Backstage, the stage manager was asking some of the performers where Madelyn was.
"Do any of you know where Madelyn Clifton is?" The performers all shook their heads.
Shirley, Bo, and Blake entered the backstage area.

 "This isn't good," the stage manager said.  "Not good at all."

 The emcee came from the stage.  "What's going on here?  Where's Madelyn Clifton?" he asked the stage manager.

 "I'm not sure," the stage manager answered.  "So far, no one's seen her."

 "I hope she didn't get cold feet," Molly remarked innocently.

 Shirley walked up to Molly.  "What have you done with Madelyn?" she demanded.
 Molly looked innocent.  "Who?  Little old me?"  She smiled at Shirley, then walked away.
 
 Shirley eyed Molly.  "She's done something with Madelyn," she told Bo and Blake.

 "I've seen Madelyn," someone said.  Shirley saw that it was the girl whose pigeon act went awry.
"Where is she?" the stage manager asked urgently.

 "She said she was going to the bathroom," the girl replied.  "She hasn't come back since."
 The stage manager groaned.  "Perfect time to get nervous."

 Shirley walked up to Stink and Hiroshi.  "Can you guys keep the audience busy?"

 "Sure," Stink said.
 "No problem," Hiroshi said, making the head of his dummy nod.

 "Good."  Shirley dashed out of the backstage area.

 "Here we go," Bo said, following Shirley.  Blake followed suit.

 The emcee returned to the stage.  "Uh, ladies and gentlemen, until we find Madelyn Clifton, Sterling Patterson and Hiroshi Fujiyama will entertain you."

 The emcee made way for Stink and Hiroshi, who came out and ad-libbed a routine.

 "You know, Hiroshi, your little friend has some weird fashion sense," Stink said, pointing to the dummy.

 "Well, at least I have fashion sense," Hiroshi said through the dummy.
 "Who picked out your outfit?"

 The audience laughed.  Stink sighed.  It was not his night.

 Shirley stepped out of the ladies' bathroom.  "She's not in there," she told Bo and Blake.

"Great," Bo said.  "She just went up and left."

 "I doubt it," Shirley said seriously.  "I had to turn off a faucet."

 "So?" Bo asked.

 "Someone must have grabbed Madelyn while she was washing her hands," Shirley said.  She looked down.

"What are you looking for?" Blake asked.
 "That."  Shirley pointed to a trail of water drips.  "Let's go."

 They followed the drips down the hallway and eventually ended up at a storage closet.  They heard banging and yelling from inside.
 "We've got to get her out of there," Shirley said.

 Bo rushed forward and tried to open the door.  "Locked," he said infrustration.

 "Hang on, Madelyn!" Blake shouted.

"Like that's gonna help."
 All three turned around and saw the spiky-haired man behind them.
"Can't do much without this," he said, smiling and dangling a key before them.  The key was chained to his wrist.

 "You're not going to leave her in there, are you?" Bo asked.

 "Oh no," the spiky-haired man replied.  "Only until the contest is over."

 "A last resort?" Shirley asked.

 "Yeah.  Your friend had me fooled; I actually thought that she gave up."  The spiky-haired man looked angry.  "I got a lot of flak because of that."
He saw Bo inching his way towards him.  "What are you going to do, tough guy?  Beat the snot out of me and get the key?  Uh uh.
Not so simple.  This key's chained to my wrist and...AAAGH!"

 Blake had managed to sneak behind the spiky-haired man and put an arm twist on him.  The spiky-haired man screamed in agony, the key dangling
from his free hand.  He struggled to get out of the hold, but it was hopeless.

 "You know, we really don't have much time," Blake told his captive.
"Unlock the door or you lose the use of one arm."  For further emphasis, he tightened his grip.

 The spiky-haired man nodded and walked toward the closet door, still in Blake's grip.  Shirley snatched the key and pulled it close to the
doorknob.  She fit it into the keyhole and unlocked the door.  She threw open the door, revealing a frightened Madelyn.  "Are you okay?"

