Ruberri (Berry) Bright remembers the number 56, dark eyes, and the flowers next door.
Poet (Poe) Allister remembers blood on his hands and a story his mother had told him about a dead composer.
Orion (lee) Rousseau remembers murder.
Berry didn't think much of accepting the cash table 14 had given her, except for the fact that that they left her a $600 tip, and paper money didn't exist. Not really, anyway, only criminals were cash handlers. Poe didn't think the waitress would accept the money - she did. Cash was a sign of dominance, of power, and he still needed to come up with the 5 million bail to free his boss, Angel, not focus on why he hadn't terrified the stupid waitress. That is, until stupid waitress appeared again playing the piano, the clue he had been given to win the next $20k. He wasn't Orion Rousseau, he wasn't born into a quarter of all the cash left in America. Orion had other things to worry about, like who murdered his dad, how to fill those shoes now that he was at the top of the gang world, and why no one knew he existed until August 18th three years ago.
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.