“Mmmphinnnn!”
she mumbled, trying to shoo her pug away from his inconvenient seat directly in front of the television set. She quickly stood up and gave Phin a nudge with her foot.

Nothing could get in the way of watching
Crime Time
every Friday night; this was especially true for the beginning of the show, when host Major DeMille did his introduction and presented the Case of the Week. Each
Crime Time
episode featured reenactments of crimes, with actors in the roles of attackers, victims, and so on. But Major DeMille was the major attraction. Madison even had downloaded his photograph to use as one of her screen savers—when she wasn’t using one of her favorite animal photos.

“Are you going to have any more of this dinner?” Mom asked. She strolled into the living room holding a plate of pasta salad.

Madison waved Mom off.

“Madison, put down the remote control and answer me,” Mom said.

“Mom!”
Madison cried. She threw her hands into the air. “I’m watching
Crime Time
right now. You know I’ve been waiting all week to see this new episode. Can’t we talk later?”

“Well, do you want this food or—”

“No, thanks, I have popcorn.”

Madison turned back to the TV and her post-dinner snack.

“Crime Time,
huh?” Mom wrinkled her brow. “I don’t know how I feel about all these crime shows, Maddie. You have been talking a lot about mysteries lately. And I know it’s only eight-thirty and this should be considered okay viewing for a twelve-year-old, but still—”

“I’m almost thirteen, Mom,” Madison said, correcting her. “Um, can we talk about this later? Please?”

Mom sighed and sat on the sofa. “What is so interesting about this show?”

“Mommm!”

Madison settled back onto the sofa and turned the volume up so that her mom wouldn’t interrupt her again. Phin jumped onto the couch and curled up at Madison’s side.

Welcome to a place where crimes are stopped dead in their tracks… where the only way out is justice… where anytime is
Crime Time.

Major DeMille’s blond head filled the screen. Madison swooned. Major squinted as though he were staring right through the screen, into Madison’s living room, and directly into her eyes.

The police have already surveyed the scene. But there are still many questions. Questions that no one seems to know how to answer…

“Isn’t he dreamy?” Madison asked aloud. She grabbed another handful of popcorn.

“Who? That guy in the leather coat?” Mom asked.

Madison shot a look in Mom’s direction. “Are you kidding? Mom, that is Major DeMille. He is only the hottest crime fighter ever.”

“He solves the crimes?” Mom asked. “But isn’t he an actor? He’s just the narrator, Maddie.”

“Yeah, well…” Madison nodded. “Last week was ‘Double-Cross My Heart,’ an episode about this couple who disappeared. Major DeMille was right there with all the key evidence.”

“Maddie!” Mom said, rolling her eyes. “How can you watch this?”

Madison nodded. “Shhhh! They’re coming to the best part.”

Mom promptly stood up and clicked off the television.

“What did you do that for?” Madison asked frantically.

Mom crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Because,” she said sternly, “I don’t think this is the right thing for you to be watching.”

“Mom!” Madison huffed. “Everyone watches this. It’s fun to help solve the crimes.”

“Oh, Maddie,” Mom groaned. “Why don’t you go read a book or something instead?”

“Mom, I finished my homework. What’s the problem?”

“Madison…” Mom pursed her lips.

“Mommmmmmm,” Madison whined.

“Oh, fine!” Mom threw up her arms. “Do what you want, Maddie.”

She walked out of the living room and left Madison alone with the dog and the popcorn.

Half an hour later, Major DeMille reappeared to give his
Crime Time
recap. On-screen, faces flashed. People confessed. Police sirens wailed. The
Crime Time
gavel came crashing down.

Tune in for the next thrilling episode of
Crime Time…

Madison waited for the preview of next week’s show, which was titled “Bad and Badder,” before she turned off the TV set.

“Hey! Mom!” she called out. “It’s over now. Are you happy?”

But Mom wasn’t listening anymore. She had the phone in her hand and a serious look on her face.

“What’s wrong?” Madison asked as soon as Mom hung up the phone.

“That was Dad. Stephanie is in the hospital. She broke her wrist. Fell down when someone bumped into her on the street. He called to say that dinner tomorrow would have to be postponed.”

“Wow,” Madison said. “Is she going to be okay?”

“Yes, she’ll be fine. She needs to wear a cast for a while. She’s heading home tonight. Dad just wanted to let you know.”

Madison realized that she was still holding on to the empty bowl of popcorn. She placed it in the sink and sat down at the kitchen table.

“Are you heading upstairs now?” Mom asked.

Madison nodded. “I have to get my beauty sleep. Besides, tomorrow I’m going to stay up later than late to watch part of the
Crime Time
marathon.”

“A marathon?” Mom asked. “Sounds long.”

Madison grinned. “Yeah. They’re going to show the best twenty shows over and over, back to back, all weekend.”

“But haven’t you seen all of the episodes already?” Mom asked.

“Uh-huh. I think I’ve seen a couple of them five or six times,” Madison said. “But Fiona hasn’t seen any.”

