"JUST TAKE WHAT YOU WANT, THEN LEAVE! PLEASE!"
"What's that Ms. Williams? Take what we want and leave? Awh~! That's not very neighboorly."
As the masked person turned, they heard a gunshot that echoed through the house.
"Hey Boss?" a bodyguard asked. "What's it?" 'Boss' answered. "What happened that made you so.. you?" As they looked up, they heard 'their' kid call their title. "HELP!" Boss dashed up the stairs to see their son being dragged down the hallway. The woman ran into a room, locking it. They heard the child screaming.
"OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR!" they screamed, To no avail. One of their bodyguards aimed a shotgun at the door, but boss put it down. "He might be behind it." Boss kicked the door. Once. Twice. three times. the door broke, showing boss' son on the ground, the woman with blood on her hands. he was slightly beat up, but no major injuries. Xavier ran to Boss, they covered the boys eyes.
Boss pulled a pistol out their belt, making the woman start to plea. "P-Please, I-, I didn't mean any harm I-" a bullet went straight through the woman's skull, right between her eyes.
"Come on little one, lets go."
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.