Stottlemeyer, however, is not convinced, and believes that Monk is personally jealous at the fact that Ludlow is helping consult on the Webster case. To further press the issue, Monk tells Stottlemeyer that Ludlow confessed to them three times (inadvertently, that is): The first time was in the bookstore, where he told Monk that he couldn't make up the stuff he used for his latest Detective Marshak novel, the second being when Ludlow was huddled with the others around a table in the morgue, where Monk noticed Ludlow shaking his head and musing to himself "I couldn't make this stuff up.", and the third being when Ludlow entered the upper makeshift warehouse room and, after listening to the others, says smoothly "I am always amazed at what you find when you scratch the surface of any ordinary person's life. Who would ever thought that this shoe salesman could have so many secrets?". Stottlemeyer becomes furious with Monk, telling him that he must really feel threatened by Ludlow's sleuthing skills for him to be finding connections where none exist. He dismisses what Monk believes happened, apart from the M.O. for the fake alligator attack, and tells him that he has no plans to arrest Ian Ludlow. After Stottlemeyer leaves the apartment, Sharona gets mad at Monk for 'not being able to see past his own selfishness', but Monk pleads with her and Natalie to believe him. Despite all of Monk's previous triumphs and comebacks in the past, they don't.