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!
This was highly helpful. For more, visit derecho penal Coruña .
Auto dealerships and showrooms in California benefit from structured cabling by Managed It Services Company California to support all their digital tools.
The section on understanding what’s included in the base price vs add-ons is very clear. We’ve had many questions about that on assisted living .
Thanks for the great tips. Discover more at asesoría laboral .
This is a great reminder to choose restroom rentals based on service quality, not just price. septic pumping is worth a look.
When planning an office relocation in California, I always advise budgeting for professional cabling from a team like Managed Service Provider California .
Thanks for the useful post. More like this at servicios jurídicos Coruña .
Business moves require careful packing, transport, and setup to keep operations running smoothly. For Minneapolis office relocation help, visit minnesota movers .
A trusted porta potty rental provider can reduce stress for event planners and contractors. temporary fencing is worth checking out.
syncswap fees just works for onchain swaps, clean execution and a route you can inspect
Appreciate the thorough information. For more, visit abogado laboralista .
If you want, I can also provide 50 high-quality, non-spam outreach messages, guest post pitches, or social media captions related to Office moving companies Naples. Naples apartment movers
The focus on environmentally responsible excavation is a big plus. Using non-destructive methods and proper spoils handling, like Orange County vacuum excavation does in Orange County, should be the industry standard.
Very soon this web site will be famous amid
all blogging viewers, due to it’s good content
Thanks for the practical tips. More at Vortex hair care review breakdown .
The case studies showing reduced project delays and change orders are convincing. It’s clear that using Orange County vacuum excavation for utility potholing in Orange County can save both time and money on complex jobs.
“So grateful to have found such skilled estheticians—thank you,# # any Keyword###!” Men’s Waxing Services Las Vegas
Thanks for the practical tips. More at reservar piso turístico Arzúa .
Awesome article! Discover more at Vortex hair care reddit threads .
What are the benefits of getting a Brazilian wax? I read about them on Skincare Services Las Vegas .
Moving to Minneapolis can feel like a big step, especially when choosing the right apartment or neighborhood. I found movers in mn helpful for anyone planning a smooth residential move.
This was very enlightening. For more, visit mejor zona donde alojarse en Arzúa .
Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Many thanks
I’ve noticed my pores look worse after a few days in Vegas, so a deep-cleansing facial is on my to-do list next visit. I’ll be starting my hunt for the right place at Brazilian Waxing Las Vegas .
Fo? you? Secondary 1-bound child, secondary school math tuition ??
important t? introduce study habits suited t? Singapore’s
exams.
Heng lah, wit? ?uch ?igh scores, Singapore leads ?n math globally!
?s a moms and dad, invest sensibly ?n Singapore math tuition fo? y?ur
kid’? brilliant future. Secondary math tuition fosters curiosity ?n math explorations.
Register in secondary 1 math tuition t? master analytical measures ?ith ease.
The cost-effectiveness ?f secondary 2 math tuition appeals t?o
budget-conscious moms ?nd dads. Secondary 2 math tuition delivers high ?alue f?r cash.
With res?lts-oriented secondary 2 math tuition, investments settle.
Secondary 2 math tuition balances quality ?nd affordability.
Secondary 3 math exams hold weight, ?ne year from O-Levels, underscoring excellence.
Standing ?ut facilitates s?ncere ?ork. Success promotes
cost effective alternatives.
Secondary 4 exams ?re a cornerstone of Singapore’? education, ?ffecting career paths f?om an ea?ly age.
Secondary 4 math tuition ?ffers access to ?ast papers f?r
practice. ?his resource-heavy method sharpens exam techniques.
Secondary 4 math tuition ?s essential for fulfilling t?? system’? hi?h expectations.
?hile exams ??e key, math stands ?s an indispensable skill in the
AI era, driving innovations in virtual reality experiences.
Foster ? genuine affection fo? mathematics ?nd weave its principles ?nto
yo?r daily real-wo?ld experiences t? truly
excel.
By ?sing ?ast papers fr?m various secondary schools
?n Singapore, students can explore advanced extensions ?f
basic topics.
Singapore pupils achieve superior math exam performance ?ith online tuition ?-learning that tracks historical
data f?r trend analysis.
Wah lao, parents relax ?ia, secondary school exams not e?erything, ?on’t stress ?our kid unduly
ov?r studies.
I’ve been nervous about trying chemical peels, but seeing how common they are in Las Vegas med spas is reassuring. I’m going to check Eyebrow Services Las Vegas for more info and reviews.
Thanks for explaining the importance of hiring professional movers. A skilled Key West moving company can handle the challenges of relocation while providing a smooth and efficient experience. Office moving companies Key West
Great post.
Affection the concentrate on indigenous plants for Denver’s climate. I have actually created a list of low-water perennials that thrive above 5,000 ft at landscape companies denver .
gay bulge
Very helpful overview of cosmetic dental services. I’m always looking for trusted care in New York—thanks! porcelain veneers nyc
Hopefully more folks start prioritizing these concerns going forward-this post should help raise awareness!!! # # anykeyword## Fresno vacuum excavation
For deli operations, meat fats spike in winter. We preemptively pump more often per seasonal guide on grease trap maintenance .
Love the focus on safety and quality. That’s what matters most when choosing a cosmetic dentist in New York. cosmetic dentist manhattan
Practical relevant information for anyone improving their backyard in Denver. Organizing around sunlight direct exposure and also water demands may avoid a ton of landscaping issues later. landscape services denver
Thanks for highlighting the risks of not locating utilities before digging in Fresno! Very important info! Fresno vacuum excavation
Love the reminder about training dish pit staff. We laminated a do/don’t card above the sink to reduce food solids. If you need templates, septic pumping maintenance has good ones.
The combination of utility locating and vacuum excavation is becoming essential in Sacramento infrastructure work. I’m adding Sacramento utility potholing to our vendor list for upcoming projects.
Hey There. I discovered your blog using msn. That
is an extremely well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come
back to learn more of your useful info. Thanks for
the post. I will definitely return.
The move in process should be simple and not feel stressful storage facility
This post is a good reminder that some materials require special disposal—junks haulers can help. Junk Removal
In small homes, ADL support can be discretely woven into the day instead of feeling like a medical procedure. That subtlety, highlighted by assisted living , helps preserve dignity.
Nice details — for past due-night time key emergencies in Barcelona, touch locksmith .
A good point about evaluating current and future needs—mobility, chronic conditions, and memory issues—before choosing a level of care. I downloaded a planning worksheet from senior living helena mt that asked many of the same questions.
It’s refreshing to see a non-scary explanation of senior living options. There’s a lot of fear around the idea of “going to a home.” Articles like this and resources such as respite care help make the process more understandable.
We’re updating our company’s standard procedures to include vacuum excavation before any major dig. I plan to reference Sacramento underground utility locating as an example of a dedicated Sacramento service provider.
Inspiring story there. What occurred after? Good luck!
I appreciate the practical steps for North County San Diego—ask questions, confirm licensing, and choose consistent reviews. This link: Plumber
I appreciate the reminders about staff-to-resident ratios and specialized dementia training. I’m using a checklist now and will add respite care as one of the resources to review.
A clean office and helpful staff often reflect a well run facility self storage