The Hunt: Matt Murray, #1

By JAMES SELIGMAN

The hunt is on for a missing container full of misssiles highjacked by pirates. People are missing and the North Koreans want the container at any cost.

Matt Murray and his PI team swing into action

• Language: English
• Publisher: JAMES SELIGMAN
• Release date: Feb 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393412960

Book preview

You will just keep turning the pages!

The Hunt

Dr James Seligman is a semi retired Higher Education academic spending may years at the University of Southampton, he holds two post graduate and two undergraduate degrees and worked for over thirty years in senior executive roles for blue chip branded multi nationals. A writer of textbooks and journal papers, he turned his hand to writing novels in 2012. Extensively travelled for business and pleasure, it is this experience and knowledge he uses in his writing, which provides a unique insight to local places and cultures.

He lives with his wife and two Siamese cats (buddies) in Southampton, he has two grown up children Rebecca and Michael.

Dedicated to my wife Denise for over 47 years of friendship and good times.

The Hunt

DR JAMES SELIGMAN

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Copyright: Dr James Seligman

All rights reserved

The moral rights of the author has been asserted

Set in Garamond 12 point

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The book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

This is a book of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictional manner.

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental.

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CHAPTER ONE

There was a storm brewing, as the air was still with anticipation, the beetles and birds had stopped singing. A massive storm was coming in from the peninsula, which would reduce the humidity but cause wide spread flooding. 

Matt’s sensors were on high alert as he tried to sleep in the heat and humidity of Singapore, the office was small but central just off Orchard Road, it was close to everything and the noodle shop downstairs was the best in Singapore. The room had one downfall, no air conditioning but in Singapore location has a high cost and it was all the PI could afford, PI’s do not get rich fast and his overseas expansion had seen a rapid flow on scarce cash resources. However, Matt knew the importance of Singapore as a hub and Singapore the Malay name for Lion City. Singapore is famous for shopping, activities, dining and entertainment; it was a growing market for Private Investigators and Security. The city-state in Southeast Asia consists of the island of Singapore and about 54 smaller islands. The main island is linked by a causeway to the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, it is known as ‘ the head of the snake’, the gateway. Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is situated 137 km (85 mi) north of the equator, and just south of Peninsular Malaysia. In south the Strait of Singapore separates the island from the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia. Singapore occupies an area of 718 km², compared; it is slightly larger then one fourth of Luxembourg or also slightly larger than 3.5 times the size of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC.

As Matts mind wondered exhausted from the trip and his last case, he thought about its history, the island city-state on the southern tip of Malay Peninsula has seen many rulers in its history. It has been an outpost of the ancient Sumatran Srivijaya Empire; it was part of the Sultanate of Johore in the 15th and 16th century, and Portuguese forces burned it down in 1617. Matt knew his history and reflected on his like of Singapore, he always felt safe and at home, everything works. In the beginning of the 19th century Singapore became a trade post and settlement of the British East India Company and some years later a British crown colony. Its strategic location combined with a largely corruption-free government, a skilled work force, pro-foreign investment and export-oriented, led to a successful free-market economy which had attracted Matt to open an office, small as it was. It had grown like crazy and the team had an excellent reputation.

The wind suddenly whipped up then there was a loud crash as a neon sign gave away in the wind across the street it now read Mac the other part of the sign was in pieces smashed across the road below it made Matt jump.

Half asleep the heat was starting to bug Matt, and the smell of Durian fruit in season filled the air you could not escape it, it even got into your skin, there is no mistaking a durian. Its smell is rich, sweet, sulphureted and pungent. Reactions are always extreme. You either love it or hate it, and it always makes a strong impression. There was a noise on the landing outside the office, Matt could hear voices but he was too tired to get up the footsteps got closer and suddenly the door spun open, it startled him. In the dorm frame was Kim Liu his local assistant, a tall dark haired Malay Singaporean with big brown eyes and light skin the colour of milk chocolate, she was stunning but, she was also an Olympic Champion in Judo and was ex Singapore police special ops unit, she was not one to mess with. Kim had been with Matt’s agency in Singapore for about seven years, she was very skilled in research but also she was skilled in the art of reconnaissance and surveillance in hostile environments as well as training and the development of other states' military and security forces. She was a star in offensive action with a good knowledge of weapons and explosives.

This had been used by the Agency to support to counter-insurgency through population engagement and support, counter-terrorism operations of the Singapore Government against criminals and in hostage rescue. Her other capabilities include body guarding. It was late evening, I stretched my limbs slowly the flight from Sydney had worn me out, I greeted Kim as the storm hit, there was a spectacle of light as lightning filled the sky and tropical rain poured down on Singapore.

We spent a couple of hours filling each other in on current assignments I also explained my brothers strange phone call to me in Sydney. ‘Dave was younger than me, and was not one to panic, but his call was desperate, the conversation was difficult something about Malaysian pirates, Singapore, containers of high tech gear, being held captive’. Kim looked at me a little puzzled and then said ‘ Could this be a stunt or is it for real’? I explained ‘ Dave is a straight shooter with me, I know it was him, and I know he was in duress, I could hear it in his voice, he is also in the container shipping business’. I explained that I was upset at the time, what a mess has he got himself into? ‘It was then the phone went dead, I have a sense for danger and needed to move fast to my Singapore base’. 

