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!
Chiropractic care keeps me aligned and ready for hiking season in the Pacific Northwest. https://riverpwze332.nexorafield.com/posts/fall-allergies-neck-pain-and-headache-triggers_-how-chiropractic-care-can-help-3
This article is spot on—NYC moves benefit from a reliable moving team. Movers NYC looks great at moving companies NYC
OMT’s proprietary educational program ?resents enjoyable challenges t?at mirror
examination questions, sparking love f?r mathematics ?nd th? ideas t? execute wonderfully.
Unlock your child’s f?ll potential in mathematics ?ith OMT Math Tuition’s expert-led classes,
customized t? Singapore’s MOE curriculum f?r primary, secondary, ?nd JC students.
?n a ?ystem ?here math education ?a? evolved t? foster innovation ?nd worldwide competitiveness, enrolling ?n math tuition guarantees trainees stay
ahead ?y deepening their understanding ?nd application of crucial ideas.
?hrough math tuition, trainees practice PSLE-style concerns typicallies ?nd charts, enhancing precision ?nd speed ?nder
examination conditions.
Tuition aids secondary trainees develop exam ?pproaches, ?uch as time appropriation f?r b?th O Level math papers,
resulting ?n far b?tter over?ll performance.
Wit? ? Levels requiring effectiveness ?n vectors and complex num?ers, math tuition ?ives
targeted method t? t?ke care of t??s? abstract concepts effectively.
OMT’? proprietary math program complements MOE requirements
?y highlighting theoretical mastery ?v?r memorizing discovering, causing m?ch
deeper lasting retention.
Themed modules m?ke finding o?t thematic lor, aiding ?eep details m?ch longer for boosted mathematics performance.
?ith international competitors rising, math tuition placements Singapore students ??
leading entertainers in global mathematics evaluations.
?y blog – Kaizenaire Math Tuition Centres Singapore
This weblog’s flashing primer become superb; local roofer Millsboro DE in Millsboro showed best practices on our residence.
Open th? top deals at Kaizenaire.?om, Singapore’? top aggregated
s?stem.
In Singapore, promotions ?r? king in this shopping
paradise, loved ?y deal-loving Singaporeans.
?etting involved ?n marathons builds endurance f?r established Singaporeans, ?nd remember
t? r?main upgraded on Singapore’? most ?ecent promotions and shopping deals.
Ginlee crafts ageless ladies’? wear ?ith top quality textiles, preferred ?y advanced
Singaporeans f?r the?r enduring style.
Frasers Property handles retail ?nd domestic properties ?ne, adored by Singaporeans
f?r t?eir vivid shopping malls and community spaces mah.
Chope books tables ?t t?p dining establishments, adored ?y foodies for simple bookings ?nd exclusive deals.
?etter be prepared leh, Kaizenaire.?om updates ?ith fresh promotions so you never ?v?r miss out on a bargain one.
my web-site :: aig promotions
Great job! Find more at Paver cleaning .
We standardized labels on every drain: food solids, FOG risk, or low risk. The label set from grease trap service made adoption easy.
Thanks for the transparent motives approximately synthetic residence dwelling. More data is on hand at ##AnyKeyword##. affordable manufactured homes
??????? ???? ?? ???? ?????, ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ????. ???? ?? ??????, ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? .
Our dough-heavy concept needed starch management too. We added separate strainers per advice on septic inspection and pumping .
Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Ie.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with
web browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
The design look great though! Hope you get the problem
resolved soon. Kudos
Manufactured houses make downsizing and upgrading more handy. Explore features at ##AnyKeyword##. ohio manufactured homes
Great tips! For more, visit ayuda con tareas del hogar mayores .
A natural-looking veneer result depends on careful planning and shade selection. Learn more: affordable veneers Calabasas
For those comparing clinics, how does tourist clinic in Bangkok handle follow-up care after minor procedures?
This article provides valuable advice. Seeing a general dentist regularly helps keep smiles healthy and bright. General dentist
If you’re new to the area, animal bite treatment in Patong Phuket is a reliable way to locate a trusted doctor in Patong.
Residential fencing can improve safety for pets, kids, and outdoor living areas. fence installation Brampton has more information on fence installation.
?? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???????, ????? ????? ???????? ???????? ????? ??? ?????. ????? ??? ?????
Wonderful tips! Discover more at teleasistencia Santiago .
It’s comforting to know a trustworthy clinic is in Railay. TakeCare Clinic info is here: urgent care in Railay Krabi .
I like this blo? very much, Its a very nice berth t? read and find info.
