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!
I simply couldn’t go away your site before suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the usual information a
person supply for your guests? Is going to be back regularly to
check out new posts
The team was knowledgeable, courteous, and provided excellent assistance throughout the shipment. Gilbert vehicle shippers
When there are fewer residents, caregivers can spend more time helping seniors maintain independence instead of rushing through ADL tasks. assisted care facility seems like a good example of this approach.
With dementia, transitions can be so disruptive. Small care homes often provide continuity, so there’s less moving around inside the building. I learned about this advantage from assisted living near me .
This is great information for people moving in St. Paul. Packing early and hiring dependable movers are two of the best ways to avoid last-minute stress. St Paul commercial movers can help.
It’s often the little things—like help with buttoning a shirt or setting up a shower—that are forgotten in big facilities. In small homes, those details get more attention. senior care seems to understand this.
I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality
articles or weblog posts on this sort of house
. Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site.
Studying this info So i’m glad to show that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I
needed. I such a lot certainly will make certain to don?t disregard this website and provides
it a glance on a relentless basis.
picklebet australia, picklebet bonus code offers a unique gaming experience for enthusiasts. With multiple options, it caters to every types of bettors. Enjoy real-time betting and enticing promotions. Picklebet Australia is designed to maximize your fun while maintaining a safe environment. Join now and explore the world of online betting like never before.
I know this web site offers quality dependent content and other data, is there any other web site which gives these kinds
of data in quality?
Choosing a porta potty rental provider with consistent service can make the whole process smoother. porta potty rental is worth a look.
Safety features and staff responsiveness are huge for my family. I’ll share this post and include a reference to it on elder care so others can benefit.
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this weblog and I
am inspired! Very useful information specially the final section :) I
deal with such information a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a very lengthy time.
Thanks and best of luck.
Portable toilet rentals should be handled by a company known for cleanliness and dependability. septic pumping is worth considering.
Online Casino, http://www.sgquest.com.sg/how-to-easily-navigate-the-casino-peaches/ features a captivating experience for players. From a variety of games, users can enjoy poker and much more. Prizes are just a spin away in this online world of chance.
Etiposslovakia SK online casino, https://marketexpoleads.com/etiposslovakia-sk-oficialne-stranky-pre-hracov-online-kasin/ pon??ka ??irok?? paletu hier a pohodln??ch bonusov. ????astn?ci si maj?? mo??nos?? u??i?? z??bavu a nap?¤tie z pohodlia domova.
If your Anchorage business is changing locations, hiring office moving specialists can save time and reduce stress. Learn more through Anchorage apartment movers .
Primary-level math tuition ?s vital f?r honing analytical skills
and probl?m-solving abilities need?? to conquer the increasingly complex ?ord ?roblems encountered in upper primary grades.
Secondary math tuition plays ? pivotal role in closing knowledge gaps, p?rticularly ?uring
th? shift f?om primary heuristic methods t? the mo??
conceptually demanding content introduced ?n secondary school.
?n Singapore’s education ?ystem where ?2 Math is a
prerequisite f?r a wide range of prestigious faculties, math tuition functions
?s a calculated academic commitment t??t protects
and enhances future tertiary and career prospects.
??e growing popularity ?f virtual A-Level mathematics
support in Singapore ?a? made expert-level teaching accessible ???n t? JC students balancing ?o-curricular activities ?nd academics, ?ith 24/7 resource access enabling efficient,
stress-free revision ?f b?t? pure ?nd statistics components.
OMT’? interactive quizzes gamify discovering, m?king mathematics habit forming for
Singapore students ?nd motivating them t? push f?r impressive exam qualities.
?pen ?our kid’s fu?l capacity ?n mathematics w?th
OMT Math Tuition’s expert-led classes, tailored t? Singapore’? MOE curriculum for primary,
secondary, ?nd JC students.
?s mathematics forms t?? bedrock of abstract
tho?ght and critical p?oblem-solving in Singapore’? education system, professional math
tuition supplies th? customized assistance ne?ded to t?rn difficulties ?nto accomplishments.
Math tuition addresses specific learning rates, enabling primary
school trainees t? deepen understanding ?f PSLE subjects l?ke ar?a, boundary, and volume.
Customized math tuition ?n senior ?igh school addresses private discovering gaps ?n topics ?ike calculus ?nd statistics,
preventing t?em f?om impeding ? Level success.
Junior college math tuition promotes collaborative discovering ?n sm?ll g?oups,
boosting peer discussions ?n complicated ? Level
ideas.
Wh?t collections OMT a?art is its custom-designed math program t??t
expands ?ast t?? MOE syllabus, promoting imporrtant analyzing hands-?n, useful workouts.
Professional suggestions ?n videos offer faster ?ays lah, assisting ?ou solve concerns m?ch faster and rack ?p a lot mor? in examinations.
Math tuition motivates ?elf-confidence v?a success in sma?l landmarks, moving Singapore students t?wards total
test triumphs.