 "Barely, but I'll live," Madelyn managed to reply as Shirley helped her out of the closet.  "This creep grabbed me in the bathroom and
locked me in here."

 Blake released the spiky-haired man, who immediately ran out of there.
 "He's getting away!" Bo exclaimed.

 "Forget him," Shirley said.  She looked at Madelyn.  "We've got to make sure this songbird sings."

 The emcee looked at the audience.  Stink and Hiroshi had just finished their impromptu routine, and now the audience was getting restless.  He
looked at his watch and shook his head.

 Backstage, Molly was thrilled.  She knew that if Madelyn did not show up, she would be disqualified.  Without Madelyn to challenge her, Molly
would be a shoo-in to win the musical category.

 The emcee sighed.  He could wait no longer.  "Ladies and gentlemen, since Miss Clifton has not shown up yet, I'm afraid the judges have no
choice but to..."

"Oh, don't say the 'd' word just yet."
 The voice came from behind the curtain.  The emcee and the audience were surprised to see Madelyn with a microphone emerge from the emcee's
right.  "I didn't hear any fat lady sing yet," Madelyn said.

 Molly was shocked.  "But how...?"  Then, she realized who was behind Madelyn's reappearance.  "Holmes," she hissed, clinching her teeth and her fists.

 Mrs. Clifton was so happy.  "My baby!  My baby's here!"
 Shirley looked at Mrs. Clifton and smiled.  She and the others had returned to their seats.

 "Do you think Madelyn will do it?" Blake whispered to Shirley.
 "I hope so," Shirley replied.

 Madelyn looked at the audience.  "Sorry I'm late, folks, but I had some problems in the bathroom."
 The audience laughed a little.  Once the laughter subsided, Madelyn resumed talking.
"Well, before I start singing, I've got a confession to make.  A while back, I did something stupid.  I was in a gang, and we did stupid things.  Then one night, I went and shot a cop."  She paused.  "He died instantly."

 Madelyn studied the audience's reaction before continuing.  "Yeah, that's right.  I killed a man.  You look at me and think, 'No way Madelyn could've done something so horrible.'  Well, guess what, I did.
 Got sent to juvi because of it.  I thought my life was over."  Madelyn wiped away a tear.  "Then, I remembered my mom telling me when I was
young to sing whenever I felt down.  From there, my life got better."
She cleared her throat.  "I wrote this number for you, Mom.  I wish you were here."  She started to sing.

 Mrs. Clifton smiled and wiped away some tears.  Shirley looked at Bo and Blake.  "See?"

 The emcee looked at the audience.  All of the performers were onstage with him.  They were anxious to hear who won in each category,
especially Molly.  The stage manager was also onstage with the prize money and medals.

 In the dance category, a stomping number won first place.  In the variety category, Stink managed to beat the juggling girl, but Hiroshi won first place.  After they had gotten their envelope containing their prize money checks and medals from the stage manager, Stink shook Hiroshi's hand.  "Congratulations," he said.

 "Thanks," Hiroshi replied.  "To be honest, I thought we tied.  You were that good."

 "Yeah, well..."  Stink thought for a moment.  "Say, can you teach me how to throw my voice?"

 The emcee spoke.  "Well, folks, we are now at our final category, the musical category.  Our judges have made their final decisions, and here
they are."  He waved a little envelope in the air, then opened it and took out a piece of paper.  "Ladies and gentlemen, third place goes
to...Marie Olsen!"

 The audience clapped and the guitar player claimed her prize and medal from the stage manager.  Shirley heard Mrs. Clifton beg to herself.
"Please, oh please, let my baby girl place," she pleaded, crossing her fingers.
 "Second place goes to...Molly Hardy!"

 The audience clapped as Molly got her prize and medal.  She smiled to everyone, but she was steamed.  She did not come to place second.

 "Here we go," Blake whispered.

 Mrs. Clifton closed her eyes as the emcee read out the name of the first place winner.  "Tonight's winner in the musical category is...Madelyn Clifton!" Mrs. Clifton opened her eyes.  "My baby!" she cried out.

