heather didn't mind the detective's obliviousness to her presence at all. Still, Monk's wife realized that he was bordering on being rude so she again spoke up. "Adrian, it's fine. Leave the stinkin' umbrellas alone."

"No need to raise your voice, Natalie. The umbrellas don't smell and I'm just about finished." He replied, moving the last stick into place. Stepping back, he tilted his head to the side and lifted his hand, framing the scene. "Perfect!"

"Splendid! Let's go." Natalie said, taking him by the hand and turning towards the main office. She stopped at his resistance. "What is it?"

"Don't you think it looks better?" He beamed as he looked between Natalie and the umbrella stand.

"Like the Taj Mahal!" she replied, tugging on his arm and bidding him to follow her.

"No need to get snippy. I swear, you sounded just like Sharo… Heather!" he said with a smile as he finally spotted his receptionist. "How long have you been here?"

"Long enough." She chuckled.

"Well, you should have said something!" He replied, walking towards her and uncharacteristically drawing her in for a hug. "Place hasn't changed a bit!"

Heather's eyes widened when his arms wrapped around her and she looked back towards Natalie, who winked. "Easy does it, brown eyes." Monk's wife warned. "You know what the doctor said about social distancing. Six feet."

Monk sighed, took a step back and removed his jacket. Reaching for Natalie's coat as well, he went to hang them up.

"So Heather, what's new?" Monk said.

Heather sat down at her desk. "Not a whole lot, except Leland and Randy are in back working on some case. They said to send you their way as soon as you got in."

"Is it the Gifford case? Do they have a lead?"

"Don't think so. Hospital is pressuring the coroner to call her death an accident and they have been stonewalling the police in getting any more details. Bad publicity or something."

"It was NOT an accident. That girl was murdered!"

"I'm sure you're right, Adrian. But if the police refuse to pursue it, what can we do?"

Monk frowned. "Keep after them until they do."

"Adrian." Natalie said, touching his arm.

"What?"

"You know what the doctor said about stress. Simmer down."

Monk rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"What about this other case?" Natalie asked.

"I'm not sure the details. You'll have to ask Leland. But I do know it was about some woman getting killed in Chelsea."

"Chelsea?" Monk responded. "Thought they had a top-notch law enforcement team. Why are they asking us to look at it?"

"Don't you mean you? Why are they asking you to look at it?" She replied. "Because you're the best. That's why."

Monk didn't argue with her reasoning, instead taking a look at his watch. Next, he compared the time on the watch with the clock on the wall. Sighing, he walked over to the clock, removed it, and began spelling out the days schedule as he recalibrated its time.

"Well, we can't stay too long today. Lee and Abby have an appointment at two at Winthrop Academy to check into pre-school, and we still have to pick them up from Julie's. After that, Nat has an appointment with her woman doctor at four."

"Everything okay?"

Natalie came forward and sat on the edge of Heather's desk. "So far so good. He is growing like a weed and has been moving around like a mad man so I think he's going to be a handful."

"Can't wait to meet him." Heather replied, smiling. "You guys picked out a name yet?"

Natalie looked over to her husband and grinned. "We've been going through baby name books but someone can't make up his mind."

"Any name we pick is something he's going to be stuck with for the rest of his life. Let's not make the same mistake that my parents made." Monk replied, wiping some dust off of an end table.

"Oh, I don't know boss. Adrian's a fine name."

"Adrian is a girl's name. Do you know how many times I heard Yo Adrian in high school and then college? For me to know where that reference came from, it was a lot."

"Adrian can be a boy's name too." Heather noted. "I had a music teacher in grade school. Adrian Elliot. He was the nicest man you'd ever want to know. I remember one day he…"

"Natalie, did you remember to bring the kid's medical records?" he asked, not looking up. Natalie again looked apologetically at her sister-in-law. "I have them right here in my purse." She replied, mouthing a quick sorry to Heather as he again became engrossed with cleaning.

"Adrian is a little preoccupied today. Dr. Green is going to do a 4D ultrasound and he gets to go with me."

"Oh, nice!"

"Yeah, last one I had like that, Julie went with me because Adrian was in the hospital. That's when we found out our son was a 'he'."

"My son's an exhibitionist." Monk mumbled, continuing to dust.

Natalie laughed. "He's just - expressive!"

"Hmph!"

