To celebrate the upcoming release of Deadlock(June 25th!), my publisher has arranged a Scavenger Hunt! Follow the links at the end of each stop and collect clues along the way! At the end of the Scavenger Hunt, enter your clues to be entered to win the grand prize: a Nespresso Espresso maker and coffee goodies to keep your all-night hacking (or reading) sessions going strong. You might find a few bonus giveaways in hidden links throughout the Scavenger Hunt, too, including print copies of Deadlock!
To get you started, here is the first chapter of Deadlock! I’m so excited for you to meet Lindsey and Jace.
Chapter 1:
I’m going to kill my sister.
Lindsey Morris gritted her teeth into a smile for the photo her jolly Aunt Martha snapped, the silent threat in her head becoming more of an inevitable truth with each passing moment. God knows, it wasn’t unlike her twin sister Lena to flake out on her, but their parents’ fortieth anniversary party was something the two of them had been planning for months. All for Lena to leave Lindsey holding the bag. Again.
Relieved from picture duty at last, she left her parents and hustled in her towering heels across the banquet hall to check on the champagne, dodging cousins and uncles and aunts. She hadn’t seen some of them in years. If a certain sister hadn’t left her running this entire show, she might have had time to stop and catch up with each of them.
All of it had come together nicely, though. Her parents were beaming in front of a life-size poster of one of their wedding pictures, forty years having done nothing to dim their happiness and love for each other. Lindsey snapped a picture of her own before slipping out the door into an echoing hallway to dial Lena. As expected, her sister’s voicemail greeting chirped in her ear.
“Hello?” A long pause ensued, during which Lindsey’s blood pressure spiked. “Gotcha! Sorry, you don’t get to talk to me right now. If you want to talk to me later, better make it good.”
Lindsey waited for the tone. “I don’t want to talk to you. I want to strangle you. Dammit, Lena, where are you?”
Hours passed before she could get away to the blissful solitude of her apartment, where she hoped a glass of wine and a Simpsons marathon might make her feel a little better. But even Bart and Homer’s animated antics weren’t enough. Her anger had burned away to sad ashes, and she couldn’t get her parents’ disappointed faces out of her mind. It would serve Lena right if none of them ever spoke to her again, as drastic as it sounded, but something about Lena made one eager to trust her and believe her when she made the promises she never kept. And the anger Lindsey felt when that inevitably happened could just as easily be turned on herself for enabling her twin, for never enforcing any consequences when Lena flaked out.
But how many times had she tried? How many times had it worked?
Then her glass was empty, and she poured another, sitting alone on her couch and staring at the way the light from the TV played hypnotically through the crimson depths as she swirled the liquid in her glass. Everything she was doing to make herself feel better was having the opposite effect. The fact she had no one to vent her frustrations to made it worse. Bad-mouthing her sister to their parents wasn’t an option, especially today—they were probably on the plane for their anniversary trip to Cabo San Lucas.
Lucky them.
“I need a vacation, too,” Lindsey told her wineglass. It was the only one there to listen. Then, sighing, she set it down on her coffee table and picked up her phone, shooting ramrod straight when she saw that she had somehow missed a text from Lena twenty minutes ago. She’d probably been in the kitchen scavenging.
Sorry. Ran into some trouble. Give Mom and Dad my love. I need a favor. Go to this address and ask him for help. Please. It will all become clear.
An address followed, which Lindsey’s eyes scanned without seeing. Her brain had shorted out on the word “favor.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” she asked her phone, gripping it with a force that threatened to shatter it.
Lena in trouble was nothing new. Ever since high school, on through college, and even after, she’d been getting herself or someone else into shit she couldn’t always talk her way out of. Thinking Lindsey would simply forget about tonight and rush in to help her was simply par for the course, but Jesus, it had to stop sometime, didn’t it?
One thing was for sure. No way was she going to that address, wherever it was. To some strange place to ask someone she didn’t know for—what, even? Who was she supposed to be looking for? She wasn’t about to let Lena make her look like an idiot on top of everything.
No one else could get her off her warm cocoon on the couch to face the biting cold. She didn’t know what she might find at her sister’s apartment; she didn’t care, but she was going all the same. Lena probably wouldn’t be there, but maybe it wouldn’t be too difficult to nose around and find out where she was. Then she would go find her, even if she had to hop on a plane to do it.
There were some things she desperately needed to say to Lena’s face, and it was well past time.
She rushed through her apartment, throwing on a coat and shoving her feet into boots, her pulse pounding in her ears. No one else on earth could push her buttons like this. Lindsey hadn’t trusted Lena since college, her twin’s antics during that particular time of their lives having been the final straw.