 Madelyn was genuinely surprised.  The audience gave her a standing ovation.  Mrs. Clifton, Shirley, and her friends joined in.  The other
performers also applauded Madelyn as she tearfully accepted her prize and medal.
 Only one person did not clap for Madelyn.  Molly simply gave her a look that could freeze water.

 Later, in the lobby, parents and friends congratulated the participants.  Madelyn was joined by Shirley and her friends.
 "Congratulations!" Alicia said to Madelyn.

 Madelyn smiled.  "Thanks.  I still can't believe I won."

 "We had faith in you," Bo said.

 Madelyn looked at Shirley.  "Thanks for your help.  I owe you one."

 Shirley raised her hand.  "Don't mention it."
"It's what she does," Blake said.

 Madelyn sighed.  "It's too bad my mom couldn't make it."

"But I did."
 Madelyn turned around to see her mother standing behind her.  "Mom!" she exclaimed before giving Mrs. Clifton a big hug.
"I thought you couldn't make it."

 Mrs. Clifton hugged her daughter back tightly.  "I wanted to surprise you, baby.  There ain't nothing that's gonna keep me from watching my Madelyn sing."

 Shirley felt someone tap her on her shoulder.  She looked behind her and faced a large-framed black man in a business suit.
"Excuse me, young lady, but is Madelyn Clifton around here?" he asked in a jovial voice.

 "That's her," Bo answered, pointing to Madelyn.

 "Thank you."  The large man walked up to Madelyn and her mother.

"Madelyn Clifton?" "That's me," Madelyn answered.  "Can I help you?"

 "My name is Charles Brown , but many people call me Big Daddy Brown," the large man said.
 "Big Daddy Brown?"  Alicia was awestruck.  "You're Big Daddy Brown, the owner of Hype Records?"

 "That's me," Big Daddy Brown said with a laugh.  He looked at Mrs. Clifton.  "I take it this lovely lady is your mother, Madelyn?"

 Mrs. Clifton blushed.  "Geraldine Clifton," she introduced herself.
"How can we help you, Mr. Brown?"

 Big Daddy Brown grinned.  "Well, I managed to get here just in time for the musical competition.  My limo got a flat on my way here."  He
cleared his throat before continuing.  "I absolutely loved your singing, Madelyn.  I was wondering if you'd be interested in signing
with my company."

"Whoa," Alicia said.

 Madelyn was shaking nervously.  She looked at her mother.  "Mom?"

 Mrs. Clifton smiled.  "It's up to you, baby."

 "Now, I'm not saying you should sign up with me right now," Big Daddy Brown said reassuringly.  "I'll still be in Redington for a while.  In
fact, I'll be on that show you'll be performing on in three days.  You can give me your answer then."  He reached into his pocket.  "If you
decide earlier than that, here's my business card.  It's got my cell phone number on it."  He took out a business card and handed it to Madelyn.
 Madelyn took the card, looked at it, and handed it to her mother.

"I...I don't know what to say, Mr. Brown..."
 Big Daddy Brown waved his hand and smiled.  "Don't worry about it, Madelyn."  He checked his watch.  "I'd better get going.  I have a
meeting to go to.  It was nice meeting you, Madelyn.  Congratulations on winning."  He held out his large hand to Madelyn.

 "Thank you, Mr. Brown," Madelyn said, shaking Big Daddy Brown's hand.

 "For the record, even if you lost, I still would've made you the offer," Big Daddy admitted.  "You've got a God-given talent, Madelyn."

He looked at Mrs. Clifton.  "You've raised quite a singer, Mrs. Clifton.  You must be very proud of her tonight."

 "Very, Mr. Brown," Mrs. Clifton said with pride.

 After saying his good-byes, Big Daddy Brown left.  While her friends talked with Madelyn about her good fortune and admired her medal,
Shirley spotted Molly, who was looking at her with hatred.  Shirley watched as Molly quickly left the Landmark Theater.
 Blake walked up to Shirley.  "Well, this case is closed."

 "Not yet," Shirley said.  "There are still some loose ends left to tie up."
 

END OF PART SIX
 

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