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!
Alarms with text alerts give peace of mind when traveling. Installed by a provider found on sewer cleaning .
Thank you, I have just been searching for info about this subject for ages and yours is
the best I’ve came upon till now. However, what in regards to the conclusion?
Are you positive concerning the supply?
The paint sheen breakdown is practical. I verified moisture ratings via barthroom renovation .
Great article on massage therapy. It’s good to see the benefits of relaxation and body care being highlighted. Massage Therapy
Safety features and staff responsiveness are huge for my family. I’ll share this post and include a reference to it on senior living so others can benefit.
Camera mapping of sewer lines saved us from guessing. The mapping team from septic pumping delivered a clear plan.
Traffic stops, testing tricks, and police experiences can all influence a DUI case. DWI lawyer gives greater statistics on those excellent issues.
Thanks for sharing these moving tips. A dependable local moving team in Newark can make apartment, home, or office relocations much smoother. Visit Valley Newark’s Mover’s for helpful options.
This is the right webpage for everyone who wishes to understand this topic.
You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa).
You definitely put a new spin on a subject that’s been written about for a long time.
Wonderful stuff, just excellent!
Safety features like secured exits and fall prevention are a huge concern for our family. I’m going to see how the communities listed on senior living address these issues.
Your shower curtain liner suggestions reduced mildew. I got product recs from barthroom renovation .
It’s helpful to know that Independent Living is often more about convenience—meals, housekeeping, and social activities—rather than nursing care. I first learned that distinction through reading guides on senior care .
I like that you touched on how much personal care is available in Assisted Living versus a Nursing Home. That impacts dignity and independence. For anyone unsure which is right, senior care has helpful decision guides.
Thanks for sharing these insights! Regular drain cleaning can save so many headaches down the line. drain cleaning
Our Quinby cottage wished a roof music-up; roofer near me dealt with it directly.
ConextSolution merupakan konsultan ERP dan transformasi digital yang membantu perusahaan meningkatkan efisiensi
operasional melalui odoo ERP, SAP System, Business Intelligence, dan integrasi sistem.
Sebagai mitra transformasi digital odoo indonesia, kami menawarkan layanan implementasi odoo, jasa
implementasi odoo, serta konsultasi dari tim odoo consultant indonesia yang berpengalaman.
Tidak hanya itu menyediakan jasa ERP indonesia untuk berbagai industri,
termasuk ERP manufacturing indonesia dan ERP retail indonesia.
Dengan pengalaman yang luas, implementasi ERP perusahaan dapat berjalan lebih efektif dan sesuai kebutuhan bisnis.
Fokus kami adalah membantu perusahaan membangun sistem
ERP untuk bisnis yang lebih efisien, siap berkembang, dan mampu meningkatkan produktivitas di era digital saat ini.
Amazing! Its in fact amazing post, I have got much clear idea
about from this piece of writing.
slovensk?© online casino, https://www.smartcabsnorwich.co.uk/zahranicne-online-kasino-vsetko-co-potrebujete-vediet-2004797515/ pon??ka r??znorod?? ??k??lu diskusi?. Fan????ikovia si m????u vybra?? z automatov. Modern?? proces registr??cie zaru??uje efekt?vne z????itky.
Your post has inspired me to create a regular drain maintenance schedule; thanks for the inspiration! winnipeg drain cleaning
I agree that local knowledge matters when moving in Navy Yard. Streets can be busy, and building requirements can vary a lot from place to place. For more moving assistance, visit Navy Yard Mover’s .
Thanks for the valuable insights. More at Residential Pressure Washing .
Good advice here. Plumbing problems can disrupt daily life quickly, so having a trusted Phoenix contractor matters. I recommend Phoenix Plumber’s
If you’re thinking of long lasting roofing in Quinby, ask roofing services approximately steel options.
Alcohol increases usage by up to 40%— individual restroom helped us plan accordingly.
Jaw pain that would not go away turned out to be an impacted wisdom tooth, handled professionally start to finish. emergency dentist near me
A transformation, not simply production, starts with planning— Phoenix interior remodeling contractor .
Excellent advice. Even products labeled flushable may not break down quickly enough for septic systems. Thanks for posting, septic services .
Had a full smile makeover with veneers and whitening. Absolutely thrilled with the results, exceeded my expectations. dentist near me
The cost breakdown templates at portable toilet supplier helped us budget accurately.
Spot on with this write-up, I really think this website needs far more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read
through more, thanks for the advice!
Bleachers and fixed seats? portable toilet supplier factors in peak halftime demand.
Tourist visiting London with sudden tooth pain, they fit me in same day despite not being a regular patient. emergency dentist near me
For mixed-age crowds, portable toilets reminded us to add family units and changing tables.
Spot-on about seasonal roof checks. After storms, I always inspect for lifted shingles. More checklists at siding services .
Registered as a new patient recently and the process was simple, staff were helpful with all my questions. dentist near me
Excellent post. Keep posting such kind of information on your page.
Im really impressed by it.
Hi there, You’ve done an excellent job.
I will definitely digg it and in my view recommend to my friends.
I am confident they’ll be benefited from this website.
They factored in our natural light perfectly, color looks exactly as expected. flooring store near me
Another safe example: “This was helpful. I’d also suggest checking whether a mover offers furniture protection and certificate of insurance for building management requirements.” Local movers Newark
Thanks for the great tips. Discover more at parejas morbosas comunidad .
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to send you an e-mail.
I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be
interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it expand over time.
They factored in our natural light perfectly, color looks exactly as expected. flooring store near me
Really informative! For home owners all in favour of repairs, First Class Roofing deals reasonable answers—see their expertise the following: First Class Roofing reviews
Thanks for the reminder about gutter maintenance. Clogged gutters lead to fascia rot. Prevention tips at roof repair .
This post explains septic care in a simple way. Avoiding harsh chemicals can protect the bacteria that keep the system functioning properly. septic services .
Nicely done! Find more at sexo liberal en pareja .
Be wary of painting balance weights—can fly off; I ask for proper finishing per tips on drivelines .
Great tips for planning a move across state lines. Anyone comparing timelines and packing strategies may also find this resource helpful: Dallas moving companies
This article makes a good point about addressing water heater issues early. Small signs like dripping, slow heating, or fluctuating temperatures shouldn’t be ignored. See Best plumber in Phoenix .
I definitely love the concept of having a backyard deck! It’s such an excellent method to extend your living space outdoors. I recently stumbled upon some amazing style concepts that truly inspired me deck builder
A unique auto now not handiest appears bigger however also feels greater to drive. Clean interiors and modern paint make a widespread difference. Car storage Livonia