We retired to a little lobby in one of the halls, the three of us. Sheila never seemed serious about money, but somehow she always managed to set aside plenty for things like this. Sheila collapsed into a couch out, lighting bits of paper and extinguishing them in the ashtray. I knew if I hadn't been there she would have just let it fall to the floor. I made a mental note to buy some ashtrays when we got home.
Jimmy watched her from the sofa a cross the lobby. He eyes were full of admiration. I smiled to myself, shaking my head at such innocent hero worship. Of course, he had no chance. He probably knew that though, and was probably just content to be here.
"So," he spoke suddenly, placing his hands together, "Now that we're in private, what are the details? I know something big is cooking up, because I've kept a close eye on hints since you arrived in town and everyone who matters is on their hind legs with waiting. What's the game?" Sheila merely flickered her eyes towards him. She looked to me with leave to explain.
"Have you heard of a Professor James Moriarty?"
"Should I have?"
"Well it would seem that under various other names, he has been terrorizing the western United States by using his fairly unlimited genius to aid many different groups in crime. Even some of the mysteries I've published have Moriarty lurking in the background."
"Really?" Jimmy's eyebrows raised.
"Is that not true Sheila?" I appealed to my colleague.
"You are of course familiar with The Plumber's Shoe, correct?" She began.
"Of course."
"Then you might have observed that though the perpetrators of the organization were caught, it was never discovered who oversaw them- for they proved incompetent enough to show that they could never have set up such a tricky system on heir own. Well, with a little careful research, I have been able to link it all back to an obscure Sociology teacher at a private university in Utah where no one would expect a criminal. Yes, his name is Professor Moriarty and he is the cleverest villain you will ever hear tell of. In fact, I would not be at all surprised if he has been much more involved in great crimes of our age than even I have yet been able to discern." Jimmy was smiling quietly to himself as the fire of delight in the game lit Sheila's face.
"Amazing," he said, "it must have been some doing and have taken such dedication to track down such a man, not to mention an even superior level of genius." Sheila was very serious.
"I firmly believe it to be the most important work of my life."
"And this is who you must stop now."
"Precisely."
They were looking at each other now directly, eye to eye. Something beyond words passed between them. I felt a little uncomfortable and decided to go get something to drink, excusing myself a bit. There was an undeniable connection between the two, as though they knew exactly how the other felt. It had been questioning my determined idea that Sheila would never fall for any man.
When I came back, things were a bit different. Sheila and Jimmy were on hands and knees next to each other looking at a map of Las Vegas on the floor. I collapsed into a couch and tried to catch up on what I'd missed without making myself an inconvenience. I also wondered at her trusting him so easily.
"The perimeter of the lines cover parts of at least ten parallel streets," Sheila explained, pointing to the line Jimmy had drawn around the city. "If he plans to go out as far as forecast from his method of working thus far, then it should all be finished by tomorrow night."
"But why? Of all the last crimes a man could commit why cut the power and why in only half the city?" I wondered. Sheila frowned at the map.
"That Jo, is really the root question."
"Is it possible that it's some sort of special sector of the city. I note that it doesn't seem to include many major Casinos," Jimmy pointed out.
"As have I, but the area contains many restaurants, shops, minor casinos, bars, and various other unrelated venues. Many or most of them do rely on the same power sources, but so do the surrounding areas that have been deliberately excluded from the circle," she explained.
"So, you think rather that he has other reasons for cutting the power here. Escape?"
Sheila sat back on her knees. "I would like to think that I've successfully cut off every rabbit hole, however there is certainly reason to believe he may still have a sort of plan up his sleeve. However, the sector he has been working in has no outlet. There is no AirPort, garage, or anything that would suggest a clever getaway."
"Could it all just be a distraction?" I suggested.
"I'd thought of that of course," Sheila continued, "But such a show would do him no good, in fact it only gives us a clearer hint to his whereabouts as I have no doubt at all from the evidence that he himself has been seeing to the power failures."
"What's you hypothesis then?" Jimmy enquired. Sheila was put into deep thought.
"I don't know. There isn't enough information to make a solid theory. I will have to think on it over night and investigate more thoroughly tomorrow."
