Nightbreaker by Coco Ma

Author:Coco Ma [Ma, Coco]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2023-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

Among red velvet, in dazzling light,

Stars are born and soon take flight.

A triumph of Black art and expression

Rise, despite decades’ oppression.

The Duke, the Queen, countless greats,

All blessed by the god where your next key awaits.

“A triumph of Black art and expression,” Noëlle murmurs. “Another museum, maybe? But what god? Where stars are born . . . red velvet, dazzling light . . .”

“Not a museum. A concert hall or theater. The Duke . . . they’re nicknames.” I close my eyes and imagine myself back in my dorm room with Zaza, the bright notes of a trumpet and the warm, soulful croon of a woman drifting from her record player. “The Duke has to be Duke Ellington. And the Queen—Ella Fitzgerald. The Queen of Jazz.”

“Wouldn’t she have performed at dozens of places in the city?”

“Yeah, but there’s one that’s famous for kickstarting her career. The Apollo Theater.”

Her eyes gleam. “The Greek god of music and poetry.”

Bang!

We both jump as a plume of orange smoke surges over our heads, marking our progress. But before we can rejoice, a blue flare erupts several blocks east.

I flip the riddle over. Three letters are printed in bold on the back. “A, R, M. What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Valentine called it an answer key. Maybe we can’t solve it until we retrieve the other keys.”

As we get ready to make the jump back to the ground, I decide to speak up. “Cartier, you know competitors have died in past Tournaments, right?”

She takes a subtle step away from me. “And you’re mentioning that right now because . . . ?”

“I need to know whether I can trust you when you give me your word about something. Forget about winning—if either of us breaks that trust, we could both end up dead.”

By the disturbed look on her face, I’m certain I’ve gotten through to her until the only thing she replies with is, “I’ll take that into consideration.”

Then she immediately leaps off the side of the building.

I suppose it’s the best I can ask for.

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