My blog; 2018 tripadvisor’s travelers choice awards best beach in the world
Looking for a discreet clinic for men’s health in Bangkok. Any experiences with the doctors at urgent care in Bangkok ?
Solid advice on staying healthy abroad. I’d add urgent care in Patong Phuket for Patong clinic references.
T?anks very interesting blog!
My page :: Best travel islands In the world
Your article has motivated me to get started on my pool maintenance routine! For more resources, I’ll visit pool maintenance .
Very useful post. For similar content, visit foundation settlement repairs .
Fence installers should understand grading, posts, gates, and property lines. fence installation Mississauga has helpful information on these topics.
I want a power washing company that’s honest about what can and can’t be removed—some stains are permanent, and a pro will say so upfront. This level of honesty is something I look for when researching companies through Power Washing Arlington VA .
I appreciate the emphasis on packing properly. A good Movers Bronx team helps protect your belongings—more at business movers Bronx .
Lamai Medical Clinic offered a fair second opinion on my case. I read about their specialists on suture removal in Koh Samui .
Good reminder approximately gutter cleansing. A regional roofing contractor Manassas Virginia can add gutter guards— roof replacement had reasonable solutions.
Even simple things like being able to smell food cooking in a nearby kitchen can spark memories and appetite. Small homes often make that possible. I learned about this sensory aspect on senior living .
Rock climbers: tape, wound care, and sprain checks at TakeCare Clinic Railay were spot on. Save doctor near me in Railay Krabi .
“Thanks for providing such thorough instructions on how to winterize an outdoor pool—it’s so helpful!” Learn even more strategies at winnipeg pool maintenance .”
A NY Corporate Magician is a smart choice for businesses that want to impress clients without relying on predictable entertainment. New York magician can anchor that topic.
It’s crazy how many things can cause toilet backups besides just flushing the wrong items. I’m going to have Drain Cleaning check my sewer line for root intrusion.
Explore Kaizenaire.?om, hailed as Singapore’? leading platform for
assembling the m?st popular deals and promotions fr?m leading companies.
Singapore’? shopping malls are plac?? in this shopping paradise, ??ere
deals ?nd promotions preponderate f?r citizens.
Singaporeans l?ke applauding f?r their favored teams
?uring football matches ?t neighborhood stadiums,
?nd bear ?n mind to stay upgraded on Singapore’? newest promotions ?nd
shopping deals.
Dzojchen ?rovides deluxe menswear ?ith Eastern influences, loved ?y improved Singaporeans
for their advanced customizing.
PSA t?kes care of port procedures ?nd logistics
si?, valued by Singaporeans for facilitating global
t?ade and efficient supply chains lah.
Dian Xiao ?r roasts herbal ducks ?nd Chinese ?rices, precious ?? Singaporeans f?r tasty marinates ?nd family-style dining.
Singaporeans, stay sharp leh, Kaizenaire.?om ha? all the
?resent deals one.
H?re is m? web site; promotions singapore
Thanks for the clear breakdown. More info at untied structural systems foundation repair .
The doctor at Takecare Clinic Pattaya was thorough and kind. You can find patient reviews on english speaking doctor in Pattaya .
If a company has clear photos of roof cleaning, siding washing, and concrete restoration, that’s a great sign of versatility. I’ve seen some impressive project galleries while browsing Pressure Washing Arlington VA .
Having a consistent daily rhythm is easier to maintain in a small house model. Residents know what to expect, which lowers anxiety. I learned to prioritize this after reading senior care .
The best New York magician performances seem effortless, even though they are clearly built on years of practice and audience experience. NY illusionist fits well here.
Had a great experience with a general check-up at Lamai Medical Clinic. If you’re planning a visit, prep clinic in Koh Samui outlines what to expect.
This is quite enlightening. Check out Residential Pressure Washing for more.
Hydro jetting combined with video inspection sounds like the most thorough approach. I’ve chosen Drain Cleaning to handle that on my older sewer line.
Excellent tips for keeping the process organized. Movers Bronx can take a lot off your plate—details at business movers Bronx .
We had nail pops causing minor leaks. A roofing contractor Manassas Virginia like roofing contractor reset fasteners and sealed penetrations.
Travel insurance accepted and great follow-up care—see prep clinic in Pattaya for Takecare Clinic Doctor Pattaya info.
Online betting on casinos without german license, https://minimachinesdirect.com.au/dev/exploring-casinos-without-german-license-a-comprehensive-guide-340682906/ offers dynamic opportunities for betters. These platforms provide a variety of games, often featuring improved bonuses and incentives. With casinos without german license, players can enjoy liberty not found in regulated markets. It’s important, however, to check the trustworthiness of these sites for a secure wagering experience.