(I wrote this when I was 12 and I remember thinking "Queen Bee w/ a perfect life dates star football player" would be the perfect base for a story.)
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Alexandra Reed has a normal life. Friends to shop at the mall with, a kick-ass sister and mom, a boyfriend who loves her to the moon and back, and a grade point average that's never been less than 3.4. Nothing really special. Healthy, straight teeth, long, curly, bright-red hair, and a reputation at her school which says, 'Don't mess with me, or I mess with your life.' A perfect boyfriend. Perfect friends. The perfect daughter. What if one day, the perfect boyfriend breaks up with you? What if one day, loyal friends stab you in the back? What if one day, the perfect daughter goes missing?
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.