Thursday Murder Club, #2
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 31
Overview
Elizabeth and Joyce are blindfolded and taken to MI5’s underground facility, where Sue Reardon interrogates them about Douglas’s message and the diamonds. Elizabeth admits Douglas confessed to the theft, while suspicion shifts between Lance, Sue, and Elizabeth. Sue forbids any approach to Martin Lomax and presents Douglas’s locket to Elizabeth before releasing them under close watch.
Summary
Elizabeth and Joyce are transported blindfolded to MI5’s facility in Godalming and seated in a fortified interrogation room with Sue Reardon and Lance James. Sue probes a message from Douglas Middlemiss; Elizabeth claims her phone is missing but recites Douglas’s summons to a Hove safe address, adding she assumed he wanted to show her the diamonds.
Elizabeth then reveals Douglas had privately admitted stealing Martin Lomax’s diamonds. Joyce suggests Douglas might have planned to share a key, code, or riddle indicating their location. They note that whoever killed Douglas and Poppy—potentially Lomax—may now possess that information.
Attention turns to suspects. Joyce and Elizabeth point out Lance had access on the night of the theft and ties to Poppy, while Sue counters that Elizabeth—a trained operative and Douglas’s ex-wife who has “mislaid” her phone—is equally suspect. Sue includes herself as a logical suspect by role and access, acknowledging multiple credible motives.
When Elizabeth proposes visiting Martin Lomax, Sue explicitly forbids it. Sue then produces a silver locket inscribed to Elizabeth, found in Douglas’s jacket, which Elizabeth recognizes. The interview ends at midnight; Lance escorts Elizabeth and Joyce out, and Sue resolves to keep them under close observation.
Who Appears
- Elizabeth BestInterrogated by MI5; admits Douglas confessed to the diamond theft; challenges suspects and recognizes Douglas’s locket.
- Sue ReardonMI5 interrogator; probes message, forbids visiting Lomax, presents Douglas’s locket, plans to monitor Elizabeth and Joyce.
- Joyce MeadowcroftAccompanies Elizabeth; offers theories about a key or code and raises suspicion about Lance.
- Lance JamesMI5 operative present at interrogation; his access and link to Poppy make him a named suspect.
- Douglas MiddlemissDeceased MI5 officer; confessed theft to Elizabeth; his locket is presented as evidence.
- Martin LomaxSuspected beneficiary of the murders and the diamonds’ recovery; off-limits target per Sue.
- PoppyDeceased operative; her possible knowledge of diamond location fuels suspicion dynamics.