Thursday Murder Club, #2
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 70
Overview
Joyce independently tracks Ryan Baird to Scotland via his cousin’s Instagram, confirming his location. Donna wants an immediate arrest, but Joyce proposes a more playful alternative tied to the pier sting, and Donna and Ron agree. The diamonds are rehidden, and Ron prepares to meet Connie. Joyce still doubts Poppy’s guilt.
Summary
From Joyce’s perspective, she withholds news from Ibrahim that she has located Ryan Baird, mindful that Ibrahim does not even know Ryan is missing. She revisits Poppy’s file and fixates on a smiley Post-it, which complicates her certainty about Poppy’s supposed crimes despite evidence pointing her way.
Unable to access Ryan’s private Instagram, Joyce searches his relatives listed in Poppy’s file. After checking many accounts, she discovers Steven Baird’s profile, "StevieBlunterRangers4Eva," featuring photos from a recent flat party. One image clearly shows Ryan with Steven, captioned in dialect.
Joyce shares her find with Donna and Ron after the Thursday Murder Club meeting. Donna translates the caption as Ryan “smoking cannabis with my cousin,” confirming Ryan’s presence in Scotland. While Donna proposes contacting Strathclyde Police for an arrest, Joyce outlines an alternative plan aligned with their broader sting; Donna and Ron agree it is better.
Before they leave, Donna and Ron briefly joke with the recovered diamonds, which Joyce then hides back in the kettle. Ron prepares to meet Connie Johnson the next day, buoyed by confidence. Joyce remains uncertain about Poppy’s guilt despite circumstantial evidence, still haunted by the smiley Post-it.
Looking ahead to Monday’s pier rendezvous, Joyce concludes that assembling all players with the diamonds visible will force revelations about who shot whom and why, integrating Ryan’s location into their larger strategy.
Who Appears
- JoyceNarrator; tracks Ryan via Instagram relatives, proposes delaying arrest for pier sting, hides diamonds again.
- Donna De FreitasPolice ally; translates the caption, initially favors arrest, then agrees to Joyce’s sting-focused plan.
- Ron RitchieClub member; supports Joyce’s plan, jokes with diamonds, prepares to meet Connie Johnson.
- Ryan BairdMugger on the run; identified in a party photo in Scotland with his cousin.
- Steven Baird (Stevie Blunter)Ryan’s cousin; posts party photos that reveal Ryan’s location in Scotland.
- PoppySuspected of faking death; her smiley Post-it makes Joyce question Poppy’s guilt.
- Connie JohnsonLocal crime boss; scheduled to meet Ron as part of the unfolding sting.
- ElizabethClub strategist; her pier-sting idea guides Joyce’s decision to delay Ryan’s arrest.
- IbrahimVictim of Ryan’s mugging; Joyce withholds the news of finding Ryan from him.