17 year old Anazareth Jones is only one of the many children who get taken from their home. The mysterious thing is, every time a child is taken from their home a symbol cloaked with red paint reading I.S.C is placed where the child was last seen. Authorities and locals all try to piece together the hidden meaning behind the three letters. It's made headlines in every paper, and children ages 5-19 have gone missing all around the globe. The one catch is, every single child kidnapped was intellectually advanced. The even stranger thing is that, every parent of a missing child reports that "strange occurrences" happened weeks or even months before they vanished. Reports say the victimology points to a smart child. Everyone seems to agree.
Except Anazareth. Although she sees the same thing everyone does, she can't help but feel something's off and there's more to it than just a smart child. All her life she pretended to be average. Trying her hardest to stay hidden in the shadows. Every test score, competition, and every piece of school work is mediocre at best. But she always had this feeling. That there was more to her. So one day she decides she wants in on the secret. By doing this she puts herself in the eyes of danger to potentially figure out this mysterious phenomenon. When it is discovered that she not only is advanced, but exceeds far greater than even she thought, she gets captured to too. Once inside she must figure out what the I.S.C really is, and what they want with all those children. Most importantly, will she figure out who she really is?
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.