"I'll stay up with you then, I haven't a room here anyway," he volunteered. Sheila looked surprised, but just shrugged.
"If you insist."
"Then I'll stay too," I determined, but I couldn't hide my tiredness.
"Jo, you hardly slept last night. I think you'd better go, we aren't going to be able to rest much tomorrow evening at all if things go as planned." I sighed and gave an inspecting glance at this Jimmy person.
"What can I say? You're right again, but don't forget you need rest too, believe it or not." She nodded distractedly.
"Of course, I'll likely retire shortly anyway," she said, but so off hand it was easy to see the lie. I turned away down the hall and into the hotel room, wanting to scold her for the danger and impropriety she was always careless to place herself in. I couldn't sleep, especially knowing what was going on in the hall. I may have dozed for an hour or so, but I was awake when the clock struck one and Sheila still hadn't returned. So, I rolled out of bed and dressed in a robe to put my mind at rest, which had a marvelous tendency to overreact at night.
Sure enough, as I approached the small lobby, I heard their voices still talking energetically. My long acquaintance with Sheila had seemingly dulled my sensitivity to privacy and I listened for a moment in the hall and was met not with the deductions of a case in progress, but with regular conversation of the sort that Sheila rarely engaged in outside of acting.
"Tell me about it," Jimmy was saying, "The endless boredom and tedium of life. How do you stand working day to day with people who can't even begin to understand the world? I should think it would be unbearable."
"You'd be surprised how amusing people can be, but yes, sometimes it is nearly unbearable. Rarely can a person be found who has intelligence enough to hold even decent conversation."
"And that's your real fascination with Moriarty isn't it? He's the one man in the world who could keep your life interesting for an eternity. The Great Game I suppose. Your friend Jo should call it that."
"Jo is one of the few people who seems to understand, even if she doesn't deduce well and misses everything important."
"I should hope I might be one who understands, a little bit maybe. Though, of course I couldn't pretend to own any genius."
"To be honest, you amazed me a bit when we first met. You have very possible abilities. Especially in observation." Jimmy laughed.
"From you, I imagine that is he highest if compliments, thank you." This time Sheila also laughed nervously. She sounded a little different than before.
"Um...I suppose I haven't always been good with that, but I did mean it as a compliment yes."
"You know Sheila Holmes," Jimmy began, "I think though that you might realize that you aren't as alone as you think. And someday, you'll find someone who truly does understand you, even if not so clever. Someone you can connect with without having to step over sensitive feelings or general lack of intelligence."
"I don't know." She responded blankly. I carefully came a little closer so I could see them without exposing myself. They sat on the floor still, with their backs against the sofa. They were close enough that Jimmy's extended arm came over past her shoulders as it rested against the couch seat. They were silent for a moment and then he turned to look into her dark eyes.
"Dilation. Shows interest and often attraction," he said suddenly. She turned back and looked amused.
"Perhaps. If so, then you have been in love with me since we met."
He shook his head with a grin, "Do you blame me? There isn't a single creature in the world with your determination, elegance, cleverness, and ability. A man who manages to catch you attention would have to be something indeed," then his voice dropped longingly, "and what I or anyone would give to be that man." In a gesture so uncharacteristically tender, Sheila turned his face towards hers and kissed him. Went it was done I think Jimmy was just as shocked as I was. Sheila merely looked amused and very pleased we herself.
"That was a thank you," she explained straightly as though it were some case at hand, "For understanding."
Jimmy's adoration shone brightly and he leaned down to kiss her in return. I was completely stunned. The impossible had happened. Sheila Holmes was in love. I snuck back to the room a little dazed and tried to sleep. Sheila came in shortly afterward and collapsed onto her bed without even removing her heavy coat. We both sat awake for a while until she finally broke the silence.
"I begin to at least see the root of your previous obsessions with matrimony," she observed, "However, I trust that this is something that you will most assuredly not detail in your next work." I should have known better than to eavesdrop on her of all people. I just smiled.
"I can't make any promises." A pillow shot across the room and hit me square in the face.
"Hey!"
"Serves you right! Good night Jo!"
"Good night lover girl," I teased.
"You realize it would be all to easy for me to strangle you if such proved necessary."
"But you won't...least I hope not," I said jokingly and soon we drifted into sleep