Murder in the Valley: A Lady Margaret Turnbull Cozy Mystery (International Cozy Mysteries Series Book 4) by C T Mitchell

Chapter 1
    Maggie Turnbull stood on her sun drenched verandah.  In one
hand she held a mug of coffee, with the other she shielded her eyes from the
sun’s glare.  She enjoyed the moment to look out from her hilltop home that was
known as Lawler’s Loft.  It was a beautiful area that always had fresh air and
warm sunlight to provide for her and any guests that she entertained.
    Privately, Maggie felt blessed to have found such a good
guest house in Lawler's Loft.  In the beginning, the house was in sore need of
a protector who would give it new life.  There were some hopeful buyers who
avoided or even rejected it for the shape it was in but not Maggie.  She
refurbished and turned it into a bed and breakfast.  Business was slow at first
but soon began to pick up as news and word of Maggie’s hospitality spread.
    Lawler's Loft always had sun and warmth in great abundance. 
Maggie never suspected Australia would be so warm and enjoyable compared to the
cold and bleak days of her time living in the United Kingdom.  If she had known
Australia was so inviting, she would have moved here twenty years ago instead
of ten.  What Maggie did miss – or who rather – was her late husband Malcolm, a
dot com millionaire, who passed away from a heart attack far too early in
life.  She was grateful for his financial prowess and ideas that enabled her to
live on her own even without him.
    Maggie looked up when her thoughts of Malcolm's memory were
interrupted by a loud knock on the door.  Maggie walked through the plush,
comfortable rooms of Lawler’s Loft's main floor as the pounding on the door
became more frantic. 
    “Coming, coming!”  Maggie called.   “Don't knock my door
in.  I'm coming.”  Maggie opened the door to reveal the hunched form of one of
the locals – Lucy Broad.   She gasped.  “Lucy!  Goodness, whatever is the
matter?”
    Lucy’s shoulders shuddered as she struggled to take in a
deep breath.  She lifted up her face to reveal a wet, puffy, red face.  Her
eyes were practically swollen shut from all the crying.  Her hair was a
disheveled mess and her clothes were wrinkled. 
    “Did someone try to attack you?”  Maggie asked when Lucy
just stood shaking on her doorstep instead of telling her what was the
matter.   “Please, Lucy, you know you can tell me.”
    Lucy took several deep, gulping breathes before saying: 
“I—I almost got into an accident while coming to Bangalow!  I didn’t know where
else to go but I need to talk to someone!  It’s so strange!  It’s too strange!”
    “What’s too strange?  What happened?”
     “The police in Lismore are absolutely useless!  Useless! 
They couldn’t find a window in a room even with a map!”
    Maggie guided Lucy into the house, through the main hall, to
the sitting room.   “Please, take a seat,” she said.   “I'll pour you a cup of
tea.”
    “Thank you,” Lucy whispered as Maggie deposited a box of
tissues in her still trembling hand.  “I knew I could count on you to not judge
and just be supportive.  You're a true gem, Maggie.”
    “Every person is worth our time and understanding,” Maggie
said before disappearing to the kitchen to pour the tea.  Under different
circumstances, she would have gotten a tray to carry the tea cups and saucers
out on but these times did not allow themselves for formalities.  Instead, she
carried one cup and saucer in each hand as she returned to the living room.
    “I brought you your tea,” Maggie said kindly.
    “Thank you.” Lucy reached out for the cup to take a sip.  “I
suppose you’re wondering why I turned up on your doorstep like this.”
    “I am,” Maggie admitted as she sat down across from Lucy.
    Looking up again, Lucy gave Maggie a small smile.  “You
don't know me that well, Lady Margaret, so I feel there are some things I
should explain to you.  Just so you understand everything, that's all.”
    Maggie nodded.  “Go on.” 
    “My husband Winston