Thursday Murder Club, #2
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 83
Overview
Lance James reflects on pocketing two diamonds during the pier chaos and shaping the official report with Bogdan after footage vanished. In Antwerp, he learns Elizabeth gave Connie inferior stones, netting only £35k. Lance uses the money to buy Ruth out of their flat and fund a Dublin hair transplant, while wondering what Elizabeth did with the remaining fortune.
Summary
Lance James recalls the aftermath of the pier shootout, when surveillance footage disappeared and only the accounts of Lance, Bogdan, and Connie remained. Lance and Bogdan agreed a version that omitted one key fact: Lance had quietly pocketed two diamonds left on a desk amid the chaos.
Given leave from work, Lance traveled by ferry and train to Antwerp with dreams of a windfall, imagining the stones might be worth millions. A jeweller, however, offered only £30–35k, revealing the truth Lance should have expected: Elizabeth Best had ensured Connie received inferior stones.
Lance accepts the £35k, recognizing that a larger haul would have exposed him in routine Service audits. Back home, he uses £25k to buy Ruth out of their flat and reserves the remaining £10k for long-delayed personal care.
In Dublin, waiting in an opulent clinic, Lance reflects on Elizabeth’s cunning, wonders where the rest of the twenty million went, and prepares for his hair transplant when Doctor Morris calls him in.
Who Appears
- Lance JamesIntelligence officer; pockets two diamonds, coordinates the report with Bogdan, sells stones for £35k, funds flat buyout and hair transplant.
- Elizabeth BestOffstage but pivotal; ensured Connie received inferior diamonds, foiling large-scale theft.
- Bogdan JankowskiMeets Lance to align their account after pier chaos when footage vanished.
- RuthLance’s ex; he buys out her share of the flat with proceeds from the diamonds.
- Jeweller in AntwerpAppraises Lance’s stones and pays £35k, confirming they are low-value compared to the haul.
- Doctor MorrisDublin clinician who will perform Lance’s hair transplant.
- Connie JohnsonReferenced as recipient of inferior diamonds in Elizabeth’s scheme.
- Sue ReardonReferenced; underestimated Elizabeth and ultimately paid for it.
- Martin LomaxReferenced via magazine article about his house, hinting at buried secrets.