"Awe, come on Adrian. Surely you're at least a little excited?" Heather asked.

Monk stopped dusting and reached out his finger to repeatedly touch the table lamp. "Of course. We're both very excited. But, I'll be more excited when he's finally here."

"Honey. Why don't you come stand by me?" Natalie suggested. "Adrian doesn't like going to my Obstetrician."

Joining her by Heather's desk, Monk looked down at Natalie's hands and began tracing a vein on the top of her hand with his finger. "It's not that I mind going, it's that I don't care for the artwork. Too many posters of- women things in there – anatomy – the miracle of birth."

He rolled his shoulders.

"I get it. Ambrose doesn't like that stuff either. Sometimes I don't know how we managed to conceive John Michael."

"Knowing my brother, neither do I." he replied.

"Oh, Ambrose is a tiger in bed. Don't be fooled."

"TMI. TMI." Monk responded, waving his hands back and forth and making his way towards the inner hallway.

Heather chuckled. "Fair enough. I guess you guys have a busy schedule so, we can catch up later."

"Sure." Monk replied, motioning for Natalie to follow him. "Tell Ambrose I'll call him later this week. And Heather, it's great seeing you."

"You too, boss. You too."

Stepping into Leland Stottlemeyer's office after a four-month absence was like returning home. The scene was warmly familiar with little having changed. Leland was seated in his usual spot, listening patiently as long-time protégé and friend, Randy Disher stood, one foot propped up on the seat of a chair, excitedly detailing his latest theory.

"What if he was a decoy?"

Leland looked at Randy over the top of his reading glasses. "A decoy?"

"Hear me out. Perp arranges for Cass to meet him at the shop at a given time. He gets there, goes in, waits a couple of minutes and then leaves."

"Without having seen the girl?"

"Um…sure…I mean, maybe."

"Excuse me." Monk stated, clearing his throat. "I heard you guys might be looking for a detective to partner with?"

"Monk!" Randy turned to greet him.

Leland rose from his seat, inviting them to enter.

"We sure have missed you, buddy! You too lovely lady. You guys look great!"

"Yeah, well…" Natalie replied, rubbing her tummy.

"Ah, stop! You look terrific. Come on and take a seat. I've got something I want you both to see." Leland said, pushing a file folder across his desk. Adrian removed a handkerchief from his pocket and dusted off the seat for Natalie while Randy went to grab another chair.

"Heather said you and Randy were working on some case." Monk replied, picking up the folder. Opening it, he saw the picture of a young woman with long blonde hair. She appeared to be in her early to mid-twenties. "What's it about?"

Leland settled back in his seat, watching as Disher returned with his chair. "Woman comes in here last Thursday afternoon. Says her sister was murdered two weeks ago and that the police won't pursue it."

"Sounds familiar. Go on." Monk said. Natalie placed a comforting hand on his knee.

"Girl was in her mid-twenties and worked at a CBD shop, Hemptation Station, down on 14th."

Adrian frowned. "She was selling reefer?"

"Not reefer." Randy replied, turning towards the detective. "CBD. It doesn't' have all that stuff in it to get you high."

"Tetrahydrocannabinols, Randy. I know what CBD is. It's still from the same basic plant." Monk replied.

"Not if it's from hemp. But hey, this is Massachusetts. Both are legal." Randy replied.

"Only because they elected a bunch of hippies to run the state. What else?"

"Well, guy shows up." Leland continued. "He goes into the store. Attacks the girl. Girl struggles. He strangles her and walks out with some cash and two boxes of CBD tincture."

"Drugs. Like I said." Monk gave Randy a knowing nod.

"On the surface, it seems that way, or a robbery gone bad." Leland said.

"So, why did the sister come to us?" Natalie asked.

Leland looked at Randy and then back at the couple. "It's our suspect. Guy named Simon Cass. You may have heard about him on the news."

"The doctor?" Monk asked.

"Yep." Leland explained.

"I thought he was in jail."

"He was released in January." Randy said.

"Who is Simon Cass?" Natalie asked.

"Plastic surgeon who went to prison for sexual assault on his patients." Randy explained. "He'd knock them out for some procedure and then when they were asleep, well…you know."

"Ewe! What a creep!"

"Indeed." Leland agreed. "Real sicko. There had been some complaints to the board prior to his arrest, but never any proof. But they nailed him the last time. He got the girl pregnant. Denied it, so they got a DNA sample from him and then - there was no denying it. She was only seventeen."

