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!
Helpful article. One tip I’d add is to get an in-home or virtual estimate before choosing an Alexandria moving company to avoid surprise costs. Cheap movers Alexandria
Great points about choosing movers carefully. Ann Arbor has many options, so checking reputation and services is essential. Cheap movers Ann Arbor may help people during their search.
online casino muchbetter Ab 15 euro 40 euro einzahlung paypal
Quality of life is often overlooked when choosing assisted living. I’ll definitely be pointing my readers to these insights from assisted living gallup nm .
????????????? ???? latest ????????????? ?????
I’ve noticed that Independent Living focuses heavily on lifestyle amenities like fitness centers and outings, which you mentioned. When browsing communities on assisted living near me , those features were clearly listed for easy comparison.
baccarat hoher einsatz
Feel free to visit my webpage :: online Casino mit klassische slots
NoMoho puede crear una publicación sobre cómo documentar daños por moho en el baño para seguros o propietarios y enlazar a empresa eliminar moho baño Barcelona .
My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was totally right.
This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine
simply how much time I had spent for this
info! Thanks!
online casino united states that accept paysafe, bet365 united statesn roulette tips and australias
gambling problem, or online tipico live casino funktioniert nicht (Spencer) real money
free spins canada
Thanks for the comprehensive read. Find more at Mill Hill uPVC window supplier .
Well explained. Discover more at residential landscape company .
Thanks for the useful suggestions. Discover more at abogado civil Santiago .
Thanks for the insightful write-up. More like this at double glazing fitting golders green .
This was quite informative. More at reservar albergue Palas de Rei .
????????????? ?????? ? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ???????????
I appreciated this post. Check out Transfer hotel Arzúa for more.
This is helpful for anyone moving to or from Paterson and trying to ship a car safely. Comparing licensed carriers makes a big difference. Readers may also find this useful: Paterson vehicle shipping
I liked this article. For additional info, visit local replacement windows Harlesden .
Great article on commercial relocation. I think businesses should also make sure employees know what they are responsible for packing before moving day. Disclosure: I’m connected with Cheap movers Philadelphia , and communication prevents confusion.
Very informative article. For similar content, visit garden landscape installation .
I like how smaller assisted living communities can easily customize meal times and bathing schedules instead of forcing everyone into a rigid routine. elder care provides some great insight into these benefits.
Great points about planning ahead and staying organized. Moving can be stressful, but the right team makes the process much smoother. Anyone searching for Covington moving companies may find Long distance movers Covington useful.
Reliable car transportation in Bethlehem is a smart option for anyone who needs safe and comfortable travel. Check this site: Bethlehem auto transport companies
The point about asking how they handle memory issues, even if not yet present, is smart. We talk about early planning on assisted living portales nm .
This was highly educational. For more, visit Waterloo double glazing .
Great job! Find more at Dock Junction truck crash lawyer .
Long-distance relocation takes careful coordination, especially with furniture, fragile items, and timing. Virginia Beach residents can check Cheap movers Virginia Beach for more information.
Office moving is very different from a regular home move because business equipment and documents need extra care. For those in Snellville, Cheap movers Snellville can be a useful place to start.
OMT’s standalone ?-learning options empower independent expedition, supporting ? personal love f?r math ?nd test aspiration.
Broaden ?our horizons w?t? OMT’? upcoming brand-new physical a?ea opening ?n Sept?mber 2025, providing m?ch mor? opportunities f?r hands-on math exploration.
Singapore’? world-renownedmathematics curriculum highlights conceptual understanding ?ver simple computation, m?king math tuition vital f?r trainees
to understand deep concepts ?nd stand ?ut ?n national exams ?ike PSLE and O-Levels.
primary school tuition ?s ne?essary for PSLE as ?t offe?s remedial
support f?r topics like entir? numbers and measurements, guaranteeing no
fundamental weaknesses continue.
Secondary math tuition lays ? solid groundwork for post-?
Level r?search studies, ?uch a? A Levels or polytechnic
training courses, b? standing out in foundational topics.
By supplying considerable exercise ?ith ?ast A Level examination papers,
math tuition familiarizes trainees ?ith question layouts and noting plans
for optimum efficiency.
?y integrating exclusive ?pproaches ?ith the MOE
syllabus, OMT ?rovides ? distinct technique thhat emphasizes clearness ?nd deepness
in mathematical reasoning.
12-month access ?ndicates ??u can review topics anytime lah, building solid structures f?r regular ?igh mathematics marks.
Math tuition ?n ?ittle ?roups makes c?rtain customized
attention, typically lacking ?n big Singapore school classes for test prep.
Feel free t? visit m? blog post – math tutor youtube singapore (Marta)
Clearly presented. Discover more at persianas y mallorquinas aluminio .
Planning ahead is one of the best ways to avoid moving-day problems. Anyone searching for long-distance movers in Jacksonville should take a look at Jacksonville moving companies .
Go over touch-up whitening therapies with Dr. Burton or Dr.
Spencer to maintain your preferred degree of illumination.
Wow, this post is good, my sister is analyzing such things, thus
I am going to tell her.
Thanks for the thorough article. Find more at replacement sash windows Colindale .
Packing, loading, and transportation can be a lot to handle alone. For Lawrence moving services, Lawrence moving company is worth checking out.
I found this helpful for planning a local relocation. Getting quotes from multiple movers is always a smart step. Local movers Dacula
Hi, its pleasant paragraph regarding media print,
we all understand media is a impressive source of information. xnxx
If some one needs expert view on the topic of blogging and site-building after that i
suggest him/her to pay a visit this weblog, Keep up the
fastidious work.
I appreciate content that helps people avoid common auto shipping mistakes. Confirming insurance details with San Antonio auto transport companies is always a smart move.
You can definitely see your expertise in the work you
write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid
to mention how they believe. At all times follow your
heart.
Well done! Find more at window replacement Bermondsey .
Appreciate the great suggestions. For more, visit reclamaciones e indemnizaciones Santiago .
For older adults who value privacy, small homes can often provide private or semi-private rooms while still delivering close, supportive care. It’s the model that elder care seems to champion.
Appreciate the comprehensive advice. For more, visit reservar albergue Palas de Rei .
Wonderful tips! Discover more at double glazing quotes kensal green .
Apartment moves can be exhausting, but Hampton movers who specialize in local relocations can take much of the stress out of the process: Hampton Mover’s Pro
Your explanation makes it clear that Independent Living is more like a retirement community, while Nursing Homes are more clinical. That’s consistent with what I’ve read on senior care when comparing different senior housing models.
This is a good reminder that not all Baltimore moving companies are the same. Checking credentials and customer feedback can help people avoid last-minute issues. More resources can be found at Baltimore MD Mover’s .
Valuable information! Discover more at Taxi rural Arzúa .