Mr. Monk on the Couch by Lee Goldberg

Author:Lee Goldberg [Goldberg, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Suspense, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9780451235336
Publisher: Signet
Published: 2011-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Mr. Monk Closes the Case

“Like what?” Stottlemeyer asked. “Drugs? Jewelry? Cash? Microchips? Bonds?”

“I have no idea,” Monk said. “But I believe there was something very valuable hidden in the couch and he wanted it back. He went to Cheryl’s to get it but discovered that she’d donated the couch to the thrift shop without knowing it contained his valuable item.”

“So he broke into the store to find out who bought the couch and tracked it here,” Stottlemeyer said.

Monk nodded. “I think the first thing he did was kill Costa when he came in and then went to the couch to retrieve his object. But it was gone. When he didn’t find it in the couch, or elsewhere in the house, he assumed that Cheryl had it all along. So he went back and tortured her into telling him where it was and then killed her.”

“It’s still speculation,” Stottlemeyer said, “but it makes a lot more sense than the stain theory.”

“I think they are on equal footing,” Monk said.

“Maybe the lab guys will find some trace of the valuable object in the couch or its stuffing,” Stottlemeyer said. “Meanwhile, we’ll dig into Cheryl’s life and see if we can find out the identity of this mystery person who was close enough to her to use her couch as a safe.”

“I’ve heard of stuffing money in your mattress,” Jerry said, “but never in your couch.”

“Maybe she had a water bed,” I said.

Jerry laughed. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Stottlemeyer sighed. “Okay, I think we’re done here.”

“I’d like to stay and help them clean up for a while,” Monk said.

“We’re in the middle of a murder investigation, Monk.”

“Can’t I stay for even a little while?”

Jerry sighed. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, Adrian, but actually it’s probably better if you go. It looks like we’re going to have to pull up the hardwood floor in the bedroom, and that’s more of a demolition and construction job than a cleanup anyway. No offense intended, but it’s a tight space here as it is, and the fewer people around the better.”

“I understand,” Monk said, slouching with disappointment. “Could I at least stay and help Corinne clean up the kitchen while the captain drives Natalie back to the station to get her car?”

Jerry nodded. “Of course.”

Monk practically ran down the stairs before Jerry could change his mind.

“I’ve never met anyone who liked cleaning so much,” Jerry said.

“Consider yourself lucky,” Stottlemeyer said and walked out, leaving Jerry and me alone for a moment.

“You look great,” he said.

“So do you,” I said. “You wear that biohazard suit like it’s a tuxedo.”

“That’s good to know, because this is what I was planning on wearing Friday night.”

“Oddly enough, so was I,” I said.

“You’d look good in a burlap sack,” he said.

“That was my second choice.” I gave him a smile and headed for the stairs before he could start another round of flirtation. I can only take that kind of banter in small doses, mainly because I’m not creative enough to keep up my end.

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