Pop. Bang. Crash.
The sounds I hear as I pass the heavy locked basement door.
There it is again. I wonder what could be in there. Sometimes I cant sleep at night because of it. Why you gotta be so hard life?
Scarlett. You. Don't. Have. Time. For. This.
Oh, who cares, you're going to fail anyway.
Maybe, it's just rats. There. Problem. Solved.
No, I need to find out. This mystery is going to haunt me forever. Like for life.
I need to know. Need, not want. This is a life and death situation. I know there's no rats or pests in there or else why would the owner ask me to keep out at all costs.
Maybe he was trying to protect you from something dangerous.
Like what a serial kill-
"ARGH!", I hear a grunt fro the other side of the door.
I'm pretty sure that is a human sound rather than a rat. Unless it is like that movie Ratatouille...where the rat controls the man and-
OKAY! We get it. No time for jokes. Get on with it.
"Um. Hello," Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Who says that apart from Adele. "Is anybody there?" You are not stranded on an island Scarlett.
No reply. This is getting more mysterious by the second. And I'm getting more curious by the second.
"Um, okay. If you can hear me make that crashing sound once." I order in a loud voice. Hopefully they do hear me. Whoever 'They' is.
I wait and wait. Then crash.
"Oh- Oh my god. Oh my god. Um, do you need any help?"
Crash. Then a sharp gasp of air.
"There is a key, under the doormat. Find it and unlock the door." A very husky masculine sounds from the other side.
What the?
"Hurry up, you idiot, I'm dying in here." I scramble down to my knees and lift the doormat to indeed find a rusty key.
I get back on my feet and unlock the door. I couldn't believe what was in front of me. I stand at the doorway, my jaw reaching the floor, my face etched with confusion.
"Now come and cut out these ropes and I will tell you the long story."
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.