Review m? blog … singapore online tuition
This article makes a good point about planning ahead when shipping a vehicle from Irvine. Early booking can help avoid delays and last-minute costs. I recommend looking at Irvine auto shippers too.
Great post.
Very impressed with the quality service and communication provided by Gilbert Auto Transport. Gilbert car moving companies
????? ? ??????? ????????… ??????? ….
1win ??????? ?????, 1??? ??????? ?????? ? ????????? ??? ???????? ?????? ????? ????????? ??????????. ? ??????? ??????? ?????? ? ????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ??? ??????????.
Hey! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content.
Please let me know. Cheers
Hello there, You’ve done a great job. I will certainly digg it
and personally recommend to my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited
from this web site.
Planning ahead is key for any office relocation in St Paul. Businesses should compare commercial moving solutions like St Paul international movers before moving day.
By commemorating ?mall victories ?n development tracking, OMT nurtures ? positive relationship ?ith math, motivating students f?r exam
excellence.
Expand ?our horizons wit? OMT’s upcoming brand-ne? physical space ?pening in Se?tember 2025, using much more opportunities for hands-on math
exploration.
?he holistic Singapore Math approach, ?hich builds multilayered analytical
abilities, highlights ?hy math tuition is vital f?r mastering the curriculum ?nd preparing f?r future professions.
primary school school math tuition ?s important f?r PSLE preparation a? ?t helps trainees master t?e fundamental concepts lik? fractions and decimals, ?hich
are gre?tly evaluated ?n the exam.
Math tuition teaches reliable t?me management techniques, aiding secondary students ful? O Level exams ?ithin t?? designated duration w?thout hurrying.
Building ??lf-confidence ?ia regular assistance ?n junior college math
tuition lowers exam anxiousness, causing ?etter ?nd res?lts in ? Levels.
?hat ma?es OMT phenomenal is it? proprietary educational program t?at
straightens with MOE ?hile introducing visual aids like bar modeling ?n ingenious me?ns
fo? primary students.
Unrestricted accessibility t? worksheets ?ndicates you exercise ??
?ntil shiok, boosting your mathematics confidence and qualities quic?ly.
Tuition assists stabilize ?o-curricular activities with studies, enabling Singapore pupils to stand out in math examinations ?ithout fatigue.
I also check how long the company has been in business and whether they have a physical address. Fly-by-night operations are a risk. I usually cross-reference companies I find through Power Washing Services Arlington VA with local directories.
Thanks for sharing! For reliable landscaping, look for consistent crews and clear leadership on-site to ensure quality work. tax preparation
Dealing with damp and HVAC efficiency in Southampton? This helped me: hvac southampton
This article will help the internet people for creating new blog
or even a blog from start to end.
Remarkable! Its actually remarkable post, I have got much clear idea on the topic
of from this paragraph.
I look for power washing companies that clearly explain the difference between DIY and professional work—especially regarding safety and equipment. That kind of educational content is what led me to Power Washer Arlington VA .
Example: “Excellent insights on path going for walks. Reading the layout properly can keep a large number of time.” Rolls Royce Repair
Seasonal filter change reminders tailored to Southampton: hvac southampton
Verdecasinodansk DK online casino, https://larameliadesousa.pt/oplev-verdecasinodansk-dk-din-guide-til-online-blackjack-poker-og-slots/ tilbyder utrolige muligheder for spillere. Her kan du nyde en bred samling af underholdning. Dyk ned i det fantasifulde verden af online gambling og opdag din foretrukne oplevelse!
Your style is very unique in comparison to other folks I
have read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this blog.
Great checklist. For Idaho Falls, consider contractors that understand wind-resistant plant selections and proper spacing for growth. tax help
This was highly useful. For more, visit sexo liberal consejos .
The move in process should be simple and not feel stressful storage units
This is very insightful. Check out power washing near me for more.
I enjoyed analyzing this publish. Deep cleansing is one of these offerings which will absolutely refresh a home, primarily after renovations, seasonal modifications, or lengthy classes devoid of knowledgeable care hop over to this website
I was curious if you ever considered changing the page layout of your site?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2
pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
I’ve noticed that in smaller assisted living homes, caregivers actually get to know each resident’s routines and preferences, which really improves support for activities of daily living. assisted living near me looks like it follows that philosophy.
Sports fields need weed-free turf for safety and appearance— lawn service has maintenance schedules that work.
I like the practical approach to preventing costly breakdowns. central ac repair
I agree Security should be one of the first things people check before renting any unit self storage
Good points about planning transportation ahead of time. For anyone needing Irvine car transportation services, Irvine auto shippers is worth checking out.
Having a consistent team of caregivers means seniors don’t have to re-explain their needs around dressing or bathing every day. That continuity of care, mentioned by elder care , really matters.
Example: “The section on tire temperature and grip used to be exceedingly thrilling.” European Auto Repair
Greate article. Keep writing such kind of info on your
page. Im really impressed by your site.
Hello there, You have done an incredible job. I’ll
definitely digg it and in my view recommend to my friends.
I am sure they’ll be benefited from this site.
This was quite helpful. For more, visit parejas liberales foro .