The Facade The Illusion: Matt Murray, #1

By JAMES SELIGMAN

The story is a progression of the life of Matt Murray and his Private Investigation Company. Set in Sydney, Australia Matt and his team is called in by CI Lindley of the NSW Police to work on a cold case, the Susie Cooper Rape and Murder a university student., plus others - A collection of crimes called the "Paddington Murders".

The story twists and turns as the reader get engaged with the scenes and characters, fast-paced and a fun read "The Façade" is a powerful novel using forensics and modern technology to solve cases
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: JAMES SELIGMAN
• Release date: May 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393017035

Book preview

Dedication

Dedicated to Gunther Richard Seligman, a father, a businessman and serving officer in WW11, died aged ninety- two; in Sydney Australia. A man driven with huge ambition, who overcame challenges in his packed lifetime, Gunther Richard changed many people’s lives, giving them a new start and future.   We miss you and think of you every day. Your Son.

Dr. James Seligman

Foreword

The Facade

The story is a progression of the life of Matt Murray and his Private Investigation Company. Set in Sydney, Australia Matt and his team is called in by CI Lindley of the NSW Police to work on a cold case, the Susie Cooper Rape and Murder a university student., plus others - A collection of crimes called the Paddington Murders.

The story twists and turns as the reader gets engaged with the scenes and characters, fast paced and a fun read The Façade is a powerful novel using forensics and modern technology to solve cases

Other books in the Matt Murray series;

The Hunt

The Virus

Dead Bodies

Sydney Crime

Preface

The book is the second in a series and follows the successful release of The Hunt a book set in Singapore and Hong Kong involving the case of a missing container of high-tech guidance systems made in the USA and hijacked to North Korea.

The Façade was inspired by places, names, suburbs of the authors childhood in Sydney Australia.

Contents

Table of Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Preface

Contents

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter 12

Chapter Thirteen

Introduction

Susie Cooper was a fun-loving Law Student who despite her speech impediment made the most of life. Studying as a student and working part time in a restaurant she was living the life in Paddington; Sydney were young people found the coffee shops and food in abundant supply.

Not really a party animal, she was however pushing herself to be more outgoing and had made many friends and supporters.

In 2013, her life came to a sudden and violent end being raped and murdered in her own apartment. With no evidence and DNA, the case went cold amongst others of a similar style known as the Paddington Murders, five innocent souls who lost their lives.  Under pressure from the State Government, Chief Inspector Lindley was forced to reopen the case of Susie Cooper or face the consequences. A smart man Lindley needed a fall guy if things went wrong, so he commissioned Matt Murray Private Investigator and his team, the best in the country with a massive reputation for solving crime. As Matt Murray delves into the case, things are not as they seem and the word façade springs into his mind. No evidence, no DNA, no suspects just files of papers and photos. The façade gets worse as they follow the money trail as what looks like an innocent charity is linked to the notorious 4K triads of Hong Kong.... and so is Susie Cooper.

Was Susie Cooper really involved, or was she used as a façade for sinister criminals who used her identity to sell drugs, launder money.

Chapter One

Matt Murray placed two cups of coffee on the table in his garden that looked out over Sydney harbour towards the big coat hanger, as it was known affectionately, by the local mob. It was a beautiful sunny day in early August and the harbour was crowded with sailing boats, and pleasure cruises. He sat back in his cane chair, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts it was his style no matter the weather. The T-shirt was printed on the front with a ban the bomb symbol.

He had a sense about the T-shirt when the sales guy said, this will look cool on you as he handed over fifty Australian dollars. However, it did not stop there. Next the sales guy pulled a pair of shorts, and flip flops they all matched the T – shirt, another sixty bucks changed hands, it occurred to Matt as a private investigator he should be good at negotiation not a helpless idiot.

It made him think about how others would see him, in other words was the statement of ban the bomb passé́? He sat in the back yard alone in his chair feeling like more of a Pratt by the moment. Only students and nerds wore this shit he thought. He started to think about the last couple of days and the meeting with Chief Inspector Lindley and his team where they discussed a recent murder the usual bull shit was covered, it was boring at best, Matt knew it and so did the CI. ]

The CI hated criticism and it bugged Matt that the CI bossed him around like one of his crew, when Matt was actually an independent operator brought in for their expertise.

The CI was always on his case, think about this, follow through on this lead, bla bla bla, he had called him in especially, the shit, Matt had other plans. The more he thought about it the more depressed he became as he sat waiting for something to happen.

It was at that moment two cops arrived with a stranger held between them, Matt wondered what the fxxx was going on, the cops he recognized from the meeting the day before, and both were homicide.

Badges were shown and Bridges paused and explained he wanted Matts help over the guy who they had in custody over a suspected murder. The man’s name was Bob Jones he was indifferent and had a ‘do not care a less’ attitude it was as if he had just come around for a drink.

Bridges kept talking as he walked around the garden full of native flowers, Jones was tall, fit and handsome with blue eyes and a cheeky Ozzie grin, he was cool and collected so very sure, always polite.

