Free Mr. Pin: The Chocolate Files by Mary Elise Monsell Page B

they read the program.
    Soon the houselights faded. The audience hushed. Tiny flashlights flickered. The curtain parted and there, right in the middle of the stage, was Berta Largamente in a silver sequined gown. The orchestra thundered and Berta started to sing.
    Maggie took a pair of binoculars out of her backpack.
    â€œThe conductor looks familiar,” she whispered. She handed the glasses to Mr. Pin.
    â€œIt’s Mac,” said Mr. Pin. “The same Mac who was in the diner.”
    â€œWhat!” said Maggie, clapping a hand over her mouth.
    Suddenly, a dense, blue fog erupted out of the stage floor. It spread everywhere. Berta disappeared almost completely, but she kept singing. Then the blue fog rolled over the edge of the stage and into the orchestra pit. The conductor still held his baton and directed the fog-covered musicians. But all of a sudden, the orchestra stopped playing. The conductor had disappeared!
    â€œMac is in trouble,” said Mr. Pin, springing out of his seat. Maggie grabbed her backpack and coat and rushed after the penguin detective.
    Berta kept singing. The audience was thrilled. They thought the fog was a wonderful special effect.
    Mr. Pin raced past the ushers and turned the corner toward the elevators. For some reason, there was an OUT OF ORDER sign on Harold’s elevator door. The other two were stopped at the bottom.
    â€œThis way,” urged Mr. Pin, gently pulling Maggie’s elbow toward the stairs.
    â€œRight,” said Maggie. They went down six full flights. Then, just as they reached the bottom, the penguin detective stopped short.
    â€œHmmm,” said Mr. Pin, looking around.
    â€œI thought we were in a hurry,” panted Maggie.
    â€œWe are,” said Mr. Pin. “I’m looking for a shortcut from here to the stage.”
    Quietly, Mr. Pin slipped into the main hall. He motioned for Maggie to follow him. Then he carefully moved his wing along the wall near a fire exit. “Ah. This is it!” he whispered.
    â€œShhh!” sniffed a lady nearby, not moving her eyes from the stage.
    The penguin detective pushed lightly against the wall. A door swung open.
    â€œAmazing,” gasped Maggie. “A secret door!” Fortunately, Berta started singing so loudly that the two detectives were able to slip through it unnoticed. Mr. Pin carefully closed the door behind them. Then, down a long, angled hallway, the two raced toward the stage.
    â€œThis hallway is called Peacock Alley. Not too many people know about it,” said Mr. Pin.
    â€œJust penguins,” said Maggie.
    Alter hurrying down Peacock Alley, the two found themselves backstage. Berta had just finished her solo. The curtain closed as the blue fog lifted.
    â€œHe’s gone!” sobbed Berta as she spotted Maggie and Mr. Pin. “The conductor has been kidnapped.”
    Mr. Pin offered her a handkerchief from his black bag and asked, “Did you actually see someone take the conductor away?”
    â€œNo. But it was just awful,” said Berta, blowing her nose. “A part of the stage moved when it wasn’t supposed to. Sometimes we move it to make different scenes. Anyway, the stage moved up and a trapdoor opened. After that, the fog came pouring out. The orchestra members couldn’t see their music, so they stopped playing. Then no one could see the conductor. That’s when he must have been kidnapped. Of course, I kept singing. But they had to close the curtain when I was done. You can’t have an opera without a conductor. Now everyone is out there eating candy and stamping their feet.”

    â€œOf course the show must go on,” said Mr. Pin. He turned to Maggie. “But first we need to look under the stage … for clues.”
    â€œRight,” said Maggie. “Under the stage.”

4
    Maggie, Berta, and Mr. Pin walked around the back of the stage and down a few stairs. They entered a dark basement room, directly beneath