AN: This one is short, but I needed it to set up for the next one. :)

CHAPTER:

Sheldon stood up and faced the group, his hands clasped behind his back. "As I see it, we have two options." He walked to his portable blackboard and erased something then picked up a piece of chalk. "Option A: AKA The Original Proposition: We find the director-ex, preferably before he kills us, recover the shoes, the stocks and the jewels, and thus stay out of Kripke's reach, but risk displeasing the large man," He paused. "Or Option B: AKA The Survival Alteration: We find the black shoes the large man wants, use them to bait the ex, "recover" the red shoes, the stocks, the jewels, then hand over black shoes AND director over to either the large man or Kripke, it doesn't really matter."

He waited, while they all frowned, and murmered.

"My ex is trying to kill me?" Penny said in a ticked tone. "How dare he."

"Why do we always get dragged into this." Howard asked, while Raj nodded.

Leonard sighed. "I suppose there is a slightly higher chance of living longer if we satisfy all the parties involved."

"We'll have to put it to vote." Sheldon decreed.

There was a collective sigh, interrupted only by an odd thump against the door. Sheldon crossed, and opened it, and watched as the body of Officer Kripke fell into the room.

"Oh damn, that will never come out." Sheldon frowned at the blood smear on the door. He sighed. "Well I guess that settles it then. Plan B."

"What do we do about..." Penny pointed.

"We could hide him in the closet." Howard suggested. Raj whispered something in his ear and he nodded. "True, once rigor mortis has worn off, he'll start to smell."

Sheldon leaned over him, checked his pulse, and then stepped back. "He's already in rigor, I believe he was propped against our door, and likely it was his weight pulling him down that made the noise." He smirked. "Perhaps we should just drop him out the window?"

He waited a second and then snickered. "Bazinga."

Penny's laugh was slightly hysterical.

"I just phoned the cops, they're on their way." Leonard replied with a shake of his head.

"Well, at least we know one thing." Sheldon shrugged.

"And what would that be?" Howard winced.

Sheldon looked surprised. "That Penny didn't do it. She was with us the whole time."

Penny looked at Leonard. "If I shot him NOW, could we say he showed up dead with Kripke?"