"So, they think he was back to his old tricks in going after this girl?" Monk asked.

"Nobody is sure. Cass denies he did it." Leland noted.

"Even though his fingerprints are all over the place and he was found in possession of the stolen CBD containers." Randy added. "He said he was there but never saw the girl."

Leland reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a package of tooth picks. "But video surveillance shows him arriving around ten minutes after the girl, Dana Shaw, opened up the shop. He left fifteen minutes later. There were no other patrons between the time he left and when the guy that found her body arrived around eleven."

"Then he's lying." Monk replied.

Leland nodded. "One would think."

"Well, if no other person was there and the cops have the place under surveillance from when the girl arrived until she was found dead later on that morning, what else could it be? He's the guy. That is, unless, I'm missing something - then, it's possible I could be wrong. But of course, I'm not."

Leland placed a toothpick in his mouth. "You want to tell him, Randy?"

"Glad to. It seems Miss Shaw fought back and when she did, she drew blood. There was fresh blood on the floor near her body, on the keys to the cash register and on a nearby shelf."

"Good for her!" Natalie interjected.

"Also, under her fingernails, don't forget." Leland added.

"Yeah. Fingernails too." Randy replied.

"And Cass was injured?" Monk asked.

"Recently acquired a split lower lip." Leland responded.

"Open and shut case!" Monk replied. "What's the catch?"

Randy leaned forward. "The blood at the scene…on the floor, cash register, shelf and under her nails – it doesn't match Cass's DNA - nor does it match the victim."

"How is that possible if they were the only two people there?" Natalie said.

"It's a mystery." Randy replied. "That's why we wanted Monk to take a look. Any thoughts?"

All eyes turned towards Monk who sat silently pondering the situation. After several seconds, he looked over at Leland with a measure of uncertainty. "Contaminated samples?"

Leland shook his head. "Samples all match each other and show no signs of contamination."

"What if it was planted?" Natalie replied.

Monk smiled and took her hand.

"That is a possibility, young lady. However, the Chelsea P.D. has one of the best records in the area in terms of integrity and there were body cams in place the entire time they were there. So, the possibility that one of them planted evidence is somewhat remote."

"Didn't have to be them." Monk replied. "What if Cass did it himself? You know, before they got there." He knew that the police had a sample of his DNA, so he got ahold of someone else's DNA and planted it at the scene of the crime to throw the cops off the trail. Like a decoy. He was a doctor, after all. Could have easily come up with a vial of blood."

Leland leaned back in his chair. "You know…I hadn't thought about that. A decoy. That's a possibility."

Disher's mouth dropped open.

"Is something wrong, Randy?" Leland asked.

Randy took a deep breath before speaking. "You didn't think it was a possibility when I suggested it."

"That's because you didn't suggest it." Leland answered, lowering his chin.

"I did too."

"No, Randy. What you suggested was different. Kind of like hemp and reefer. Not the same."

Natalie chuckled, but Randy turned his head, mumbling something under his breath about Leland playing favorites.

"You have something to say, Chief Disher?" the senior law man asked.

"No, sir."

"Didn't think so. So, Monk. Now you see why we wanted to get you involved. Case is very strange and right up your alley. Figured you can get it solved in no time."

"Well, I can try. You know, we have an appointment at Winthrop Academy at two to check out their pre-school program for Lee and Abby and then Natalie's got an appointment with Dr. Green. Could we perhaps swing by after that and go check out the crime scene?"

"I figured that would be where you would start. I'll call T.K. and let her know that I'll be working a little late tonight." Leland replied. "Chelsea's police chief met me with the keys to the place this morning. So, we should be good to go."

"Meet us in the parking lot around six thirty?" Natalie asked, rising from her chair.

"Sounds good, young lady. Hope everything goes well at the doctor's."

"Oh, I'm sure it will. Thanks." Natalie replied, taking Monk's hand.

As the couple turned to go, Randy excused himself and followed them towards the front door, continuing the conversation.

"So, Winthrop Academy. That's that school for geniuses, right?"

Monk helped Natalie on with her coat. "Gifted children, yes."

"Yeah. Well, Sharona and I had considered sending Ophelia to a place like that." Randy responded. "But, you know my wife. She felt that regular old public school would be a better fit."

