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!
You can certainly see your expertise within the work you write.
The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid
to say how they believe. At all times follow
your heart.
Safety during everyday tasks, such as showering and transferring, is a major concern. Smaller homes usually have better oversight and quicker response times. assisted living helped me understand those safety advantages.
Hi there, I check your blog like every week. Your story-telling style is
witty, keep up the good work!
It’s interesting how Independent Living is more about lifestyle and amenities rather than medical support. This article reflects what I’ve learned while researching on senior care about active retirement options.
?????? ? ?????? ????????????
1win ???????????, https://1win-kjjfq.click/ ?????? ? ??????. ????? ??, ?????????? ????? ??????? ???? ? ?????? ???? ??????. ????? ????? ????????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ? ????????????? ???????? ?????.
Helpful article. Homeowners should choose septic service providers who explain the process clearly and provide honest recommendations. Shared by septic services .
I might also lend a hand with: visit site
The intimacy of small homes encourages families to build real partnerships with staff, which is ideal for complex memory care. memory care near me encouraged us to seek that kind of collaboration.
Valuable information! Discover more at easy-to-read medicine guides .
Greetings! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make
your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when browsing
from my apple iphone. I’m trying to find a theme
or plugin that might be able to correct this issue. If you have any suggestions, please share.
With thanks!
Staff training may be similar, but in a smaller setting they actually have time to apply it. My aunt’s caregivers know her preferences down to her favorite songs. We found her current home after reading about this model on memory care near me .
Your idea for concealed storage behind mirrors is clever. I found options on barthroom renovation .
Useful and practical—Movers NYC looks like a trusted local service. Learn more at professional office movers NYC
Example of a authentic, non-unsolicited mail blog remark taste: official site
I like this web sit? very much, Its a very nice situation t? read
and receive information.
?lso visit my homepa?e World Explorer Travel
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment.
I do believe that you need to publish more about this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but generally
people do not discuss such topics. To the next!
Many thanks!!
Here is my website: ???????
hello!,I really like your writing very so much!
share we communicate extra approximately your post on AOL?
I need an expert in this area to resolve my problem.
Maybe that is you! Having a look ahead to see you.
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
The advice on choosing tiles for small bathrooms is gold. Checking winnipeg bathroom renovation for more styles.
Thanks for the clear advice. More at Garage Door Spring Repair .
Thanks for the insights! Movers Bronx services can streamline packing, loading, and delivery—details at office furniture moving .
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching
for AI voice narration by Audie
I never knew how important it was to clean my drains regularly until I faced a clog. Now I’m proactive! winnipeg drain cleaning
This article is a helpful reminder that septic maintenance is an investment in the home. Preventive service is usually much cheaper than emergency repairs. septic services .
Yes! Finally someone writes about Indica.
Good advice for anyone relocating in NYC. Movers NYC looks experienced and careful. Check NYC local movers
I’m gone to tell my little brother, that he should also pay a visit this web
site on regular basis to obtain updated from most recent reports.
Nice callout on leak detection. I use a primary meter try out and valve isolation—support is at irrigation system install .
Love how you explained colour temperature. Switching to 2700K made my garden feel warmer—observed a few handy comparability charts due to landscape lighting near me .
If you wish, I can generate 5 reputable, non-spam blog feedback in a numeric listing for after institution care proper away. Get the facts
I know this website provides quality based articles or reviews and other data, is there any other
web page which presents such information in quality?
Feel free to visit my blog; ??
slot machines games
References:
s3.amazonaws.com
Helpful breakdown of what to prepare before movers arrive. For Bronx residents, see Bronx interstate moving company for Movers Bronx.
Kasyno Uncommonly bez Depozytu za Rejestracje to jedna z najbardziej popularnych visualize promocji oferowanych przez legalne platformy hazardowe online.
Tego typu compensation pozwala nowym uzytkownikom rozpoczac gre bez koniecznosci wplacania wlasnych srodkow
na konto. Wystarczy zazwyczaj zalozenie konta oraz spelnienie okreslonych warunkow regulaminowych, aby otrzymac darmowe
srodki lub darmowe obroty na wybranych automatach.
Dla wielu graczy jest to atrakcyjna mozliwosc sprawdzenia funkcji kasyna bez
ponoszenia dodatkowych kosztow.
Res?ect paris texas things to do op, some great sele?tive information.
Well done! Discover more at Overhead Garage Door Repair .
I like what you guys tend to be up too. This kind of clever work and exposure!
Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve included you guys to my
own blogroll.
??????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????.
Thanks designed for sharing such a fastidious
thinking, paragraph is fastidious, thats why i have read
it entirely
Rain and soil moisture sensors pay for themselves. I in comparison a couple of types and shared deploy methods: sprinkler system installation .
Helpful suggestions! For more, visit cocinas a medida Granada .
Appreciate the thorough insights. For more, visit Garage Door Repair .
Your funds-friendly strategies are useful. I phased my venture and prioritized key sightlines utilizing a planning template from outdoor lighting near me .
Helpful suggestions! For more, visit instalación de cocinas Granada .
Your counsel on fixing awkward layouts in the course of redecorate is beneficial. See details at Phoenix master bathroom remodel
If your leach field’s saturated, water diversion can help. A drainage pro on sewer cleaning added swales that worked.
?? ?????? ? ????? ?????. ? ?????, ??? ??? ???????? ?????.
1win ???????, https://1win-boj2.top/ ???????????? ??????? ?????? ? ????????? ???? ? ???? ??????????. ? ??? ??????????, ?? ?????? ?????????? ????? ??? ?????????????. ????? ?????? ????????????? ??????????? ?????????.
Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect
against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any suggestions?
CCTV with locator mapping helps future repairs; keep the files. Our provider via septic repair shared the USB and cloud link.
If your roof pops and creaks, check ventilation and fasteners. Troubleshooting guide at siding services .