CHAPTER

He sat at the desk, staring at the chess board in front of him. Playing against himself was tedious, but none of the others were good enough to adequately challenge him. Finally choosing a piece, and moving it, he then swivelled the board around so that he was facing it from the other side, and set himself to work, defeating himself.

The others were behind him, sitting on the couch, Leonard was making tea. Penny was in the bathroom changing into something more suitable for friendly conversation. Hopefully it covered more skin that her sleuthing outfit had. He had a feeling that with her, you could never tell.

Another piece moved, another swivel of the board. What had they learned tonight? The people who were trying to kill Penny were not the people after her shoes, or else they would both be dead already. They would have been served arsenic laced chow mien and that would have been the end of it. Sheldon Cooper, Phd, phd, PI, done in by a pretty blonde and a plate of chow mien. He snorted at the idea.

Swivelled the board again. So who was trying to kill Penny? He tapped his chin thoughtfully. Probably the only other person who knew about her shoes. Her ex, the director. But what would he gain? Unless he didn't have the shoes that he needed... Maybe the shoes Penny wanted, were not the shoes that everyone was after. And why shoes? Why not the stocks, or the jewels?

Ah damn. Checkmate. He pushed the board away irritably.

"Loose to yourself again?" Wolowitz mocked from the couch.

He spun his chair around to face them and fixed them all with a glare. "You're in my spot."

Wolowitz's eyes rolled and he shifted over a spot. "Happy now?"

"No." Penny said from the bathroom door. "Now you're in MY spot."

"You have a spot? Why does she have a spot?" Wolowitz was pouting as he moved over again, shoving Raj off the couch. Penny walked over and sat down in her spot, wiggling a bit, putting her feet up on the coffee table.

He watched them all with his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed. "Penny." He began. "Tell us again about your shoes."

"They're red." She was frowning. "Black heel, about three inches high, those little buttons up the side, size seven."

"Why do you want them?"

"Because they were specially made for me by a VERY famous cobbler in Europe."

He tapped his index fingers together and pressed the point to his lips, his eyebrows raised. "Did the very famous cobbler make you any other shoes?"

"The black ones, with the hollow heel."

Hofstader dropped a cup in the kitchen and it shattered, earning him a glare.

"I have a pair of those." Wolowitz said to Penny. "I keep emergency cab fare in there."

"Of course you do Wolowitz," He sighed. "Penny, WHERE are the other shoes?"

Penny blinked at him innocently. "Next door."

He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes. Of course they were. Somewhere in the swirling cortex of entropy one house over, was a single pair of black shoes, with a hollow heel. Made by a very famous cobbler in europe, and probably full of something illegal, which was owed to the very large man at the China Rose, and needed by the doubtlessly swarmy director ex-boyfriend of his client, who herself probably thought they held her spare cab money.

Who had hired him to find a pair of red shoes, with a black three inch heel, some paper stocks, and some jewels which may or may not be worth anything.

His fingers trailed down his nose and his thumb plucked at his upper lip repeatedly. What to do?

His ears picked up the sound of the bell downstairs ringing, and then steps on the stairs. His tongue ran over his teeth in irritation. He recognised that tread. Soon he would hear the imperious knock and the loathsome tones of Officer Kripke.

"Hofstader, is my tea done yet? I shall me needing it." He sighed, rolling his eyes towards the door.

As if on cue, the knocking began.

"Come in Kripke." He called out. "I assure you, it's not locked."

The door swung open and Kripke walked in full of self importance. "Cwooper. Stickin yer nose in where ya don't belong have you?"

"Hardly." He replied. "To what do I owe the displeasure of your company."

Kripke was leering at Penny. "Spotted you at the China Rose, pretty girl."

Ah, that explains it. He shook his head. "Yes Kripke, we were at the China Rose. What of it?"

Kripke shook his head. "Police business, I can't tell you that Cwooper."

"Then why are you here?"

"Heawrd you had a girlfriend, came to tell her you're bad news." Kripke smirked.

Great. Now she'd NEVER leave. "Now you have, so go." He sighed, motioning to the door.

Kripke turned to look at him. "Looking for some shoes Cwooper?"

"Just red ones. Now get out." His response was curt.

Kripke left, and Wolowitz held out the breath he'd been holding the entire time, and Raj, predictably, jumped up and ran to the bathroom. Hofstader handed him his cup of tea and went to sit down in the chair, saying "Anyone else feel like we're missing vital information?"

If his eyes had rolled up any farther, he was certain he would have been able to see his own brain. He sipped his tea, and then put it down. "Honestly Hofstader, after three years, you still can't make tea!"