****TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF SEXUAL ASSULT, MURDER, SELF HARM, AND GORE. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RECREATE ANYTHING DESCRIBED IN THESE WRITINGS. EVERYTHING IN HERE IS A WORK OF FICTION, ANY CONNECTIONS TO ACTUAL PEOPLE ARE PURELY COINCIDENCE, PLEASE TREAT IT AS SO.***
Summary:
"That won't come easily. You don't know what you're asking me to confess to," I said, adding an extra charm. His posture straightened with his glare. His hands gripped the rim of the chair with a tightness that left his knuckles white. His glare was deep and intruding, looking for any kind of remorse for my suspected crimes. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was trying to seduce me.
"Ma'am," he started, "we searched your other residence." My smile faltered slightly, a small slip. My mind moved to sorrow, anger, now, pride.
"Don't you find it beautiful, Officer?" I questioned. "The beauty of the hunt? The relaxed skill of documentation? Aren't you glad for all the evidence I gathered for you?" Silence. Deafening silence. My arresting officer stood in the same place, gripping the back of his chair. His partner, calm, collected, a mirror to my state. Perhaps understanding as well, one could hope.
The partner gave a small left sided smile. "Perhaps we can come up with a deal?" I smiled back. "Barns," he spoke to the other, "call the D.A."
My arresting officer slammed the front of his chair into the table. "That's bull-"
"Call her," he interrupted. Cool, calm, collected, mirror. Voice steady along with breathing. It's amazing how he's still breathing when he's so breathtaking.
***
Loreley James, 32 years old, female, mother of two, serial killer. Resently arrested for the rape and attemped murder of Allyssa Urel, she begins to write her statement. After finding thousands of shreds of evidence, they offered her a deal, she confesses and they take the death sentence off the table.
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.