In a small, enigmatic town nestled between dense forests and shadowed cliffs, a mysterious cipher appears on the doorsteps of seemingly unrelated households. The cipher, an intricate combination of symbols and letters, baffles the residents and sparks rumors of an ancient secret hidden within the town's history. Amelia, a curious teenager with a knack for puzzles, discovers the first cipher at her doorstep. Intrigued, she begins deciphering it and realizes that each household has a unique, personalized code. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a series of unsolved disappearances that date back decades. Amelia forms an unlikely alliance with Jack, a reclusive expert in ancient languages, and Emily, a tech-savvy friend with a penchant for online investigation. Together, they navigate the town's hidden passages, secret societies, and long-buried family secrets, all connected by the elusive Cipher of Shadows. As they decode each personalized cipher, a pattern emerges, leading them to a buried conspiracy involving a forgotten chapter of the town's past. The trio must race against time to unravel the mystery before a dark force, linked to the enigmatic symbols, resurfaces and threatens the town once again. With suspense building at every turn, "Cipher of Shadows" explores the power of codes, the complexity of human connections, and the lengths people go to protect the secrets that lie within the shadows.
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.
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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.