Reading from his notes Bridges explained who Jones was and why he was here, Matt found it rather irritating and was waiting for Jones to do or say something stupid but it never happened. Bridges droned on and Jones and Matt just dismissed every word as bunk, it was signals Jones thought the cops were fxxx wits. Jones stood up for himself

I never touched anyone, and explained his point of view.

It was evident he wanted to make his point no one understands, including you Mr. Big PI, do you not understand the magnitude of my problem. The tone of his voice was not pleading but one of self-belief, it was as his arrest was an assault on him, which it was, wrong arrests can ruin people’s lives. Citizens have no rights anymore and law enforcement had no interest in helping a target offender.

In the past week Matt had been to Melbourne and seen a disabled fellow try and get on a tram, no one came to his aid, he could have been killed there was not a problem until someone got hurt, Jones was in this position.

The world is a shit of a place Jones. People have slipped into being self-serving, here is what we can do about it. Matt said.

These guys the cops have you on a string, you are the accused, they caused the position, mate.

Jones looked down and toyed with his hair looking around for a place to hide.

how do I get people’s attention that I am innocent, how do we get these bloody cops to listen and make them care about crime yes, but also the accused? To really do the hard grass and root out the flaming truth, it could have been anyone, gangs, druggies and robbers. Why are cops like this, I know why, they just want an easy job and the big headlines, they do not care a shit about who they hurt.

I did not realize actually cops wanted glory, not the truth."

He noticed my T-shirt and matching outfit and wondered, who the hell is this guy, he looks like a Pratt who thinks he knows better and is waiting for some calamity to happen.

We have a unsolved brutal murder. Bridges pointed out. ‘ It was in Paddington, July 21 , 2013."

Mmm, a cold case why look into it now, keeping a close look at Jones expression, why him?

In Paddington at the time the murder was big news like most of the eastern suburbs of Sydney it was the posh up and coming area, the wanna be if they could be brigade, like most inner urban digs.

Yup, the area of students and with students and money, a place for tension and crime the perfect backdrop, Jones country. The Chief Inspector wants you in on the case and partner up to prove if this prick did it or not. ‘Oh, is that what you call suspects?"

Pricks.

Yea what of it, he’s a smart arse with a big mouth, and we know his type, a prick until proven innocent.

You cops can be so fucking down on people, how do you know this guy, have you checked him out, or is this intrusion at my house all based on your fat gut.

You sound angry PI, we just offered you a bloody job, or can’t you work with us, are you too high and mighty to work with the New South Wales Police?

Nothing personal, just do not like your attitude, the NSW police force has a reputation, and never worked with you before and a case so old.

Matt says. However, since you have come out to see me and brought along a suspect the crime in Paddo could be interesting, why me?

The CI thinks the sun shines out of your arse, mate.

Can we stop playing games now. As Bridges looked at the view, We need to get to the details on Susie Cooper.

Never heard of her.

North shore girl, bright but had a speech problem, spent a time at the University of Sydney studying Law, likely chose Paddo for its location and the in crowd, bit of a flirt we heard.

What the fxxx does that mean?

Because I like digging around, looking for clues and associates.

What relevance does it have, and what this got to do with Jones here?

That’s a good question and we must be careful. Consider being speech impaired and not being able to yell for help, or make your- self understood and someone attacks you in your home. Jones here has the same problem, and went to the same sessions for speech. More interesting I think we are going to find our boy here is a multiple killer.

You said July, 2013 Matt looked thoughtful. That’s over three years ago, what makes you think he is a multiple murderer, where is the proof?

We have a basket full of cases in our files of young female murder victims and Jonesy boy here fits the profile, and also cannot find one alibi for his whereabouts on six different occasions of murders in the Eastern Suburbs.

What makes him a serial killer has he a record?

What is the plan proposed is to prove Jones killed Susie Cooper and all the others, we have no proof.?

That’s where you are wrong mate, we have lover boy’s DNA on file.

If you had this since 2013 why please tell me this Jones guy is the murderer, it does not make sense, and importantly you have no evidence.

That is where the CI states you come in from the cold, you’re the wonder boy and your team at your office.

Jones could tell the cop was full of bullshit, there was no DNA and he knew it, it was madness, three years rolled by, how reliable was DNA taken so long ago, this was a farce.

We have plenty of time Matt, homicides can be quickly solved or take years, but as we say we always get our man or woman for that matter.

Bridges went on time to make a hit and be united in the bringing to justice of scum like Jones here, the media will love it and people will feel safe again. We are going to prove this arsehole is guilty and set the stage that will be admired by every state police force in Australia and beyond.

Jones mobile went off in his pocket; it was a text message, even under police custody Mr.. Cool here was in touch with his world.

This investigation is not to leak out until we are ready got it, and then statements come from me or the department, your role is to assist only.

As he got up from his garden chair, you need some shade out here mate, flaming humidity and sun at this time of the year gets me. As Bridges moved My office 08:00hrs, the CI wants to see you and then he and Jones were gone.

Matt settled back in his garden chair and decided it was time to take Zoe his Chesapeake retriever for a walk and play