Yes, she was her sister. Yes, Lindsey still loved her as such. Gossip sessions, shopping trips, friendship…those areas had always come easily. But real trust?That ship had sailed years ago, when Lena had pulled what was probably her cruelest stunt of all—at least that Lindsey knew of. The skeletons that could lurk hidden in Lena’s closet were enough to give her cold chills. The two of them had the same face, and Lena probably had enough enemies that Lindsey should look over her own shoulder when she walked down the street.
In the back of the Uber she called because wine and rage and driving didn’t mix, she white-knuckled her purse straps all the way to her sister’s apartment, going over everything she wanted to say in her mind in case Lena was there. Confrontation ordinarily tied her tongue up in knots, and no doubt it would this time.
She had to have her words straight in her head or they would slip right out. But niggling in the back of her mind was the fact that their parents would never get over an irreparable rift between them, no matter the cause. It was enough for her to rein in on a few of the epithets she wished to hurl at Lena’s perpetually smug face. But not many.
If Lena was off having a grand adventure with plans to show up next week thinking all was well—she added the epithets back in.
Long ago, Lena had given Lindsey a key to her apartment so she could water her plants while she was away. The plants had died anyway—Lena didn’t even take care of them herself after she got home from wherever she’d been. But Lindsey had hung on to the key, and it had come in handy more than once. She stalked directly to her sister’s door, lifted her fist to beat on it, thought better of it—she might not even answer—and fit the key into the lock.
The sight that greeted her as she flipped the nearby light switch caused her heart to stutter and her breath to catch, momentarily choking her.
Her sister’s apartment was trashed.
Scavenger Hunt: Where are Lindsey’s parents going for their anniversary trip?
Next stop, Melynda Price
Deadlock releases June 25th! You can pick it up in paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold. Add it on Goodreads!
Hello, its nice piece of writing concerning media print, we all be aware of media is a great source of information.
Witajcie, przegl?da?em forum i chc? powiedzie?, ?e jest tu sporo warto?ciowych tre?ci. Sam od jakiego? czasu urz?dzam mieszkanie i takie porady bardzo si? przydaj?. Mi?ego dnia wszystkim.
Dobry temat. Moim zdaniem dobór mebli naprawd? robi ró?nic?. Polecam si? nie spieszy?.
my page – http://Rukodelie-Club.ru/user/UDDRandall/
One tip for San Dimas homeowners: if your water softener is constantly regenerating or using too much salt, get it checked. I had a control valve issue that a tech from water softener replacement & installation san dimas fixed quickly.
It’s often the little things—like help with buttoning a shirt or setting up a shower—that are forgotten in big facilities. In small homes, those details get more attention. senior care seems to understand this.
For businesses in San Dimas that rely on clean water—like coffee shops or salons—keeping filtration systems maintained is crucial. I recommend reaching out to water filtration repair san dimas for timely water filtration repairs to avoid service disruptions.
Good day! I just wish to offer you a huge thumbs
up for your excellent info you’ve got here on this post.
I will be returning to your web site for more soon.
I appreciate the emphasis on dignity in small senior care homes. Things like unhurried bathing and individualized grooming routines really preserve self-esteem. respite care seems to promote that philosophy.
Everything is very open with a really clear clarification of the challenges.
It was really informative. Your website is useful. Many thanks for sharing!
My blog post: web hosting
Fall prevention during everyday tasks is easier to manage in a smaller, more controlled environment. It’s great to see providers like assisted living near me focusing on safer assisted living options.
Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long
as I provide credit and sources back to your blog?
My blog is in the very same niche as yours and my
users would really benefit from a lot of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this alright with you. Many thanks!
My mom needed just a bit of help with daily tasks, not full nursing care. A smaller assisted living home was the perfect middle ground. I wish I had known about senior care sooner in the search process.
Alcohol increases usage by up to 40%— portable restroom rentals helped us plan accordingly.
Bleed-over from nearby events can spike demand— portable restroom rentals warns to plan a buffer.
I’ve seen some fantastic before-and-after photos from cabinet makers around Los Angeles. Planning to consult with Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles to see how they can transform my small galley kitchen.
Use these only if the Comments field is mandatory. Do not add URLs, promotional signatures, or invented identities.
The appropriate insulation approach depends on the building assembly, access, exposure, and condition of the existing materials which insulation areas should be assessed first
If you’re considering legal separation before divorce in Maryland, the information on family lawyer in maryland can help you weigh the pros and cons.
