It was Saturday morning and Amy fumbled with her keys to get through the door. She could hear her phone ringing and what with the shopping bags she was carrying and the keys she just couldn't get the damned door open. As she lurched towards the ringing phone grabbing it just in time she gasped "Yes? Hello?"
"Am I speaking to Amy Farrah fowler?"
"Yes. Whose calling please?"
"Amy I am Sheldon's grandmother. I hope you do not mind my calling Sheldon's room-mate for your number but I am worried and he said you are too."
"Meemaw hello!" Amy was stunned momentarily, then composing herself said "of course I don't mind you calling and yes I am worried. I have been trying to contact Sheldon buy I am having no luck."
"Sheldon told me his phone broke."
"Hmmmm. Yes he said as much in a message he got to me. But I find the whole thing suspicious."
"I agree. For all his physics smarts my Moonpie is far to naive about people. Amy do you have any idea why he has stopped going into work?"
"No Sheldon loves his job. Penny thinks Ramona may have seen me leave the building Saturday when she came to collect Sheldon. She may have drawn the conclusion I had been with Sheldon. In fact she could not be further from the truth but if she is as paranoid as we suspect her breaking his phone and keeping him away from his friends sounds likely."
"Amy you say you have been in contact with him. Can you tell him of your suspicions?"
"I don't think he would listen. When he first left everyone tried to warn him but all he is seeing is Nobel."
"This is what I feared." Meemaw sighed sadly.
"Leonard, Howard and Raj think Ramona may have tricked her way into winning the prize before they are looking into it. But to tell you the truth other than check he is physically OK I am not sure what I can do if Sheldon is happy where he is."
"No, I understand, I had hoped he may have made the effort to maintain his contact with you more than he actually has. OK. Amy I am sorry my grandson has treated you like this. I hope when he eventually comes to his senses he realises what he has risked."
"Yes, well..." Amy was not sure how to respond saying finally. "It has been lovely to speak to you as Sheldon talks of you so fondly, its just sad it is about this."
"I agree dear. Hopefully between us we can make Moonpie see what a fool he is being."
"With a Nobel as our competitor I am not sure this is a fight either of us can win." Amy acknowledged sadly. Then saying goodbye she gathered up the belongings she had dropped when running for the phone.
She had spoken to Meemaw! She had dreamed of meeting the lady who held such a big place in Sheldon heart so to speak to her was a wonderful thing she just felt incredibly sad that it was not over something more pleasant.
Needing to tell someone Amy first picked up her phone and called Penny.
"Hi Ames. You OK?"
"Yes. Penny guess who just called me?"
"Meemaw!" Penny laughed.
"You knew?"
"Well I was at Leonard's when she called there. He said she sounded worried."
"Yes she is. And she wanted me to tell Sheldon of our concerns but I really don't think it will make a difference. You know how stubborn he is."
"I know sweetie, I said to Leonard we need to have a plan, something more definite than taking him to dinner to see what he is missing. We need evidence against Ramona and we need it to be good."
"Yes I think you are right bestie. The only ting that will make him realise what she is up too is cold hard facts."
Well the gu"ys have gone out minus their kites so I am hoping they do not get distracted and actually get some information today. Why don't you come over later and we can see what we have found."
"OK thanks Penny."
73
"That cant be possible." Penny said looking shocked at the news the men had just delivered.
"Well we checked several places and all the evidence suggests its true."
"So you are saying Ramona was a secretary for an publishing hiouse, she did nothing more than type publicity information yet she came out of it a Nobel prize winner?"
"It would seem so." Raj nodded. "Now we have arranged to meet the author tomorrow but even that is more complicated than it sounds."
"Why?"
"Because now they are in a hospital. It would seem they have had some kind of break down and need full time medical care."
"Son of a – !" Penny shouted jumping up and pacing the room, "I thought she wanted the money, but if she hurts Sheldon..."
"Penny!" Leonard hissed and nodded at Amy.
"Oh Ames. I'm sorry. Look Sheldon will be OK."
"Like the author is you mean? Look I don't want to be the one who has to tell Mary or Meemaw there precious Moonpie is in hospital. Sheldon is never going to see past that stupid medal. He would even give her the money probably. If we are all honest Sheldon only ever does what Sheldon wants for Sheldon. He came to games night but why? Because he missed his room and comics and game playing. Has he called you since?"
"His phone is broken." Raj said matter of defensively.
"OK, so has he emailed?"
"Well no but..."
"No buts Raj, he could have called because he called Meemaw. He could have emailed because he messaged me his phone was broken but he hasn't asked for help he hasn't asked how anyone is and he never will." Then standing Amy said "I'm sorry. Look I am not giving up on him, I cant but I cant pretend like he is a victim either. Not any more."
Leaving a room of stunned faces staring after her Amy left.
73
BiologyRocks: Disappointed that some people cant see what is before there eyes.
Amy sent the tweet in anger. She was mad at herself for feeling so upset that Sheldon had not made more effort to call, she was mad he was willing to let her and his friends worry; but even more so his grandmother. But that they all seemed to still willing to believe he was some innocent victim left her feeling isolated.
