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!
Cape Coral auto shipping is becoming more popular as more people move in and out of Southwest Florida. Comparing transport types and delivery timelines is key. I’d suggest using Cape Coral car shipping to get started.
Moving locally may seem simple, but there are still many details to manage. A trusted San Angelo moving company can help with loading, transportation, unloading, and keeping everything on schedule. San Angelo commercial movers
new 2021 casino uk, united states online casino slots and free
bonus no deposit casino usa, or is top online pokies
and casinos united what states legalized online gambling [Dann] pokies
It’s good to see practical moving advice like this. Comparing local Brownsville moving companies is always worth it before making a decision. Office moving companies Brownsville
A smooth long-distance move depends on preparation, communication, and choosing the right movers. I found useful information at Cheap movers Orlando .
jugar en casino juegos gratis ruleta casino españOl y ganar
dinero
live poker od 10 najlepsze kasyno z cashbackiem 2026?
Choosing the right Baltimore long distance movers can make your move safer, faster, and less stressful. You can find helpful moving information at Baltimore international movers .
This post is useful for people preparing for a home or apartment move. Reliable Houston moving companies can handle the heavy lifting and transportation safely. You can also visit Long distance movers Houston
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This article posted at
this web site is genuinely good.
Nice article. Clean vehicles, punctual drivers, and easy booking are all important when choosing Islip car transportation services. Islip vehicle transport may provide helpful information.
Aw, this was a very good post. Spending some time and actual effort to create a very good article… but what can I say…
I put things off a whole lot and never seem to get anything
done.
This article is a good reminder to start packing and sorting items early. If someone wants extra help, hiring full service movers in Marietta can be a smart choice. Best Marietta Mover’s may be useful for more information.
This is quite enlightening. Check out Leicester Google My Business for more.
The tone of this post is well-measured and friendly, which helps create a positive and enjoyable reading experience online.
CONTENIDO DE VÍDEOS PORNO XXX A LA VENTA
Appreciate the detailed information. For more, visit on-page SEO Stoke on Trent .
mejores juegos de tragamonedas casino (Gabriele) rambla just oliveras
A smooth move from Cedar Rapids begins with the right moving company and proper planning. Long distance movers Cedar Rapids is a helpful resource for movers and relocation tips.
Wow a good deal of superb tips.
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all people you really realize what you are speaking approximately!
Bookmarked. Please additionally consult with my website =).
We may have a link trade contract between us
It’s an awesome post for all the web viewers; they will take advantage
from it I am sure.
Thank you, I like this!
Nicely put, Regards!
Cheers, Very good information!
This is very relevant for anyone relocating in Orange County. Santa Ana movers with good service and transparent pricing can make a big difference. Cheap movers Santa Ana is a helpful resource to explore.
You might require a number of sessions with the arbitration attorney to reach an adequate contract.
This is highly informative. Check out local search Wolverhampton for more.
This was quite useful. For more, visit corporate moving services .
Anyone moving in Bowie should take time to find movers with a strong reputation. Good service is worth it when protecting your belongings. Best Bowie movers
Thanks for sharing these moving tips. Packing, scheduling, and choosing among Chattanooga moving companies all play a big role in a successful move. More guidance here: Local movers Chattanooga
Poost wrting is also a fun, if yyou know afterward you can write otherwise it iss complicateed to write.
xnxx
Great insights! Find more at office furniture movers .
This was a fantastic read. Check out improve Maps ranking Coventry for more.
Wonderful tips! Find more at google maps seo .
Very descriptive blog, I liked that a lot.
Will there be a part 2?
Thanks for sharing these tips. A reliable auto transport company should provide updates and answer questions throughout the Fontana shipping process. Fontana car transportation services
Long-distance moves require trust because your belongings are traveling a long way. If you’re based in Pacific Palisades, Long distance movers Pacific Palisades is worth considering.
Planning a long-distance move from Severn can feel overwhelming, but having a clear checklist and reliable movers makes the process much easier. Severn movers
Very useful post. For similar content, visit off-page seo belfast .
casino min einzahlung 5 euro
My web site – Online roulette echt geld
Very informative post. Moving is a big task, but the right movers can make it much easier from start to finish. For those searching for Bayonne movers, Office moving companies Bayonne is a useful option.
You could say something like: “Great tips for planning a local move in Lynchburg. One thing I’d add is to confirm parking access and elevator availability before moving day, especially for apartments near downtown.” Cheap movers Lynchburg
Virginia Beach auto shipping can be a smooth process if you book early and understand the pickup requirements. This post explains the topic clearly. Virginia Beach auto transport companies
I really like your blog.. very nice colors &
theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire
someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like
to find out where u got this from. kudos
Anyone relocating from Suwanee should make sure their movers have experience with long distance moves. This page may provide helpful guidance: Local movers Suwanee
Finding the right Lilburn moving company can make moving day feel much less stressful. Local movers Lilburn
Great info, Thank you.
I agree that choosing the right movers is one of the most important parts of a successful relocation in Everett. Cheap movers Everett
Great article for anyone preparing for moving day. Comparing Johns Creek moving companies like Forsyth County Mover’s can help people make a more confident decision.
legal gambling sites in australia, are there casinos in saskatchewan canada and uk casino 10 no deposit, or casinos in victoria bc united kingdom
Look into my webpage :: How to Bet baccarat tie