Fiona Waters was one of Madison’s best friends. She lived right up the street and around the corner. They liked to spend as much time as possible at each other’s houses.

“That’s what you and Fiona are planning to do for your sleepover tomorrow? Watch television?” Mom said, sounding wary again.

“You should really watch, too, Mom,” Madison said with a smile. “Major DeMille is showing ‘The Talking Skull’ and ‘Footprints to Nowhere.’ Those are some of the best
Crime Time
episodes ever.”

“Whatever you say, Maddie,” Mom said, rolling her eyes. “I’m sure you and Fiona will have a super time—without me.”

Phin barked.

“And you, too, Phinnie,” Mom said. “Can’t forget you.”

On Saturday night, Fiona arrived at Madison’s house dragging her backpack and pillow behind her.

“Why didn’t Aimee want to come to our sleepover?” Fiona asked Madison as she walked inside.

Aimee Gillespie was the other best friend in Madison and Fiona’s trio of BFFs. She was also one of the best ballet dancers in the seventh grade—or any grade.

“Aimee thinks watching
Crime Time
is stupid,” Madison explained. “She likes love stories more.”

“Well, I can’t
wait
to see it!” Fiona said excitedly. “I love scary stuff.”

“It’s not exactly scary,” Madison explained. “More like mysterious. And Major DeMille is
hot
.”

Fiona giggled. “Great.”

Madison cracked up. “Not as hot as Egg, of course…”

Fiona elbowed Madison. She knew it was a joke. Fiona had been “going out” (at least that’s what they called it) with one of Madison’s best guy friends, Walter “Egg” Diaz, for a little while. At first, Madison had hated the idea of their dating, but she was getting used to it over time. Now she could even tease Fiona about it a little without hard feelings.

They grabbed the tuna sandwiches and fruit salad Mom had left them for dinner, along with a bowl of buttered popcorn, and headed into the living room to watch the show. That night’s episode was based on recent events. It was called “The Masked Avenger.”

Madison turned the lights down. The TV set cast a pale blue glow over the entire room.

Tonight we meet a robber who wears a different disguise for every robbery he commits. Last week, he broke into houses wearing a rabbit suit. Yesterday, he knocked off a bank wearing a red beard and a
p
atch over one eye. Tomorrow, who knows what he’ll be wearing?

“A hula skirt,” Fiona said, cracking up.

“Fiona, these are serious crimes,” Madison insisted.

“Serious? In a rabbit suit?” Fiona said.

It
did
sound funny, but Madison was right. Despite the rather humorous disguises, this was one nasty robber, and he had committed one crime after another. He’d stolen more than two million dollars over four years, robbing banks and homes across the country.

Major DeMille’s voice got very low as he stared into the camera. Madison stared back.

Will the Masked Avenger ever be caught? Will the Masked Avenger strike in your neighborhood next?

Madison flinched.
Her
neighborhood?

“Wait,” Fiona said. “I heard my dad talking about this guy the other day. He robbed some banks in the next town. Don’t you remember? Wow. That’s a little close for comfort.”

Cra-a-a-a-a-a-ack.

Madison’s head spun around toward the window. “Did you hear that?” she asked, gripping the pillow on the sofa.

“Hear what?” Fiona said. “That was just the wind.”

“Are you sure?” Madison asked.

Cra-a-a-a-a-a-ack.

“There it is again!” Madison said. She jumped up and peered through the window. “That was not the wind.”

“I guess not,” Fiona said. “It sounded like someone stepping on twigs or something.”

Even Phinnie cowered behind a pillow on the sofa.

“Look!” Madison pointed to the scene outside the window. “It’s a full moon tonight.”

“Um, Maddie, you’re scaring me,” Fiona said.

Madison’s voice got very low. “Fiona, do you think the Masked Avenger could be—”

Knock-knock-knock.

Madison and Fiona grabbed each other tightly. The knock had come from Madison’s front door, just a few feet away from where they were sitting.

Fiona gulped. “Do you think…?” she mumbled. “Could that be the Masked Avenger?”

“YES!” Madison cried. Her mind raced. She clicked off the TV set. The room got very dark.

“Rowwwwwroooo,” Phin barked.

The girls jumped again.

“Shhhhh! Be quiet, dog,” Fiona said.

“There is no way the real Masked Avenger could be outside right now,” Madison said, trying to be calm even though every hair on her body was standing up.

They stared at the door. They didn’t move.

“Madison?”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Light flooded the room. Mom stood there, shaking her head.

“What are you two doing in the dark? Did someone knock at the door? I thought I heard a knock.”

“M-m-mom,” Madison stammered. “I—I—I think someone
did
…”

Knock-knock-knock.

“Maddie?” Mom crinkled her nose. “Are you expecting someone?”

“No,” Madison shook her head. “I’m not. Don’t answer it, Mom.”

“Why?” Mom asked.

“It could be the Masked Avenger!” Fiona cried.

“What? Girls!” Mom said, reaching for the knob. “I think you’ve had quite enough of
Crime Time.
Your imaginations are running wild.”