Just shipped my SUV to Indianapolis from Florida. Open carrier worked fine and the price was fair. If you need a fast quote, try Indianapolis auto transport companies .
Custom bathroom vanities are a must in tight LA spaces where every inch counts. I’m gathering ideas now and Kitchen Remodeling Services In Los Angeles is on my shortlist for a modern, floating vanity design.
I found the plain-language explanations of Maryland court procedures on Divorce Lawyer in Maryland very reassuring. It’s less scary when you know what to expect.
Check that the shop indexes shafts to minimize imbalance when serviced later; I request marks as advised by truck parts .
I didn’t realize how many factors go into choosing the right Indianapolis auto shipping provider. Very informative! Indianapolis auto transport companies
We updated our site plan after reviewing individual restroom ’s restroom placement tips.
Strong factors about records analytics riding result. Our analytics platform is equipped round those rules at Top Innovative Healthcare Solutions
Check that the shop indexes shafts to minimize imbalance when serviced later; I request marks as advised by truck parts .
The future of patient-powered analytics is wonderful. Our platform contribution is stumbled on at Florida provider network IHBS
Simply want to say your article is as astonishing. The clarity on your post is just excellent and i
could think you are an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission let me to grasp your feed to stay up to
date with forthcoming post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please continue the gratifying work.
If you serve alcohol, increase restroom counts— portable toilet supplier shows by how much for different event lengths.
I recommend a nearby Comprehensive Estate Planning Attorney Near Me for a compassionate, patient approach—see orange county estate planning attorney .
Pretty part of content. I simply stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to claim that I get actually enjoyed account your weblog posts.
Anyway I will be subscribing in your feeds and even I success you get entry to persistently rapidly.
My website: pg789 ???????
It’s an awesome paragraph designed for all the web people; they will
obtain advantage from it I am sure.
If you’re updating an older estate plan, a Comprehensive Estate Planning Attorney Near Me can review it thoroughly—check comprehensive estate planning attorney near me .
Newport Beach sunsets from a captained boat booked via charter yachts of newport beach sound like the perfect evening plan.
There’s a lot of marketing around facial treatments in Las Vegas, so it’s nice to have a more honest overview from Brazilian Waxing Las Vegas .
Use these only if the Comments field is mandatory. Do not add URLs, promotional signatures, or invented identities.
The appropriate insulation approach depends on the building assembly, access, exposure, and condition of the existing materials spray foam application
Newport Beach looks incredible from the water; a captained rental from Multi-Day Yacht Charters Newport Beach makes it easy for tourists.
Before spending money on an expensive hotel spa, read the comparisons on Men’s Waxing Services Las Vegas about facial treatments in Las Vegas.
Alarms with text alerts give peace of mind when traveling. Installed by a provider found on sewer cleaning .
Texas employers face many choices when designing employee benefit plans. Taking a thoughtful approach can help create better outcomes for everyone involved. Texas benefit plan options for employees
The home-like feel of smaller senior care homes helps reduce agitation in people with Alzheimer’s. It’s not so overwhelming compared to large facilities. I’d suggest anyone researching options check resources like memory care grain valley mo .
If odors appear indoors, check P-traps and roof vents first. A quick visit from a pro on septic pumping solved ours.
The focus on fall-prevention design features was eye-opening. I’ll examine photos and floor plans on assisted living with this in mind.
Why viewers still use to read news papers when in this technological globe
everything is available on web?
It’s refreshing to find a counseling approach where spiritual concerns are not dismissed but thoughtfully included. Faith-based care can bring clarity and peace. christian counseling
Thanks for the great content. More at tours Caribe mexicano .
Boundaries are especially important with teens because they are learning independence while still needing guidance. Balance is key. christian counseling
Thanks for the helpful advice. Discover more at https://maps.app.goo.gl/MnEDrJzSZxEzwzUg6 .
For anyone doing a full gut renovation in Woodland Hills, Woodland Hills general contractor is a general contractor that can handle complex phasing and inspections.
This was a fantastic read. Check out https://maps.app.goo.gl/UPhpQdBnPMmdRR8X9 for more.
Having read this I b?lieved i?t wa? really enlightening.
I appreciate you finding the time and effort things to do in ocean city maryland in february put
this informative artic?e together. I once again find myself spend?ng way too much time both reading and posting comments.
But so what, it ?as still worth it!
For anyone focused on high?end finishes and details in Woodland Hills, Woodland Hills home builder works with good subs for tile, stone, and millwork.