Thursday Murder Club, #2
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 29
Overview
Elizabeth and Joyce sweep Douglas’s safe house and find Poppy and Douglas executed by gunshot. Realizing official scrutiny is imminent, Elizabeth photographs the scene, alerts the undercover MI5 driver, and hides her phone as a dead drop. The murders escalate the stakes around the missing diamonds and the unknown killer.
Summary
Elizabeth climbs the stairs of Douglas’s safe house, knife in an overhand grip, troubled by the staged silence and open back door. She and Joyce coordinate quietly, clearing the bathroom and Poppy’s neat bedroom without finding anyone.
At Douglas’s room, Elizabeth considers whether Poppy fled after the trauma of killing Andrew Hastings, but opening the door reveals the truth. Poppy is slumped in an armchair, shot in the face; Douglas is propped on the bed, his head wound catastrophic. The scene shows no struggle, implying swift execution.
Elizabeth stays composed, rapidly photographing the room from multiple angles before authorities arrive. Joyce joins her and, on Elizabeth’s instruction, avoids touching anything as they head downstairs.
Outside, Elizabeth confronts the undercover MI5 driver in the “Virgin Media” van and shows a photo, prompting the driver to rush into the house. Anticipating interrogation and phone seizure, Elizabeth hides her mobile in a loose-brick gap two doors down as a dead-letter drop, preserving her evidence for later use.
With Poppy and Douglas dead, Elizabeth concludes the stakes have sharpened: the diamonds and the killer must now be found, and official attention will descend immediately on the case.
Who Appears
- ElizabethLeads the search, discovers the bodies, documents the scene, alerts MI5 driver, hides her phone as evidence.
- JoyceAssists Elizabeth in clearing rooms, remains calm upon finding the bodies, follows instructions precisely.
- PoppyFound shot dead in an armchair; her earlier distress contextualizes the abrupt execution.
- DouglasElizabeth’s ex-husband; discovered executed on the bed, intensifying the mystery around the diamonds.
- MI5 driver (Virgin Media van)Undercover watcher; alerted by Elizabeth and rushes into the house as events escalate.