Whispering Shadows : The 11th Murray Barber P.I. Case

By Julie Burns-Sweeney

Whispering Shadows
Case story eleven
Murray Barber is a private investigator with a difference. He can hear the dead speak. Along with his 'late' friends, Alistair and Rita, and Jeff, his friend from C.I.D., Murray solves a variety of cases.
Where do the riddles lead which lie within sight of King Arthur’s castle? And can
Murray discover what became of Suzanne Hemmings after a dinner with friends in 1998?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781471098109

Book preview

Whispering Shadows : The 11th Murray Barber P.I. Case

WHISPERING SHADOWS

THE ELEVENTH

MURRAY BARBER P.I. CASE

BY

JULIE BURNS-SWEENEY

Published By

Lulu.com

Copyright : 2012

ISBN :

Published by : Lulu.com

CHAPTER ONE

Murray stood back and stared at the wall, paper scraper still held in his slimy hand.

It is a riddle! Told you! Jenny nudged him with her finger. They were helping Jenny's sister Kim and her husband Luke to strip the walls in the old farmhouse they had recently bought. It was more of an old manor house from the seventeenth century, standing on the edge of Tintagel with views up toward the coastline and the ruins of King Arthur's castle. They had picked it up at auction after the previous owner, a property developer, had declared himself bankrupt.

Another christmas was over and the weather was bitterly cold but as this was normally the lull before the on-rush of suspicious spouses after the christmas party season, Murray had agreed to help with some of the lighter renovations. The two of them had spent the morning stripping the ugly, dated eighties wallpaper from the drawing room walls only to uncover a written message underneath.

Can you find what we found? Jenny read out loud. A cover at the top, the rain it will stop. A gymnast's balancing act. Is where you go from here and that's a fact. She stood staring at the riddle on the wall. Murray read it again in his own mind and smiled to himself, years of sitting in his car doing crossword puzzles hadn't been a complete waste of time after all!

Right, still the rest of this corner to finish. he grinned.

What? Jenny stared at him. Aren't we going to solve it?.... KIM! In here quick! We've found a riddle, you might have hidden treasure buried in your back garden!

Within minutes both Kim and Luke were stood alongside Jenny staring at the message scrawled across the wall in black letters. Luke read it out.

... Sounds like a challenge to me! He stood with hands on his hips. Luke was a deep sea diver by profession and as much as Murray tried, he just couldn't take to the man. He was too much of a 'know-it-all'. What do you make of it Murray?

Probably just a joke. Is it time for a coffee break?

Murray! You're usually pretty good at this sort of thing. Can't you work it out? Jenny gave him one of her pleading looks.

I'll think about it while we finish this. He turned back to the unfinished wall.

Ok. I'll put the kettle on. Maybe he'll think better after some refreshment! Kim headed to the makeshift kitchen to make coffee.

Come on babe, I know you've already worked it out. What does it mean?

Murray stepped back once more and met Jenny's stare. Should he tell her? He didn't really want to tell Luke but he couldn't help but break into a smile.

Ok. he said. What goes on top of a house to keep the weather out?

Erm... a roof?

And what does a gymnast perform her balancing act on?

Oh... er... the long thingy? Erm... oh, a beam!

So....?

Ah, I'm with you. Put in Luke. It's sending us up to the roof. Next clue's on one of the roof beams right?

Ah! How do we get up to the roof? Luke? Jenny turned to her brother-in-law.

This way. He led them, Murray reluctantly putting down his scraper, up the staircase and along the landing, around a corner and up another small set of stairs to the attic. The roof! he announced. How old do you think this riddle is?

The house is really old isn't it? Jenny was already searching the exposed parts of the beams.

The wallpaper ain't that old babe! Twenty, thirty odd years? I suppose whatever they found could be any age though.

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE? Kim's voice bellowed up the hollow sounding hallways.

We're up in the roof! Luke called back as his wife appeared carrying a tray of mugs.

Leave me behind why don't you! She placed the tray down on the planked floor and handed out the mugs. So we're looking for a second riddle then?

Yep! What do you think's at the end of it? Jenny was letting her gaze follow another beam.

Not a lot. muttered Murray.

Don't be such a kill joy! Jenny glared at him but he only cast her a quick glance back.

Well, think about it.

We are. That's the whole point! What do you reckon? Something to do with King Arthur?

Yeah, come on Murray, you're the great detective! Someone's taken the time to write these riddles, they must lead to something.