"Star? Your name is Star?"
"Well, yeah, that's what they call me," She chuckled nervously. "I'm pretty sure my mother was on something, if that counts for anything,."
"I like it," I mumbled.
Her pale cheeks burned a dark violet. She ducked her head down, vivid green locks hiding her face.
<>
"Where are you?!" I shriek at the ceiling.
A sob shakes my body and I fall to the cold, tiled floor, my knees making a sickening cracking noise.
"You promised," I sob, repeating the line to myself multiple times.
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.