Working as a private investigator, Monk visits a crime scene to investigate the murder of Nicole Vasquez. He finds a number of significant clues, but is not yet sure of the identity of the murderer. Later, shots ring out at a campaign rally, and San Francisco mayoral candidate Warren St. Clair's bodyguard is killed. The incumbent mayor instructs Captain Stottlemeyer to bring Monk in on the case, and reluctantly, he does. Monk soon finds the cases to be intertwined, but why? Part 1 of 2.