Thursday Murder Club, #1
The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 85
Overview
Jason Ritchie and Bobby Tanner meet over lunch at Le Pont Noir, reflecting on survival, guilt, and the changed shape of their old lives. Their main purpose is to find out whether Turkish Johnny ever came back, and Jason believes their incoming contact will know. The arrival of Steve Ercan sets up a potential breakthrough in the mystery surrounding Johnny, Tony’s missing money, and the older criminal network.
Summary
Jason Ritchie and Bobby Tanner have lunch at Le Pont Noir, returning to a setting that feels familiar but changed by time and circumstance. Their conversation is relaxed and teasing at first, with Jason trying to guess Bobby’s new life and Bobby refusing to confirm anything.
As they wait for their guest, Jason asks whether Bobby is happy. Bobby says he is, and the two men acknowledge that, despite their pasts, they may both deserve some peace, though Jason qualifies that with uncertainty.
The conversation turns back to Turkish Johnny. Bobby says he always assumed Johnny was dead, while Jason admits he had once thought the same of Bobby. Jason believes their expected guest will know whether Johnny has been back, because Johnny would have stayed with him.
After finishing one bottle of wine and deciding they have time for another, the men continue waiting. The chapter ends with Steve Ercan entering Le Pont Noir, positioning him as the likely source of new information about Johnny’s disappearance or return.
Who Appears
- Jason RitchieMeets Bobby for lunch and waits for a contact who may know about Johnny.
- Bobby TannerFormer Peter Ward; reflects on survival and seeks answers about Turkish Johnny.
- Steve ErcanArrives at Le Pont Noir as the expected source of information about Johnny.