Dead and Buried : The 21st Murray Barber P. I. Case

By Julie Burns-Sweeney

Julie Burns Sweeney was born in England in 1968. She now lives in Cornwall and her writing is influenced by having traced her family tree back some 500 years.

Murray Barber is a private investigator with a difference, he can hear the dead speak. Along with the 'late' Michelle and his friend Jeff from C.I.D. he solves a variety of cases.
A dead body in an open grave dressed in a Halloween costume, that was some party Murray attended! A new girlfriend, a lost Will and a child haunting a very old home... Can Murray dig deep and find all the answers?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326380090

Book preview

Dead and Buried : The 21st Murray Barber P. I. Case

DEAD AND BURIED:

The

21st

Murray Barber P.I.

Case

By

Julie Burns Sweeney

Copyright: 2015

ISBN: 978-1-326-38009-0

Published by: Lulu.com

‘Brackenwood’ mentioned courtesy of Sonia Walker.

CHAPTER ONE

Murray stared down at the lifeless body that had just been pulled out of the open grave and shrugged.

I really don't know Jeff.... I do remember seeing a guy dressed as the Phantom but.... I didn't see his face. He had that half mask on and I didn't actually talk to him myself. He was annoying a lot of people... he was pretty drunk!

They turned and started to walk away from the graveside where Jeff's fellow officer's had removed the body of a man in his late thirties, dressed as the Phantom of the Opera. He had been discovered laying in the bottom of the open grave by an early morning dog walker who was cutting across the churchyard. As yet the man hadn't been identified but as Murray had attended the big fancy dress Halloween party at the Devon Port Hotel the night before, Jeff had hoped he could shed some light on the situation. Murray however, had a big hangover and was feeling the worse for wear.

He isn't.... you know... he isn't still here is he? Jeff asked nodding back towards the body.

Even I'm not here yet Jeff! ... I don't think so? He's pretty quiet if he is. Murray was trying to concentrate on his surroundings and listen for the distraught wailings of the recently dead... but he heard only the officers and forensic team behind them. His mind kept wandering off onto the vision he had seen when he woke up that morning. The Halloween party was supposed to have been a night out for him and Debbie but after a string of rows, over nothing he was sure, they had decided to end their relationship the week before. Murray nearly hadn't bothered with the party but having sat through the Rocky Horror show a couple of nights ago he had changed his mind, picked himself up a last minute werewolf costume and gone. Then this morning he had woken up next to the very beautiful Chloe. Picking up twenty-three year olds was not something he ever did but he did have a good few drinks... a good few dances… and a very good night all round, all mostly in the company of the vampire Chloe.

She had worn red contacts for the party but this morning he had noticed her deep brown eyes, her auburn hair which reached her slender waist and her long legs. Why had she picked him? He had no idea but their sense of humour had just clicked from the word go and the attraction had grown as they enjoyed the evening together. He hadn't had such a good time in a long while and although the morning had started a little awkwardly, it hadn't stayed that way. And when Jeff had called and asked for Murray's help she had refused a lift but left him her number.

Now the enjoyment was over and he was back on Planet Earth with a bang, mainly inside his head where the hangover was kicking in. Murray shrugged and glanced back at Jeff.

Sorry mate. I didn’t really know anyone there. I only got the invite ‘cos I helped them with a theft case a while back. You get left on the Christmas card list if you know what I mean?

Yeah, I know. I was just hoping you could help in ‘other’ ways maybe? Jeff was staring back at the arrival of the coroner.

I’ll certainly try. See if I can get Michelle to hunt the guy down.

Michelle? She still around then? Whatever happened to Jake Kelly? Jeff looked a little surprised.

Yes she’s still around and no, I have no idea what happened to Jake. He had the hump one day and he’s never come back. Shame really, I miss the old bugger! Murray managed a laugh but it made his head pound so he stopped abruptly. It would help to have a name for this guy, make it a bit easier for her. I should think tracking down the ‘recently dead’ is easier than the ‘dead for years’ but a name would definitely help. I take it he was a member of staff or a guest?

We believe so. I’m on my way over to speak to the hotel manager. Hopefully he will be able to give us a name and match up a few costumes to guests and staff. Can you pop over to the station and give a statement?

Sure. I’ll head over now if you like.

Sooner the better! Oh… and Murray, don’t forget tomorrow night!

I know! Your anniversary! I’ll be there!

Murray had seen Constable Sanders around the station on many occasions but not really to talk to. He was a young and very tall, six foot four, lightly built man and his manner was pleasant enough even if he did hold Murray’s stare for a little too long. He wasn’t sure if Sanders was aware of his ‘gift’ for hearing dead people but he had come to the conclusion that although it was probably common knowledge around the place, not everyone believed a word of it. They were sat in a small side office which had a desk full of paperwork sat upon it. Sanders cleared a space and dated and named a sheet of paper which was headed ‘witness statement’.

Right… the body in the graveyard! Sanders joked trying to keep the situation light-hearted. You couldn’t identify the deceased then?

No, sorry. I didn’t really know anyone at the party. They had used my services so I was on their mailing list. I did see a guy in the same costume… he was pretty drunk and seemed to be looking for a fight.

Right, well let’s start at the beginning and work our way through the night from there. Did you see the deceased before the party?

No, no idea who he was.

In that case we’ll start from when you arrived at the party. What time was that? Sanders had a pen in his hand ready to write Murray’s statement.

I had a cab booked for quarter past eight and I arrived at half eight. It was already pretty busy. There was a guy on the door who took my ticket and stamped my hand with one of those little ink stampers… in case I came out to smoke or something. Sanders just nodded and continued writing. "He had a name badge on… Chris… Chris Libby? He wasn’t in fancy dress, just a doorman’s suit. I saw