Mr. Monk Is Open for Business Read Online Free PDF

elsewhere and dumped in the lot.”
    “The M.E. says it hadn’t been moved, except by my client. The body was also newly killed. Less than half an hour before Henry was caught.”
    “The Lucarelli mob wouldn’t move the body,” Monk said. “They’d shoot him on his street corner and leave the body there as a message.”
    “We’re acquaintances of Salvatore Lucarelli,” I mentioned, in an effort at full disclosure.
    “More than acquaintances,” said Daniela. “I’ve done my homework, people. You cleared him of a murder charge.”
    Monk twitched his shoulders. “On that occasion Lucarelli was innocent—even though he happens to be a killer and a mobster. None of that is my fault.”
    “Well, you can start from that angle. Talk to Lucarelli. If you find out who really killed Rivera, we won’t have to get anything out of our uncooperative client.” Daniela handed me the file folder. “The forensic report’s in there, along with the M.E. report and the officers’ statements.”
    I transferred the folder into its new home—not a Gucci handbag but a PBS tote. “I’ll send over the paperwork.”
    “Your standard rates are fine. It’s the client’s money. The more I charge the stubborn little man, the better I’ll feel. Oh, one more thing.” In a reflex move, she eyed one of the cameras in the corner of the room. “You already know this, but I just want to make it clear. No offense.”
    I was intrigued. “What?”
    “Working for a lawyer is different from working for the police.”
    “What did I tell you?” Monk muttered under his breath. “Another reason.”
    “Your job is not to broadcast Henry’s secret, whatever it is, or get him convicted of some other crime. It’s to serve his best interests. Right now that involves finding out what he’s hiding and why. That may or may not involve the police.”
    “Another reason not to be in business,” muttered Monk a little louder.
    “You’re not saying we should let a crime go unreported?” I asked.
    “Not exactly,” said Daniela. “But any information you garner as my agent, paid for by our client, is private. It’s to be used to further our client’s case. That’s not just my policy. It’s the law.”
    A few minutes later, Monk and I were in the jail’s parking lot, getting into my old but clean Subaru. “If you want to dissolve this PI thing, I’m okay with that,” said Monk. “No harm, no foul.”
    “We are not dissolving the business.”
    “So it’s fine to work for an unethical lawyer?”
    “Daniela is very ethical. And law-abiding. She came to us, needing to find an alibi for an uncooperative client. What she does with that information is her call, not ours.”
    “We’re no longer on the side of the angels, Natalie.”
    “When angels hire us, then we’ll be on their side.”
    “I’m serious. We could be helping Pickler get away with murder.”
    “What murder? You just said he was innocent.”
    “That was based on personal hygiene, which is not infallible.”
    “Look, if this goes to trial, Daniela will have to turn over all of our hard evidence, whatever we find, to the DA’s office. That’s also the law.”
    “I’m not comfortable with this.”
    “You’re not comfortable with anything. Do you want to hear my theory?” I asked.
    “Not really.”
    “I think our client is Walter White.”
    “He’s Henry Pickler. Don’t you even listen?”
    “No, I mean from
Breaking Bad
. And before you ask, that’s a TV show. It’s about this very smart, obsessive chemistry teacher who is dying from cancer. He becomes a meth cook and gets involved with the Mexican drug cartel. Before long, Walter White is shaving his head and killing people, but no one suspects for the longest time because he’s such a quiet, peaceful guy.”
    “There are three things wrong with your theory, Natalie.”
    “I know. Henry isn’t a chemistry teacher, doesn’t have cancer, and didn’t shave his head. But doesn’t this account for