Keeping Howard safe has resulted in the others getting pranked multiple times.

(Prepping the Pigeon)

Howard insisted on moving back home after almost a week on the guy's couch. He missed his bed. He missed his mom and he was tired of Sheldon. Leonard drove him, leaving Sheldon watching a documentary on whale sharks. Sheldon wasn't paying attention to the program, though. His mind was centered on the mystery prankster. For three weeks this person had managed to get the better of all of them. Sheldon was frustrated. He was being out-maneuvered at every turn. He did not like this at all! He needed to find a way to go on the offensive. The problem was, he had no idea who he was up against. The door opened and Penny walked inside. She slumped into the middle spot and Sheldon looked at her inquiringly. "You seem disturbed. Do I need to make you a warm beverage?"

Penny shook her head. "I'm just feeling listless. Want to do something?"

Sheldon frowned. "Such as?"

Penny shrugged. "Mini golf?"

Sheldon looked at Penny with a serious expression. "Would you rather indulge in coitus?"

Penny's jaw dropped and she stared at him in shock. "Wha…?"

Sheldon grinned. "Bazinga. Mini golf, it is."

Penny rolled her eyes and went to get her coat and wallet. "Like there aren't enough people playing pranks already," she muttered.

Raj joined Howard and Leonard at the Wolowitz house for a few games on the xbox. At 6 pm they returned to Los Robles for dinner. They ran into Sheldon and Penny returning from their excursion. The group walked up the stairs together and argued about what they were going to watch. Leonard unlocked the door and opened it up. Everyone entered 4A except Penny who wanted to put away her wallet and coat first. Penny turned toward her door and unlocked it. She opened her door just as the boys closed theirs.

Her screech brought the others running back into the hall. They all stared in shock at the empty apartment. All of Penny's belongings were missing. Not even a photo remained on the fridge. The guys looked at Penny's stunned expression with concern. A tear slipped down her cheek and she drew in a shaky breath.

Sheldon reached out to pat her back sympathetically. She turned and buried her face in his chest and he hugged her awkwardly. He sighed and turned Penny around. He drew her into his home and down the hall. He opened his bedroom door and moved her inside. He sat her on the bed, noting with a bit of worry that she was too quiet. He laid a spare set of pajamas beside her and hesitated. Finally he leaned down and kissed the crown of her head like his mom used to do to him.

"Go to sleep, Penny. It will be better tomorrow." Then he left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. The guysj were standing in the living room. He walked over to the closet and pulled back out the spare bedding. He laid it on the couch and sighed. "I'll sleep here. Penny's very upset and needs adequate REM more than I do."

"This guy is playing with fire," Howard said quietly. "I say we all chip in."

Leonard frowned. "Chip in?"

Howard nodded. "Penny's going to need bail money when she kills this guy."

After a moment the others nodded. They actually felt a bit of pity for their mystery prankster.

Too much?

Maybe. But we're already playing with fire. It seems to have served it's purpose, though.

You realize that if this goes wrong, we're dead, right?

If this goes wrong, we ruin everything. It all rides on our success.

What now? Go for broke or build the tension?

Let's put all the pieces into position. You ready?

As they say in poker, "I'm all in."