Thursday Murder Club, #2
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 50
Overview
Connie Johnson arrives uninvited at Chris Hudson’s flat to issue a thinly veiled threat, revealing she has tracked both Chris and Donna and implies surveillance of Patrice. Chris holds his nerve, alerts Donna only partially, and declines to escalate. The encounter raises the stakes, showing Connie’s reach and unpredictability.
Summary
Chris Hudson receives a late-night call at home and discovers Connie Johnson at his building. After texting Donna a safety check, he lets Connie in, keeping the meeting controlled and sober. Connie probes what Chris knows and trades barbs about his investigation and methods.
Connie warns that Chris and Donna are nearing her tolerance, citing their surveillance of her customers, and suggests consequences. She demonstrates personal reach by revealing she has followed Chris home and located Donna’s address, attempting to intimidate without directly incriminating herself.
As Connie leaves, she escalates the threat by implying that someone followed Patrice home for her, stressing distance and vulnerability. Chris shuts the door, weighing whether the threat is a bluff and how to protect Patrice without panicking her.
Donna calls after the preset fifteen minutes. Chris reports only that Connie threatened him and Donna with knowledge of their addresses, omitting the Patrice detail. He declines Donna’s offer to come over, and, alone, struggles with appetite and self-discipline, ending the night without further action.
Who Appears
- Chris HudsonFairhaven DI; receives Connie’s late-night visit, is threatened, alerts Donna, hides Patrice-specific threat.
- Connie JohnsonDrug boss; intimidates Chris, cites tracking him and Donna, implies Patrice is under surveillance.
- Donna De FreitasDetective sergeant; on standby by phone, checks on Chris after 15 minutes, reassured with partial truth.
- PatriceChris’s girlfriend in London; becomes leverage as Connie claims someone followed her home.
- JonathanMet DCI; mentioned as Donna’s surveillance partner earlier that evening.