A serial killer and an impulsive FBI agent. Seems like the beginning of a sick joke.
FBI Rookie, Kayden Parker has had enough issues throughout the course of her life and career. After a mishap in the work space, she is put on a temporary suspension just as debatably one of the largest cases of the century comes to light.
In a desperate attempt to seal the safety of her job, Kayden decides to take the worldwide hunt for a serial killer into her own hands.
Even after she finds him, he proves to constantly be one step ahead of her. He toys with her, deciding to bring no harm to her for the sake of his own sick amusement. Oddly enough, this (and the fact he saves her sorry ass from the clutches of what appears to be yet another killer) forms a strange bond between the two.
Kayden begins to question whether a stone cold killer may actually have deep, personal reasons for his morbid killings and wonders if, given the chance, she'd actually turn him in.
***
Damien Durand is a serial killer.
A charismatic, primal serial killer.
Dangerous, intelligent, lacking morals.
Or so it seems.
A diagnosed psychotic with sociopathic tendencies and reasons of his own, he starts on a warpath to kill seemingly innocent people. He didn't expect a pesky FBI agent to hunt him down.
At first, he's surprised. Gradually, he becomes amused.
Determined to keep the agent just in arms reach without her being able to turn him in, Damien toys with her. Eventually, he finds himself putting his life on the line for hers.
As normal, his psychological state is in disarray.
Contrary to the norm, he is not in control of his own, muted down emotions.
With the agent who needs to turn him in for the sake of her job being his only true ally, he attempts to decide whether or not her should go through with killing her as he had originally planned.
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.