Officer Aditi Sharma leaned against her squad car, her hands trembling slightly as she scrolled through the case file. Another raid. Another attempt to rescue young women trapped in the darkest corners of society. Yet, beneath the badge and uniform, Aditi felt the weight of something heavier than duty-an ache to understand, to truly see the lives she was trying to save.
In her precinct, the brothels operated like a parallel world, one hidden in plain sight. Aditi had spent years confronting petty criminals, drug peddlers, and violent offenders, but the stories from behind those shuttered doors haunted her most. This time, she wasn't just there to arrest the pimps or shut down the operations. She was determined to pull these women out of their personal hells. But as she stepped closer to their world, she began to question everything she thought she knew about justice, survival, and redemption.
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.