Troubled all her life, Lilith Morgan has always found peace in reading and writing, among other things. When at home, where the only refuge is gone, she runs. Her Mother, Drew Stern, guides her along the way, pushing her thoughts towards violence, and a life of crime. Earning the nickname of Jane the Ripper, Lilith stays put, living up to what her Father wished her to be, a devil.
I take her limp body and place it on the metal table. She feels cold, like a corpse. I look at my tools, one by one, and pick my all time favourite. I hear my mother's voice again, telling me this is the right thing to do. I place the metal on a marble table, careful to not make any noise. I go to the opposite end of the room and choose the song. 'You are my sunshine' starts to play, and a smile plays across my lips. At the end of the song, a horrible scream escapes the girl's lips. I turn around and find her looking at me with beautiful blue-green eyes filled with fear and she is whispering "Please, don't" over and over again. Like every other time I've done this, it reminds me of my pleas to my Father not to hit me, not to touch me. I menacing sneer is plastered on my face as I lean down, reaching for the blade and whisper," Too bad.". A horrible scream ensues, and suddenly, when I reach down Low enough, all is quiet. Her eyes are still filled with fear as the light drains away from them.
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.