One day I was standing in line behind a construction worker at a McDonald's. I wasn't alone, I was with my adult son. I had dressed pretty nice that day, in high quality, thick black leggings, and a pretty sweater dress. I wore pretty gold jewelry, and my hair was styled nicely. I didn't know I was going to attract attention from men. My son and I were standing behind this construction worker who appeared to be Arab, with large brown eyes, short dark hair, and he was attractive.
He kept turning around looking at me, and I tried to ignore him by avoiding eye contact. He finally spoke to me saying hello. I still ignored him. I was tired of men who looked like him trying to pick me up. I'd had it. He then waved his hand in my face, and that is when I lost it. I yelled at him and told him I wasn't interested in talking with him, and to leave me alone. He said to me, I don't have to leave you alone, as if he owned me. This really made me mad, so I started yelling at him that I wasn't even part of his culture, and he had no rights to me as a woman. He was arrogant, and looked at me as if I was his, and he could have me. His friend stepped in and tried to help me. The police showed up and questioned me. I thought that was the end of it. It wasn't. On another day I was standing in front of the same mall waiting for a ride, when a white van pulls up, I didn't hear or see it coming. Out jumps an Arab looking guy who was about 5'8, slender build, he looked to be in his forties, and had short dark wavy hair. He was holding his phone, and standing five feet from me. It was on Labor Day of 2023, the streets were bare, no-one around. Inside the van were five other Arab looking men just staring at me. I quickly looked at the stranger in front of me, and at the men in the white van, then quickly fled back inside the mall, because I knew it was a matter of time before he got me.
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.