Model for Murder: The 22nd Murray Barber P I Case

By Julie Burns-Sweeney

Murray Barber is a detective with a difference, he can hear the dead speak! Along with a couple of 'late' friends and his old pal Jeff who works in CID, he solves a number of cases.
Someone is leaving new scenes at the model village, scenes which look like something that actually happened a long time ago. Old photos and murder...
There's an uninvited visitor at Kellow Rectory and something hidden behind behind a wall.
Chloe's housemate has dug up an old skeleton with the archaeology group. Can Murray survive another Ouija board to solve a trio of cases...?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781326557904

Book preview

Model for Murder: The 22nd Murray Barber P I Case

MODEL FOR MURDER:

The

22nd

Murray Barber P.I.

Case.

by

Julie Burns Sweeney

Copyright 2016

ISBN: 978-1-326-55790-4

Published by Lulu.com

CHAPTER ONE

Look at her! An orange ribbon round her hat! A bright orange ribbon at that. She's trying to make me turn in my grave... and they're not even burying me for another half hour!

Murray couldn't help but smirk as he stared down at the church floor beneath his feet. Rebecca Turner had been a very plain speaker in her life time, so his Aunt Pam had warned him, and she was proving old habits could be taken to the grave. He was sat to the back of the church next to his Aunt who had asked him to accompany her to her friend Rebecca's funeral. Rebecca was sat next to Pam and the two were discussing the attire of the other guests, Pam in a muted whisper, Rebecca somewhat more vocal but fortunately she couldn't be heard by anyone other than Murray and his Aunt who both had the 'gift' of hearing the dead!

That reminds me… Rebecca continued. You wanted to tell him about the model village!

Oh yes! Adam Clemens place. He opened up a model village start of this summer Murray, like the one they have in Polperro, of the village, but someone’s been getting in at night and setting up death scenes.

Gruesome. Rebecca interjected.

A bit odd but seemed harmless. The first was just a figure of a young woman placed face down in the river that runs through the village. Up behind the garage on Meadow View. Murray listened silently, his head tilted slightly towards her as she whispered. Then a week later there was another figure of another young woman placed at the foot of the East cliff, below the footpath and that one made me think. There was something familiar about it, just touched something in the memory bank. I know I’m starting to get forgetful but this reminded me of something from way back. It’s there but I just can’t quite grab it, you know what I mean? Murray nodded, he was sure he did.

Like a name on the tip of your tongue you mean? He offered.

Yeah like that. His Aunt’s attention was then distracted by the Vicar reciting a prayer. They fell silent for a while but after the prayer Rebecca couldn’t help but complain how Christina Pollock had made a point of saying ‘Amen’ twice as loud as anybody else!

The service finished and a few close friends and family went outside to brave the graveside. Afterwards, Murray drove his Aunt back to her harbourside cottage and was invited in for a cuppa before his drive home. They sat in the lounge in front of the big opened up fireplace which was now lit with a roaring fire as the late November winds started to blow up outside.

You mentioned this new model village earlier in the church Aunty. What was that all about? Pam took a sip of her tea and frowned before answering him.

Oh yes, strange business that. Like I think I said, Adam opened up this model village at the start of the season. He’s been working on it for a couple of years, started as a hobby many moons ago but really got serious when he got the go ahead to open up to the public. It’s very good, laid out just like this village is! Even has a couple of the locals as little figurines. Anyway. He’s shut up for the winter now. Doing a few updates on it but mainly it’s left alone. Week before last he said someone had been in and moved things around and left this little figure of a woman head first laying in the edge of the river, where it’s always been quite shallow up behind the garage. He joked about it down in the pub, that’s how everyone heard about it, but no-one owned up to the prank. Then last week it happened again. Another figure of a woman at the foot of the East cliff. Still no-one’s owned up to doing it. She paused a looked a bit distant for a moment or two but Murray stayed quiet and sipped his coffee so not to interrupt her trail of thought. Something about that girl at the foot of the cliff rang a bell…. I’m sure that actually happened? A long time ago. Just something…. She was getting frustrated with herself, her old mind unable to hold all the memories. I wish I could remember. That’s why I thought I’d mention it to you. Go and have a word with Adam will you? I was talking to him the day before yesterday and I think he’s actually quite worried. I couldn’t help saying I thought I remembered it really happening! But have a word with him will you Murray. I told him you’re an investigator. Could be a job in it for you?

Murray pulled up outside the old stone barn that had once housed carts and carriages many years ago. Still named The Coach House, it was an inviting old building with a great view down over the harbour. At the far left side the wall was covered in signs and boards advertising the presence of the model village at the rear of the property. It was now just after three o’clock and the light was just starting to grow dim. The house lights lighting up the narrow road leading back down to the harbour created a picturesque view of the sleepy fishing town. He knocked on the front door and waited.

Adam Clemens wasn’t exactly what Murray had expected. He was a thin small man, drawn in the face with heavy glasses. But when he offered his hand to welcome Murray into his home, it was obvious he was a working man with rough, worn hands! His wife, Emily, was a much larger woman with long brown hair tied back in a loose ponytail. The house wasn’t neat but was comfortable and felt homely. Adam took Murray through to the workshop at the back of the house and when they switched on the outside lights the whole of the miniature village lit up before them. Murray found himself fascinated by the scene and could see the time and work gone into the detail of all the buildings, vehicles and even the seagulls that sat on the boats in the harbour.

There must be hours and hours and hours of work out there! He enthused. Adam laughed and folded his arms in a satisfied manner.

It’s been a labour of love! It still is to be honest. Loads more I want to do. I’d like to make a smaller area over the far side of the village a hundred years ago, with tall ships in the harbour and things like that… It’d just be a shame if someone damages it. I really have no idea who could be responsible for creating these scenes. I should have had cctv installed I suppose but never thought it would be needed. Maybe I’ll have to have a rethink on that one?

So they’ve just set up these small scenes, death scenes? Not damaged anything else?

No. Not touched anything else. Really odd? He paused lost in thought for a moment. Not worth bothering the police over. But if they carry on and damage something… or worse… I’m not sure where I’ll stand with my insurance? I’m not sure what the message is supposed to be?

Mmmm… Once was just a joke I suppose, but with this second one my Aunt reckons it reminds her of something that happened here years ago.

I was worried after the first one…. Thought maybe it was a warning or something that had happened. I even went along the river and checked for a body! But nothing was there so I put it down as a prank. None of the locals seem to know anything about it though. Usually SOMEONE would give it away! Then it happened again, a week later! Always on a Thursday. I went and checked again for a body, just in case, but no… I don’t know what’s going on? Adam shrugged seemingly lost for an explanation. I’ll have to look into some sort of cctv… I don’t suppose you could give me some advice?

I could install some cctv for you if you like? I have a set which I’ve just retrieved from a surveillance job down at the local allotments. One of the tenants were nicking shrubs from the prize grower! Murray spoke in his best conspiracy tones! I can have it in tomorrow ready for Thursday just in case your set designer returns for a third visit? Comes with monitor and recording equipment, minimal fee.

It’s a good idea Adam dear. Emily’s voice sprung from the doorway where she had appeared with coffee mugs in her hands. "Best thing… just for