Scavenger Hunt!

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!

 

 

 

Published by Cherrie Lynn

21,769 thoughts on “Scavenger Hunt!”

  3. Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download
    it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog
    stand out. Please let me know where you got your design. Bless you

  6. Hi, i think that i saw you visited my web site
    so i came to “return the favor”.I am attempting to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use a
    few of your ideas!!

  8. OMT’s focus on mistake evaluation transforms mistakes ?nto learning adventures, helping pupils drop ?n love with mathematics’?
    forgiving nature ?nd goal ?igh ?n examinations.

    Prepare fo? success ?n upcoming tests ?ith OMT Math Tuition’sexclusive curriculum,
    developed t? foster crucial thinking annd ?e?f-confidence in every trainee.

    In ? syst?m where mathematics education ??s act?ally evolved to foster development
    ?nd worldwide competitiveness, registering ?n math tuition ensures students remain ahead by deepening the?r understanding and application ?f
    key concepts.

    ?ith PSLE math contributing ?ubstantially t? general ratings, tuition provides additional
    resources ?ike design answers for pattern acknowledgment ?nd algebraic thinking.

    Building confidence t?rough constant tuition assistance i?
    important, as O Levels c?n b? demanding, and positive students carry ?ut m?ch
    better und?r stress.

    Planning f?r t?e unpredictability of A Level questions, tuition develops flexible analytic techniques f?r real-t?me examination scenarios.

    Eventually, OMT’? special proprietary syllabus enhances t?e
    Singapore MOE educational program ?y fostering independent thinkers geared
    uup f?r long-lasting mathematical success.

    Specialist suggestions ?n videos give shortcuts lah, aiding ?ou resolve concerns faster ?nd rck
    up ? l?t more in examinations.

    Singapore’s incorporated math educational program advantages f?om tuition t?at connects topics th?oughout degrees for cohesive examination preparedness.

    H??e ?s my homep?ge :: h2 jc math tuition online

  10. I do not even know how I finished up here, but I believed this post was good.
    I do not recognize who you are but definitely you are going to
    a famous blogger in the event you aren’t already. Cheers!

  11. Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad
    and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a
    youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83
    views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it
    with someone!

  13. May I just say what a comfort to find somebody who genuinely understands what they are talking about on the internet.
    You actually understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
    More people should read this and understand this side of the story.
    I was surprised that you aren’t more popular since you
    certainly possess the gift.

  14. naturally like your web site but you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
    Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the truth on the other hand I will certainly
    come back again.

  15. ?? ????????? ?????. ? ???? ???-?? ???? ? ??? ??????? ?????. ? ??? ???????????.
    1win ???????, https://1win-hbw55po.cfd/ ???? ????????????? ?????? ? ?????????? ???????. ?????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ???????????, ???????? ????????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????????.

  17. My partner andd I stumbked oveer hre by a differtent web addrress annd thought I mayy aas well heck hings out.
    I like what I see soo nnow i am following you.
    Look fforward tto finding ouut abouit your weeb pagee for a secojd time.

    ofvd9wuaptfv6z47dur2

  18. Wow, wonderful blog format! How lengthy have you been blogging for?
    you made running a blog glance easy. The entire look of your site is excellent, as neatly
    as the content!

    My web page: luckall99

  20. I’m pretty pleased to find this website. I want to to thank
    you for your time for this particularly fantastic read!!
    I definitely liked every little bit of it and i also have you book-marked to look at new stuff in your website.

  21. You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something
    which I think I would never understand. It seems too
    complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking
    forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

  22. My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was
    entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine
    simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  23. Hey! Do you know iif thewy make anyy plugins tto prtotect aginst hackers?

    I’m kiinda paranoid abojt losing everythinbg I’ve
    wofked had on. Any suggestions? ofvd9wuapt4x0l4mpc4u

  26. Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!
    Very useful information particularly the last part :) I care for such information a lot.
    I was looking for this certain information for a very long time.
    Thank you and good luck.

  27. Howdy! I know this is kinda offf topicc bbut
    I wass woneering which blg patform aree youu using forr his site?

    I’m gettinmg fedd upp off Worddpress because I’ve hadd issxues wigh hackkers and I’m ooking aat alternatives foor another platform.
    I woul bee aweome iff youu cluld pooint mme inn thhe direcdtion of a gookd platform.
    ofvd9wuaptawym7h6jj3

  30. Hello! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website?
    I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had problems with
    hackers and I’m looking at options for another
    platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

  31. you’re truly a good webmaster. The web site loading velocity is incredible.
    It kind of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick.
    Also, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a wonderful job in this topic!

  32. Remmarkable issues here. I’m very glad tto peer youyr post.
    Thaank yoou a lott aand I’m having a look ahead tto touch
    you. Willl yoou kindl drop mme a mail? ofvd9wuaptvtp7jigrca

  36. Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re
    just too great. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and
    the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it
    wise. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a tremendous website.

  37. This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss
    feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent post.
    Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  39. Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website so i came to “return the favor”.I’m trying to find things to improve my
    site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!

  40. Quality articles or reviews is the secret to be
    a focus for the viewers to visit the web site, that’s what this web site is providing.

  41. We recognize the value of your time, which is why we have incorporated a Turbo Mode feature into Easy Videos
    Downloader.

  42. Hi there, its pleasant piece of writing on the topic of media print, we all be familiar with media is a enormous source of facts.

  44. Hi to all, how is the whole thing, I think every
    one is getting more from this web page, and your views are pleasant in favor of new people.

  46. We stumbled over here coming from a different page and thought I might
    as well check things out. I like what I see so i
    am just following you. Look forward to looking into your web page yet again.

  47. After I initially left a comment I appear to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are
    added- checkbox and from now on whenever a comment is added I receive four emails with the
    same comment. Perhaps there is an easy method you can remove
    me from that service? Thank you!

  48. You are so cool! I do not think I’ve truly read through a single thing like that before.
    So nice to find somebody with a few original thoughts on this subject.
    Really.. many thanks for starting this up.
    This site is one thing that is required on the web, someone with a little
    originality!

  49. Everry weerkend i use tto paay a quik visit tis webb page, aas i wqnt enjoyment, ffor
    thee reason thaqt this this website conatioons actually fastirious funn
    infofmation too. ofvd9wuaptz1tgjqqzpn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *