Chapter 70

Jason Ritchie meets Ron, Ibrahim, Elizabeth, and Joyce in the sauna to explain why Tony Curran’s murder frightens him. Ron urges Jason to tell the Thursday Murder Club everything, and Jason shares the same account he previously gave Ron while the group examines a laminated copy of the old incriminating photo.

Jason says the photo arrived without any message, making Jason wonder whether the press had it or whether Tony was using it for blackmail. Because Tony was capable of blackmail, Jason bought a cheap phone and repeatedly called Tony, but Tony did not answer. Later, Jason saw Tony arguing with Ian Ventham at Coopers Chase, kept the matter quiet from Ron, then went to Tony’s house after having drinks with Ron and Joyce.

At Tony’s house, Jason found Tony’s car in the drive but got no response at the door. Jason assumed Tony had seen Jason on security cameras and was avoiding him, so Jason rang several times and left. A few hours later, Jason heard through a WhatsApp group that Tony had been found dead, which made the photo, the unanswered calls, and Jason’s visit look highly suspicious.

Jason insists he did not kill Tony, though Jason understands why the police suspect him. Jason asks the club to find Bobby Tanner and Turkish Johnny, the other old associates linked to the photo; Turkish Johnny, who is Turkish Cypriot rather than Turkish, has fled to Cyprus. Jason fears that if Bobby or Johnny killed Tony, Jason could be next.

Elizabeth agrees that Jason’s predicament comes from greed and drugs, but Jason being Ron’s son gives the club reason to help. Elizabeth believes the club can find Bobby Tanner and Turkish Johnny quickly and wants to catch the murderer before the murderer catches Jason. Elizabeth then asks Ron, Joyce, and Ibrahim to meet her at the graveyard at ten that evening, and warns Jason that if Jason is bluffing, the club will still catch the murderer even if it is Jason.