After a late night drawing, Gold Rush Lottery hostess Marissa Kessler is killed in a random crime of passion, but Monk suspects that there's something more to her murder than is visible. But while investigating, Natalie is approached by the TV station's manager, who asks her to pick the numbers at the next lottery drawing. Strapped for cash, Natalie can't refuse, and does the job so well she is given the position full time, leaving Monk short an assistant. But Natalie eventually finds herself crawling back to Monk after she and Stottlemeyer are accused of rigging the lottery system.
—dmcreif