The Lost Child
I stared at the ground as I walked down the sidewalk, listening to the rain quietly patter the ground. It didn't matter to me that my clothes were getting wet. And, in fact, I actually enjoyed the rain. I abruptly stopped, when I reached a puddle. I stifled a laughed, and thought *why the heck not?*. So, I jumped in it with a quiet giggle. But, my fun was halted when I heard a car stop beside me, and a man jump out of it. "You're coming with me..." The man said. I blinked, backing away. "Who are you?" I asked them. He laughed. "It doesn't matter." Then, I let out a scream as the man covered my mouth and eyes, stripping me of any form of trying to escape. "Let me go!" I desperately cried, but my wish wasn't granted. Instead, i felt the man pick me up, and them throw me, into what I believed was the van. After a moment, I felt rope getting tied around me, and a mean chuckle rose from in front of my face. Then, I felt the van start to move.
"You'll just *love* the place I'm taking you. If not, I'll make you."
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
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Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.