Mr. Monk Goes to Germany by Lee Goldberg (general ebook reader .TXT) 📕

Dr. Kroger approached me slowly, with his head cocked. I wasn’t sure if he was doing that to stop the bleeding or to regard me with curiosity.

“I’m not going to press charges,” Dr. Kroger said. “But I would like to understand why you attacked me.”

“How can you look me in the eye and ask me that question after what you have done?” I said. “You might as well have killed Trudy Monk yourself.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Dr. Kroger asked.

“You tell me, Doctor,” I said and nodded towards the man next to him. “Does he have six fingers on his right hand or am I hallucinating?”

Dr. Kroger looked back at the man, then again at me. There was an expression of horrified realization on his face as the full impact of what was happening sank in.

“Oh my God,” he said.

“The charade is over,” I said. “And you’re both going to prison.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Mr. Monk and the Perfect Storm

A hush fell over the patio. All the people there, with the possible exception of Dr. Kroger and Trudy’s murderer, were stunned. It’s not often you see a woman attack someone and accuse him of murder.

“What is she talking about?” asked the man with eleven fingers.

“A terrible misunderstanding,” Dr. Kroger said.

“You can both stop pretending,” I said. “It’s all over now.”

Dr. Kroger faced the two men who were holding me. “You can let her go.”

“She could hurt you or herself,” said one of the men who held me.

“Natalie won’t hurt anyone,” Dr. Kroger said.

“Don’t count on it,” I said.

“This woman is clearly violent and unstable,” said the other man who held me. “She should be restrained and sedated.”

“I respect your opinions, doctors, but considering the situation, her reaction was entirely understandable and justified, ” Dr. Kroger said. “She believes I betrayed her friend in a profound and deeply disturbing manner.”

“You did,” I said.

“I can see how it would appear that way,” Dr. Kroger said and then gestured to the man with eleven fingers. “But he is not the man you think he is and I haven’t done what you think I have done. I can explain everything.”

The two men let me go but stood warily at my side, ready to grab me again if I suddenly went for Dr. Kroger’s throat. That was wise of them, because that was exactly what I intended to do.

“Come with me, Natalie,” he said. “We’ll go somewhere quiet and talk this out.”

“How about a jail cell?” I said. “I hear that they are very quiet.”

“You have nothing to lose by hearing me out,” Dr. Kroger said. “I am not going anywhere and neither is Dr. Rahner.”

“Who is Dr. Rahner?”

“That would be me.” The man behind Dr. Kroger raised his six-fingered hand and waved it at me. “The one you just accused of murder.”

“You’re all witnesses,” I said to everyone else on the patio. “You know what you saw and what you heard. Remember that if anything happens to me before the police get here.”

“You are perfectly safe,” Dr. Kroger said. “Nothing is going to happen to you.”

I marched away from the covered patio and down the steps to the parking lot. Dr. Kroger followed me, holding the napkin to his nose. I could see the people up on the patio watching us.

“This is as far as we go,” I said. “I am staying out in the open where we can be seen.”

“Do you really think that I would harm you?” Dr. Kroger said.

“I know from experience that murderers will do just about anything when they are cornered and exposed.”

“I am not a murderer, Natalie.”

“No, you just help them get away with it,” I said. “What I don’t understand is why.”

“I don’t blame you or Adrian for making all the wrong assumptions,” Dr. Kroger said. “This is a perfect storm of coincidences.”

“Mr. Monk doesn’t believe in coincidences,” I said.

“They happen,” Dr. Kroger said.

“Not like this,” I said.

“That’s why I called it a perfect storm,” Dr. Kroger said. “You think that Dr. Rahner is the man who arranged for Trudy’s murder and, because you’ve seen us together, that we’re involved in a conspiracy together to deceive Adrian. You believe I have been keeping Adrian incapacitated and off the force to protect Trudy’s killer.”

“Prove me wrong,” I said.

“It’s preposterous,” Dr. Kroger said. “Surely you can see that.”

“What I see is you with a man who has six fingers on his right hand, just like the killer Mr. Monk has been pursuing for years. What are the odds of that happening if it’s not a conspiracy?”

“Astronomical,” Dr. Kroger said. “But think about it. Why would I risk my freedom, my practice, and my reputation to help a killer get away with murder?”

“Money? Blackmail? I don’t know. You tell me.”

“I came here to attend a psychiatric conference. Dr. Rahner is a world-renowned psychiatrist and the conference organizer. He specializes in studying the psychological, social,and emotional impacts of physical abnormalities on the individuals who have them and on the greater society that they live in. That’s what this conference is about and why I am here, along with three dozen other psychiatrists from around the world. There is nothing sinister about it and it certainly has nothing to do with Adrian or his wife.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Because you are a rational person.” Dr. Kroger examined the bloody napkin. “Usually. Think about it, Natalie. If I was involved in such a vast conspiracy, would I really be