"Please do enter," the automatic voice of the elevator said. The nine co-workers scrambled in the elevator.
"Huh?" Rachel though as she entered the elevator, "The elevator has never said that before." She figured that Harlis, the maintenance worker, probably changed it.
"That's odd," Kiara thought, "The voice seemed awfully lower than normal."
Naomi pressed Level 1 button. The elevator made a couple of odd sounds and then started to ascend down slower than normal.
"Someone is going to have to get Harlis to work on this old piece of junk," Tony said. The elevator stop right after he said that.
"Why isn't the elevator moving?" Christopher asked.
"It's your fault!" Ned, Tony's best friend, said,"You hurt her feelings, say your sorry!"
"It's not my fault! Stop blaming your own problems on me." Tony Replied.
"It's not his fault," a deep, calm voice said.
"Thank you, James," Tony said, "See he agreed it wasn't my fault."
"That wasn't me," James replied.
"I know we had a little issue the other day--wait, that wasn't you?" Tony asked. James shook his head in reply.
"It was me. I guess you can just call me Mr. Widower," The deep voice said from nowhere. Then he started to laugh an evil laugh.
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.