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!
What should I look for when choosing a pizza restaurant for a family dinner?
A clear menu makes comparing a pizza restaurant much easier pizza restaurant
The advice to check for 24/7 nursing or on-call medical support is essential. I’m going back to the listings on senior care to confirm which communities provide that level of care.
Awesome post.
bedava bitcoin, ücretsiz kripto, casino bonus, casino sitesi, güvenilir casino,
online casino, canl? casino, slot oyunlar?,
rulet oyna, poker oyna, blackjack oyna, bahis sitesi, güvenilir
bahis, canl? bahis, spor bahisleri, yüksek oran bahis, kaçak bahis, bedava
bahis, deneme bonusu, ho?geldin bonusu, casino free spin, slot
free spin, kumar sitesi, kumarhane, çevrimiçi kumar, illegal bahis, yasa d??? bahis,
illegal casino, yasad??? kumar, kay?t olmadan bahis,
kimlik do?rulama yok bahis, bahis para yat?r, bahis para çek, casino para çekme, casino para yat?rma, slot jackpot, jackpot casino, bedava casino,
ücretsiz casino, casino demo, canl? krupiye, canl? rulet,
canl? blackjack, canl? poker, canl? baccarat, baccarat oyna, baccarat sitesi,
çevrimsiz bonus, yat?r?ms?z bonus, çevrim ?arts?z bonus, kay?p bonusu, kay?p iadesi, free bet, freespin, casino cashback,
bahis cashback, bedava iddaa, maç izle bahis, canl? maç bahis, futbol bahis, basketbol bahis, tenis bahis, esports bahis, sanal bahis,
sanal spor bahis, köpek yar??? bahis, at yar??? bahis, greyhound bahis, poker freeroll, escort bayan, escort istanbul,
escort ankara, escort izmir, escort bursa, escort adana, escort kocaeli, escort mersin, escort antalya, escort
gaziantep, escort konya, escort diyarbak?r, escort ayd?n, escort kayseri, vip escort, ucuz escort,
eve gelen escort, otele gelen escort, saatlik escort, gecelik escort, haftal?k escort, ç?kmal?k escort, rezidans escort, ö?renci
escort, yabanc? escort, rus escort, ukraynal? escort, arap escort,
sar???n escort, esmer escort, olgun escort
online casino willkommenspaket (Cleo) beste bonusbedingungen
Many older adults resist the idea of a Nursing Home but are more open to Assisted or Independent Living. This article explains those gentler options well. I used assisted living to help my parents see virtual tours and feel more comfortable.
A Dental Crown explanation is easier to follow when it starts with the reason for considering one.
It would be helpful to see the appointment stages described in plain language.
Questions about comfort deserve space in the consultation Dental Crown
Smaller homes can usually accommodate personal routines, like preferred shower times or specific grooming products, which really matters for comfort. respite care points to these personalized touches.
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve visited this blog before but
after looking at many of the posts I realized it’s
new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I discovered it and I’ll be bookmarking it
and checking back regularly!
This was a great help. Check out upvc sash windows for more.
We’re currently deciding if my mom should move from Independent Living to Assisted Living, so this breakdown is timely. I’ve been checking resources like assisted living to better understand the signs that it’s time to transition.
casino ??? ???????? ????????????? ????? ??? ????????
Your style is unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff from.
Many thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity,
Guess I will just book mark this blog.
legitimate australian online casinos, slot free spins no
deposit uk and are the top online pokies and casinos in canada free, or are slot machines illegal in united kingdom
Also visit my webpage How we play Baccarat
Hey! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to
give a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading through your articles.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics?
Many thanks!
The home-like feel of a small senior care home makes a huge difference in how comfortable older adults feel asking for help with personal care. That’s why I appreciate what senior living is promoting.
What details should a facility manager gather before requesting Commercial Heating Repair?
A clear diagnostic report makes Commercial Heating Repair easier to budget for Commercial Heating Repair
Dental Crowns are easier to understand when the explanation includes why they are being considered.
A simple model could make the proposed restoration easier to picture.
Questions about comfort deserve clear, individual answers Dental Crowns
online slots 99 rtp
Here is my homepage casino spielen mit geld
??????? ???????? ? ????????????? ??????? ?? ??????????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ????????
how to hack slot machines uk, united kingdom roulette
for mobile phones and golden pokies united states, or online roulette for real money usa
Feel free to visit my site … can you gamble At 17
Your explanation of what “aging in place” really means in assisted living is clear. We reference that term often on assisted living near me .
A search for site work contractor Wantage NJ is a starting point for discussing a property’s preparation needs.
A clear scope makes an excavation proposal easier to understand.
It would be interesting to see the stages of a grading project explained site work contractor Wantage NJ
are pokies open in new zealand, 2021 online casino new zealand and no deposit
bonus slots australia, or how to win roulette abcdef (Shawn) in casino uk
?????????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ????? ??? ????????
Your explanation of what “aging in place” really means in assisted living is clear. We reference that term often on senior care services .
This was very well put together. Discover more at bespoke replacement windows Leyton .
Knowing when to call an Emergency Dentist would make a sudden tooth problem less confusing emergency dental care
Love that you mentioned involving the senior in the decision. We talk about family communication strategies a lot on senior care .
Hurrah! After all I got a webpage from where I
be able to genuinely get valuable data regarding my study and knowledge.
online casino ohne bonus spielen (Bskmontage.ch) litecoin ab 1 euro
Great insights! Find more at upvc replacement windows lambeth .
711 Casino tarjoaa 100 % bonuksen 711 euroon asti, yli 2 500 kolikkopeliä ja Mysteeripyörän,
joka maksaa voitot käteisenä. MGA-lisenssi ja Trustly.
Can you tell us more about this? I’d love to find out some additional information.
Teeth Whitening is easier to discuss when expectations are realistic.
A brighter shade is a personal preference, and preferences can vary.
It would be helpful to hear more about how suitability is assessed Teeth Whitening
Thankfulness to my father who shared with me about this web site,
this weblog is actually amazing.
This was very enlightening. For more, visit double glazed uPVC windows .
Smaller environments can more easily adjust lighting and noise in the evening to address sundowning. That was a big factor for us. We learned about it from senior care .
best new zealand casino, where can i play poker online in australia and top online pokies
join and get free spins casinos australian open, or best uk casino offers
What should I look for when choosing a pizza restaurant for a family dinner?
A clear menu makes comparing a pizza restaurant much easier pizza restaurant
Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your site in internet explorer, might check this?
IE nonetheless is the market chief and a large component to
other people will pass over your wonderful writing due to this problem.
I like how you suggested creating a written checklist. We offer a printable checklist on elder care that follows a similar structure.
I always recommend planning early for Seattle moves, especially for offices and larger homes. cant stop moving can be a helpful resource during the planning stage.
Keeping a clean house can seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into smaller tasks makes it manageable. Great tips here! Check out more at quality cleaning services .
Very informative article. For similar content, visit Lee double glazing replacement .
Great suggestion to observe resident-staff interactions during a tour. I’ll direct readers to think about that on senior living .
Appreciate the comprehensive advice. For more, visit local double glazing installers .
For seniors, privacy and dignity during personal care are crucial. Smaller homes are better at balancing close supervision with respect. senior living sheds light on this style of care.
What details should a facility manager gather before requesting Commercial Heating Repair?
A clear diagnostic report makes Commercial Heating Repair easier to budget for commercial HVAC heating
A Dental Crown explanation is easier to follow when it starts with the reason for considering one.
It would be helpful to see the appointment stages described in plain language.
Questions about comfort deserve space in the consultation Dental Crown