"He looked ragged, his flannel shirt torn at the edges, jeans with holes. But he also looked beaten, like somebody had abused him mentally but not physically. Under his eyes were a purpleish pink color, a sign of no sleep. He was alert, looking for danger in every corner. Castiel had never seen Sam this worked up. He didn't understand. Until he saw what he was running from.
It was a menacing black cloud of smoke, swarmed around an even blacker object. It screamed, and Castiel thought he had gone deaf. It sounded like hundreds of people screaming all at once, only worse. It appeared to eat everything it touched, turning the green to black. Sky to grey."
The guy that owns Heavens Bakery shows up dead. He died a tragic death, but was it him that ended his life, or was it something else?
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.