When his uncle's "good friend", Mr. Zedler, asked him to watch over his house during vacation, Dalton Aldaine thought his spring break couldn't get any more worse. First he had to do yard work, second he had to babysit the neighbor's annoying little girls, and third, he had to study for his latest exams - while at the same time trying to keep his social status from going down the drain.
But when Dalton pulled up to the house he was supposed to watch for a week, all his doubts vanished.
Because it's not everyday you get to watch a mansion and get paid one grand per day, right?
Dalton's spring break is off to a hoot - hanging at the Zedler residence, admiring the view, and chilling with his hot girlfriend. Life couldn't be any sweeter.
Until, one night, at exactly 5:25, Dalton's phone rang.
And when he picked up his phone, all he heard was screaming.
And then one friend was dead.
It's not until twelve hours later, at 5:25 again, Dalton's phone rang again. And more screaming, and another friend dead. As the town police investigates into the brutal murders of his friends, Dalton knows that he is at the middle of this fiasco. And everyday at 5:25, morning and evening, he has to do something or else one day, at 5:25, it's going to be him screaming on the other line.
Cover by @LiamZee
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.