"I see." Monk replied. "I guess each kid is different."

"That's right. There's no one size fits all. That's for sure." Randy replied as the trio left the building.

Four seconds later, Heather looked up as the front door opened again. Monk stepped into the room and nodded towards her as he retrieved his and Natalie's umbrellas from the stand. Straightening one of the parasols that was left behind, Monk again turned its handle so that the instrument angled away from the door, and lifted one hand to adjudicate the scene. Satisfied that all was right, he nodded a goodbye then turned to join his team on the first leg of what would prove to be a very interesting journey.

Across town, Simon Cass sat in a darkened room on the edge of a filthy cot, his once white t-shirt now soiled with perspiration. Hunched over, he rested his head in his hands and tried to steady himself as his body shook uncontrollably.

A few feet away, a shaft of daylight pierced into the room as a wiry man wearing a dark-grey Fedora, sunglasses, and a crisp woolen suit made his way into the building from the outside.

"What the hell took so long?" Cass asked while the man shut the door.

The man paused only briefly as Cass looked up at him through bloodshot eyes. Lowering his head, he immediately moved to a dresser where he began to unpack a medical bag. "I see we're in a mood."

"I feel like crap. You'd be in a mood too if you hadn't slept in ten days. Can't keep anything down. Can't get warm. I hope you have a warranty for that stuff."

The man pulled out a metal box from within the satchel and unlocked it, removing a smaller Styrofoam box within. The box was packed with dry ice. Sticking his gloved hand into the frigid shell, he retrieved a small amber-colored vial and held it up to the light.

"When did the tremors start?" he asked, gently shaking the concoction and then readying a syringe.

"What?"

"The tremors. When did they start?"

Cass ran his hand through a mess of greasy hair. "I – I don't know. A week ago."

"Anything else? Dizziness? Headache?"

"Yeah. A little of both. What is this? Twenty questions?"

"I have to make a record of your symptoms." The man said filling the syringe and then tapping it with his finger. "You should have called me."

"No mood for lectures. If you don't get over here and give me some relief, I'm going to break your neck."

The man turned towards Simon and glared, shaking his head. "You will kindly control your temper, Simon, or I will leave. I have no intention of winding up like your other victims."

Simon looked at him with a blank stare that lasted for an uncomfortably long period of time.

"Well?"

Simon blinked. "Alright. I'm sorry. Just spouting off. I didn't call because I've been otherwise disposed."

The man stepped forward and took Cass's arm in his hand to steady it. "Getting yourself caught on camera at the scene of a murder has a tendency to do that."

"You heard?"

"I have connections. Killing a woman over some borderline snake oil? Really, Cass!" He said, jabbing him with the needle. Simon stiffened as a chill went through his veins.

"Ouch! What the …? That stuff burns."

"It will help to ease your discomfort. Now, tell me, what exactly happened."

Simon pulled his arm back and began rubbing the injection site.

"Girl ticked me off. She wouldn't sell me what I wanted, so I decided to take it and she went to call the police. Things got out of hand. I killed her."

"You know there are better options for controlling pain."

"Yeah, well…I'd prefer not to go scouting around for street drugs, and it's not like I could have called you."

"What did the police ask?"

Simon rubbed his arm and then slowly laid back down on the cot. "They asked me if I had any sort of relationship with the woman. Which, of course, I didn't. Asked me if I saw her body. I lied and said I didn't."

"Did they believe you?"

"I don't think so, but what can they do? They have nothing at the scene to connect her murder to Simon Cass except my image on a video."

"Good. Let's hope it stays that way," The man said, pulling up a straight-back chair next to the bed. "And, of course, you didn't mention your relationship with me?"

"No. Why would I? I have no desire to go back to prison and if what you promised comes to pass, I'll be skipping town soon. Man – I can't wait. Just ready to start over and…" Cass yawned and closed his eyes. "I just wanna - forget about all this cray…"

Simon grimaced as he felt a sharp pain in his chest, but then his features relaxed. The man checked his watch and waited for a few minutes more before finally checking Cass's pulse. Finding none, he released his wrist and rose, cleaning up any signs that he had been there as best he could. As he was leaving the building, he stopped at the door and turned around, taking one last look at his patient.

"Farewell, Simon. Sorry things didn't work out. I'll do better next time."