Deja Vu : The 16th Murray Barber P.I. Case

By Julie Burns-Sweeney

DejaVu The 16th Murray Barber P.I.Case.
With a complicated love life and the company of an annoying spirit by the name of Jake, Murray manages to solve another deadly case. When an old classmate of his brothers' asks for help Murray finds himself investigating a number of deaths at a residential home but something similar was happening some forty years before when Pentowen Grange was a private asylum.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781291081961

Book preview

Deja Vu : The 16th Murray Barber P.I. Case

DEJA VU

The

Sixteenth

Murray Barber P.I. Case

By

Julie Burns-Sweeney

Published by

Lulu.com

CHAPTER ONE

Murray wandered along the seafront looking out for the tubby schoolgirl he remembered from many years before. Kelly Dickson was actually a couple of years younger than Murray and had been in his brother Martin’s class but she knew what line of work Murray had gone into and now she was in need of some help, she had looked him up. For Murray’s part, he wasn’t that keen. He remembered Kelly as a plain looking, somewhat overweight girl and, of course, she would remember his ‘quirk’ for hearing ‘voices’. Still, he didn’t have a lot on and he had long since learnt never to turn down anything until it was proved to be a total waste of time or, as in some cases, downright dangerous.

It was the middle of September, the sun had already gone into hibernation but it was dry and the gentle sea breeze was still warm. Murray shoved his hands into his pockets and glanced at the few late holiday-makers meandering around.

Hello! a friendly female voice bounced over his shoulder. He spun around and then stopped dead, completely surprised by who he saw. No longer was Kelly a tubby plain girl but a very…. very… thin young woman in jeans which made her legs look like sticks. Her features had become sharp and her blue eyes seemed a little dim as they sat within her sunken eye sockets. He hoped his shock didn’t show more than it should upon his face as he beamed a smile back at her and returned a warm ‘hello’.

I wasn’t sure if you’d remember me? I never stood out much at school.

You mean I did? he joked back. It’s nice to see you again, I don’t keep in touch with many and Martin’s moved out to New Zealand.

Really? What’s he doing out there? she asked as they turned and walked back towards the town’s narrow streets.

Oh, he went out to Oz for a working holiday after he finished college and met this girl from Christchurch out there. They’re still together! It took a while before he moved out there to live and find work but they’re set for a wedding in a couple of months.

That sounds exciting. You’ll have to send him my congratulations! She paused as they waited for a car to squeeze past. I hope you don’t mind me taking up your time with this?

Not a problem. You said you wanted to hire me so here I am. But you haven’t told me what ‘this’ is all about yet. They turned left and walked through a short alley way which led them out onto the harbour-side.

Well… I work at a care home. I’ve been there since I left school near enough. It’s a place called Pentowen Grange. I don’t know whether you’ve heard of it? It’s further down the south coast.

Can’t say I have? Murray shook his head.

Well, it’s a very nice place. Lovely gardens and a lake. And a ruined folly that looks out over the river. I think the folly was once an old castle or fort or something like that? Anyhow, before I wander too far off the point, there have been a couple of deaths lately. Yes, I know, what do you expect in a residential home? But… I don’t know how to explain it, but… something just doesn’t feel right. I saw poor Mr Farmer die. He was really ill, threw his arms around in agony and was so sick for days.

Wasn’t a coroner’s report made? What did they say he died from?

Oh, he was eighty-six and he had been ill on and off for about six weeks. It was just put down to old age and finally his heart gave out. I remember the last thing he said to me and that doesn’t sit well either. I don’t know what he meant.

So what did he say? Murray needed more than an old man dying to get him interested.

He said ‘this is madness’ and he stared at me in the eyes like he was trying to tell me something.

This is madness? Murray repeated.

I know, doesn’t sound much, but you had to be there. And then of course, just a few days later, old Mrs Flannigan was found dead in bed. No warning, just gone in her sleep. She was a nosey parker. She used to snoop around in the early hours, we had a terrible time trying to keep her in her room at night.

So why was her death suspicious? Murray was still waiting for ‘something’.

I don’t know. Something felt wrong about her too. I don’t feel like this about everyone who dies there honest! And I’ve seen plenty go over the years. But… well, I think her stuff had been gone through. She was meticulously neat. Everything had its place and it was kept there. But her drawers were shuffled around.

Is there a chance she had felt ill during the night and started searching for something and then unfortunately died before she finished? Kelly screwed up her face and thought about it. He could see she saw his point but looked reluctant to accept a rational explanation. Ok, look, there is obviously something about the place that is bothering you and it’s not like you haven’t been there for years like you say. Maybe you don’t know what it is… yet! How about I come for a visit and see what I make of the place, can I do that?

"Oh yes, of course you can! Mind you, it might be easier if you come on a Tuesday when Trinit isn’t there. She’s the manager