He addressed the crowd one last time, his final words left echoing in the ears of all those present,
"Which one of you tried to kill me last night?"
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Thalia Moisgraves has been working at Weinterbroux castle for less than a year now. Running from a haunting past has never been easy, but after a decade of practice Thalia has gotten quite good at it. Pushing aside ageing memories, she looks forward to the monotonous life she hopes to lead as a maid for the royal family of her nation. Unfortunately, due to a stark turn of events and the arrival of an (unwanted) unexpected visitor, her once peaceful life is thrown into disarray. Now she has to navigate through the messy world of false testimonies, private conversations, old familial drama and royal affairs all while under the pressure of a ticking clock and an overbearing, egotistical partner. Will she find the real culprit in time or will an innocent have to be punished for the crime of another?
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.