"Hi, Allura, can we talk?" he asked.
"Yeah," I replied.
"My name is Officer Harver, I need to know a few things about your cousin Cara."
"Okay," I mumbled, I shut my book.
"Cara and you were close, right?" he asked.
"Yeah, she was my best friend," I replied.
"So she told you everything, then, yes?"
"Yeah," I was starting to wonder what he was going to ask.
"Did she ever tell you about something bad, then make you swear to never speak about it?"
"No."
I lied.
Five years later and still no one knows the truth.
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.
***
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.