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?“Sh.”
?She watched as Norm started to use the dentist drill carefully on the cameo held in the vise.
?She nodded and turned to me. “Okay, we can go.”
?“What?” I said. “I mean, how come?”
?“I saw what I needed to see,” Sheryl announced simply.
?“What was that?”
?“Ah, Mark, you see, but you do not observe.”
?I smiled. She was quoting Holmes from A Scandal In Bohemia.
?“Okay.” I thought carefully. “I saw Cliff watch the elf lady’s ass, and Norm go back to his carving.”
?“Yes, which he worked on with his left hand. He’s left-handed.”
?“What difference does that make?”
?Her eyes lit up. “Quick, do you have that pipe Stewart gave you?”
?“Yes, but why—”
?“Give it to me,” Sheryl said. I pulled it from my pocket and handed it to her as we approached the YE OLDE MYSTERIOUS TOBACCO SHOPPE.
?John Stewart was getting his booth ready for the Friday night rush, pulling out more things and setting them out to be found quickly. Hypno was there, and they both looked up as we approached.
?“I forgot to ask,” Sheryl chirped, “can we get some tobacco for this pipe?”
?“No need. I’ll probably just use it for effect in future lectures,” I told her.
?“Be a sport, Mark,” Sheryl gushed, giving me a look that suggested I should shut up. “We would like some tobacco.” She drew closer to Stewart and added, “Something mild.”
?“What—” I started to say.
?“Who is your tall friend?” Sheryl interrupted, with a nod toward the woman.
?“That’s Hypno,” Stewart declared as he went through a box.
?The woman gave Sheryl an admiring look from head to toe.
?“Hypno, how unusual,” Sheryl intoned. She didn’t back down, but returned the stare with equal intensity.
?“I met her in physical therapy,” John explained.
?“John has made a lot of progress,” Hypno related. “He has a lot more strength than when we met.”
?“Enough to keep up with you?” Sheryl suggested and seemed to flirt with the Amazon.
?“He’s one of the few men that ever could,” Hypno replied with a wolfish grin.
?“Hypno, we should start moving the boxes under the table,” Stewart stressed.
?She glanced at him, then her eyes grew small and she whispered to Sheryl, “Men. They are always so possessive.”
?“What do you think would be a good tobacco for this?” Sheryl threw my pipe to the woman.
