Chapter 114

While Elizabeth is out late, Bogdan and Stephen play chess. Stephen calmly asks about Tony Curran, the first murdered builder, and says he believes Bogdan killed him because Elizabeth has told Stephen enough to make the connection. Bogdan admits it, stressing that only one other person knows.

Bogdan explains that his friend Kazimir, known as Kaz, once saw Tony shoot a young London boy over what Bogdan thinks was a drug matter. Tony then had Johnny, the Cypriot taxi-company boss known as Turkish Johnny, kill Kaz. Johnny lured Kaz to the woods, made Kaz dig, shot Kaz, and buried him; Bogdan later heard Johnny boasting about it.

Bogdan says Bogdan retaliated by tricking Johnny into meeting at Newhaven port with the promise of smuggling money. With Steve Ercan’s help, Bogdan took Johnny out in a boat, told Johnny the killing was for Kazimir, shot Johnny, weighted the body with bricks, and disposed of it. Bogdan and Steve then staged Johnny’s disappearance by taking Johnny’s passport, clothes, money, and valuables, sending Steve to Cyprus on Johnny’s passport, and prompting the police to believe Johnny had fled.

Bogdan adds that he waited years for the right moment to kill Tony. After installing Tony’s surveillance and alarm systems, Bogdan deliberately made them ineffective, made keys, entered Tony’s house, and killed Tony while believing he had left a strong false trail. Stephen warns that Elizabeth will likely work it out, though Stephen thinks Elizabeth may understand.

Elizabeth returns before Bogdan can finish explaining the false trail involving a camera taken from Johnny’s house. Bogdan silently checkmates Stephen, and the three settle into ordinary domestic conversation. In the kitchen, Elizabeth thinks of Penny, John, and Annie Madeley, considers Stephen’s temazepam, then puts the pills back and instead suggests Stephen cut down on coffee; Elizabeth turns away in tears as Stephen and Bogdan begin another game.