Cassandra has just turned 21, so her friends decide to throw her a party. It is a lovely night filled with drinks, dancing and having fun. After hours of celebrating, Cassandra decides to head home and get some sleep before her parents show up at her house. It's 3:30 AM and she waves her friends goodbye. Then, she switches her heels for flats and starts her easy, yet risky evening stroll. She always passes the same alley on her way home and, although it seems creepy, luckily nothing ever happened to her. Which is about to change now. She turns right and walks through the alley. As she looks up, she can see the stars and a full moon. Tipsy as she is, she stumbles on a plastic bag and loses her weight. As she laughs to herself and manages to get up, she gazes at a man standing at the end of the alley. He is all dressed up in a suit and holding a black suitcase. She slows down and approaches the man. Before she realizes her mistake of approaching a foreign man, he stares at her, drops his suitcase, turns around and disappears around the corner. Cassandra follows him, but he is really gone. Suddenly she hears someone talking above her. As she stares to the top floor of the apartment next to her, she can see a man telling the person he is calling that there is a girl standing in the alley with a suitcase. She quickly panics and decided to run. Of course, that is exactly what she should not have done. The question that remains is: what about the suitcase?
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.