Review of Mr. Monk Is Underwater

I wasn't paying full attention to the TV while watching this episode so I thought I missed the scene where Monk and company find the exploded firecracker and cigarette ash. I went reverse and forward on my DVR countless times trying to find that scene only to learn that it doesn't exist. Since when do the show-runners NOT show Monk finding the evidence critical to the case? He has it in two zip-lock bags immediately after being rescued from the ballast tank (really?). What a stupid leap by the writers. If the same case had been investigated during an "NCIS" episode, it would have been: solved much smoother and more enjoyable to watch. Meanwhile, a preview for upcoming episodes show that Mark Harmon is appearing on "NCIS: Hawaii" now. After all, he has been an Executive Producer for NCIS shows for many years but he recently departed his role for good on "NCIS".