Throwing her phone down Amy went to take a shower. By the time she had got out, dried her hair and put on her comfy pyjamas she had calmed down a little. Of course she wouldn't walk away from Sheldon. But she was finding it increasingly difficult to listen to the others make excuses for him. No, she needed to do something now.
Pulling up the Nobel committee website Amy began researching award winners in the category of literacy. After searching for half an hour and finding no evidence of Ramona's name anywhere Amy was confused. Sheldon was convinced Ramona was a prize winner and Penny said she had seen the award herself. So why was her name not mentioned? Printing of a list of the names that were listed Amy went back onto twitter.
BiologyRocks: hopes littleMothsSurprise can message me soon.
She needed a date, if Sheldon could at least give her that then maybe she had a chance of finding some real evidence as to what Ramona was doing.
She was rewarded when Sheldon replied almost instantly.
littleMothsSurprise: Hi BiologyRocks, why are you disappointed?
BiologyRocks: littleMothsSurprise I need your help, I know you are happy but Meemaw is worried. She called me. She wants details of Ramona's award. What year did she win?
littleMothsSurprise: Meemaw called? Is she OK? I will call her. As to the date I am not sure.
Amy frowned. Before replying. The certificate from the king that wet with the medal should have a date.
Sheldon again replied instantly. I have only seen the medal. It doesn't have a date on it.
Oh, OK. Never mind. Amy hoped at least by raising the question Sheldon may ask Ramona himself or at the very least wonder why he had not seen the certificate too. When Sheldon tweeted again Amy was a little surprise.
littleMothsSurprise: you didn't answer, why were you disappointed?
Should she tell him? Amy pondered then deciding she had no reason to hide her feeling she replied Because your friends miss you. If you don't try to stay in touch, when you finally win your precious prize, you will find they will be gone.
Signing off without waiting for an answer Amy went to bed. Had she been too blunt? Only time would tell.
73
"So how do we tell Sheldon?" Raj asked the following day as he sat in the passenger seat beside Leonard. They had just visited the author and were sat in the car trying to process the news they had just received.
"I don't know, but I think maybe we need to let the university know first. Sheldon is not going to want to hear this news and if he tips Ramona off that we are suspicious she may run."
"Lets go now. We cant afford to waste any time if we are right." Raj nodded. "She is obviously even more devious than we thought."
So heading in the direction of Caltech Leonard said "I cannot believe someone as innocent looking as Ramona can fool so many people. Sheldon never stood a chance."
Heading straight to Gablehauser's office they were disappointed to find he was already in a meeting. Sat in the outer office waiting Leonard sent Penny a text saying they would be late arriving home but they had news. When the door to Gablehauser's office opened and Amy walked out they jumped up, "Amy we have news! We have been to see the author." Raj said excitedly.
Amy just nodded. "Let me guess Ramona had no input in his work and conned him out of the medal."
"How did you know?"
"Because I asked Sheldon the date she won the award and he didn't know, there was no certificate. So I put 2 and 2 together and came to the conclusion not only did she have no legitimate input in the work that won, but she probably set the whole thing up just to lure Sheldon in to her plan."
"Well we saw the author, he evidently met Ramona only once, she was posing as an insurance valuer. She got his information from the publishing house she worked for. She took the medal under the pretense of authenticating it so it could be insured. She gave false details and then promptly disappeared. When we told him we knew her address and where his medal was he cried. It was sad."
"Excuse me," Gablehauser interupted, guiding them back into his office and shutting the door, "but how exactly do you think she intends to get her name on the award this time? The work is clearly all Dr Coopers, she has done no more than provide him with a roof over his head. We have submitted the application in his name alone. I am confused as to how she will get around that."
"Well that we haven't worked out; but maybe she has got greedy, the prize money is large, she knows Sheldon is not interested in the money as much as the kudos of his name on the award, perhaps she intends blackmailing him."
"Well if you are indeed right then this is a police matter."
"But how do we get the police involved without Sheldon or Ramona finding out?"
"Let me think about it and I will get back to you all." Gablehauser said. He was certainly not relishing the idea of having to go back to the board and tell them the prized that he had been so certain of securing along with the prestige associated with it was now at stake.
73
Ramona sat watching Sheldon happily watch Dr Who for what felt like the 500th time. She had bought the DVD to distract him from his endless questions about his phone. The distraction had worked, but the constant playing of the DVD was driving her insane. The sooner the Nobel committee made their decision and Sheldon was awarded the prize the sooner she could get her money and never have to see Dr Sheldon Cooper again.
As Sheldon knelt in front of the DVD player, to retrieve the DVD to return to its case, the news channel came on playing in the background. Only half listening Ramona was suddenly aware that Sheldon had stopped and was watching attentively. Looking up she saw the reporter stood talking to the camera.
"The committee representing the Nobel prize said the decision to cut the monetary award, alongside the medal, was a sad reflection on the economic climate. They hoped the prestige associated with the prize would still ensure it was held in the same regard."
Sheldon shrugged stood and moved back to take the DVD to his room. He didn't notice how still Ramona had become, or indeed how suddenly white her complexion was.
73
Sat in apartment 4a the group watched the news together.
"So you think it will work?" Penny asked.
"Gablehauser thinks it will, he said when they told the committee and the police of their suspicions. Everyone was in agreement this was the most likely way to force Ramona's hand. All we can do now is wait."