Kim could see my worry, she had good contacts with all the Singapore agencies, and some owed us favours big-time, the wind and rain battered the shutters outside the window; the two minds were ticking, what was Dave up to?

Keeping to herself she thought about what she knew of Malaysian pirates, in the Strait of Malacca the 805 km stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra has been known for piracy. Piracy and kidnapping in this area is something travellers should be aware of. Lahad Datu is located on the island of Borneo. There are still some reports of speedboats in these waters armed with machine guns, Lahad is flooded with tourist resorts - making it a target. Sabah Waters in the past had been of particular concern it has isolated resorts, which can only be reached by water, this includes the islands of Sipadan and Mabul, Kim had been in three actions in this area. Deep in thought Kim also recalled that the pirates were taking on the interception of container ships they were pretty much helpless and easy pickings for armed pirate gangs the ships carried hundreds of containers worth millions of dollars. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have deploying rapid reaction teams to combat a soaring number of piracy attacks on merchant vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping chokepoints, over 70 ships have been attacked in the Malacca and Singapore straits, on the western side of the Malay Peninsula, this year, the highest number since at least 2008. Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia already coordinate naval and police patrols in the Malacca Strait and South China Sea, but have been hampered by a lack of resources, while sheltered coasts and islands make it easy for robbers to operate.

Kim then spoke ‘ look Matt, I do not want too alarm you but pirating and kidnapping in this region makes it a hotspot, you must take the call from your brother seriously. It was the words I did not want to hear, a crap day had ended badly. Kim was nervous but it did not show, she did not want to create a picture of gloom but needed to ensure Matt was aware of the facts and danger. As a PI working for Matt she had seen him go through a lot in the last months and it was obvious that, like Kim he was changed. He was harder somehow; the long hours and demands of the recent cases had affected him, he had a steely glare in his eyes as if looking for errors, the Singapore team noticed it. Matt poured himself and Kim a large scotch on the rocks and sat down, Kim took the glass and looked at it for long moments moving the glass around in her hand before downing it in one. Matt noticed the movement as Kim settled herself in a chair she looked at Matt as a boss and also a friend.

‘I needed that’ Matt smiled, and his face transformed as he poured Kim another round.

CHAPTER TWO

The steam of the road from the morning sun and overnight rain was crisp and refreshing, the heat and humidity was yet to come.  Singapore was one of those places where the sun is out and then down comes the rain, sometimes as big as golf balls, the volume is huge and in short periods. So much so there are canals and water duck ways all over the city to reduce flooding of areas and roads. Kim was in early and I made coffee something I needed.

The room was filled out as an office, on one side we had the most sophisticated surveillance and hi tech tracking systems in the world it was why the agency had become a success with an excellent International reputation. As I drank a coffee my mind went to  Dave, and both of us sailing off Mosman and Chinamen’s beach in our Javelin skiff boat.  It had been some three years; since we were last together it was Christmas 2013.  It was a great time with family, we sang songs together and had a superb barbecue with loads of Resches pilsner to wash the food down.  Memories of Dave soon disappeared when the phone rang in the office; it was Steve Chen from the Singapore crime unit, which he headed. ‘Hi Matt, I heard you were in town, what’s up Kim said you needed help’, the inspector spoke quickly. I filled Steve in on Dave’s call and sudden disappearance, ‘ I need a favour, we need to find him and find out what mess he is in’. Steve said ‘ do you suspect foul play?’ I said ‘ Dave is not one to panic he is the CEO of a large container group which you build up from scratch to a 300 million company in six years. Some of the work Dave’s Company did was the container transport of high-tech equipment around Asia for governments and large companies, Dave’s disappearance is very odd and there has been no word from him for some four days’.  Steve’s phone voice changed ‘ this sound serious, we know Dave’s company DCI containers, they transport goods for us and the Singapore government it is usually very expensive state of the art high tech software and hardware that we need to keep on top of criminal activity, particularly pirates and triads, these guys are master criminals and they steal container shipments and sell them on, for huge gains’.

My brother was a priority and although the agency in Singapore and other urgent clients Dave took priority for UCA all PI’s where needed on this case. ‘ I need your support Steve, I cannot do this on my own, he is not only my brother had some 500 stuff depend on him, I am Dave’s greatest then, This is not like him he has a wife and twins at home in Lindfield.  He would never walk away without a dam good reason’.  I was starting to show my motions it showed in my voice.  Steve then spoke ‘ I will do everything in my power, we owe you and your agency, although we have a heavy workload keeping Singapore clean and drug-free’. 

I have been so engrossed in the call I had not seen Kim slipping the chair next to me, she was reading company e-mails.  There was a sudden whistle of breath as Kim said

‘ Matt, you must see this’, the room went silent as we both stared at the computer screen, I stood next to Kim, and on the screen was a message about Dave and the group calling itself the Malay enforcers of freedom, MEF. It was then the door swung open to the office and dripping wet Teck a young computer whiz with the agency slipped into the room carrying coffee and donuts. Teck had skill we were all amazed to see; they were handy in the PI business in tracking down material for research. Teck saw the screen and whistled softly ‘ MEF wow, bad guys I read in the press’, he slowly drew breath as read the threat and ransom demand for my brother.

Teck took over the computer and did a scan, he found a video link message for me, it was Dave hung up a stripped piece of meat in nothing buy his Y fronts, you could see he had been badly beaten.

Teck, got to work with his high tech equipment to track the