Thursday Murder Club, #1
The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 62
Overview
Chris and Donna confront Jason Ritchie after evidence places Jason’s car near Tony Curran’s house and connects Jason’s phone number to calls made to Tony on the morning of the murder. Jason refuses to explain himself or provide DNA and fingerprints, leaving the police with strong suspicion but no admission.
The encounter complicates Jason’s role in the case: Jason has opportunity and a link to Tony, but Jason’s calm evasiveness and the planted-looking photograph make Donna and Chris doubt that the answer is straightforward.
Summary
Chris and Donna drive to Ice-Spectacular in Maidstone to find Jason Ritchie. Chris reflects that odd, empty businesses often look like drug fronts, which feels apt because Jason is connected to Tony Curran’s criminal past.
Inside the mostly empty rink, Chris and Donna watch Jason trying and failing to ice dance with a small woman in a purple leotard. Jason, once a graceful boxer, repeatedly falls on the ice while apparently training or auditioning for a television show.
After Jason falls again, Chris helps Jason off the ice and asks for five minutes. Jason sends the skater away by calling Chris and Donna “mates,” then sits to remove his skates while the officers begin questioning him.
Chris asks what Jason was doing at Tony Curran’s house on the day Tony was murdered. Jason refuses to answer unless he is under arrest. Chris explains that traffic cameras placed Jason’s car near Tony’s house for a suspicious twelve-minute gap at the time of the murder, while Donna reveals that the untraceable number that called Tony three times that morning was the same number Jason had given her.
Jason calmly admits only that giving Donna the number was “silly” and refuses to cooperate further. Chris asks for fingerprints and DNA to eliminate Jason from both murder inquiries, but Jason points out he has never been arrested and asks what motive the police have. Chris suggests robbery and money worries, while Donna mocks Jason’s participation in Celebrity Ice Dance.
Jason leaves, smiling and giving the officers the middle finger. Chris and Donna remain at the rink, agreeing that Jason does not seem stupid and questioning why, if Jason murdered Tony, Jason would leave a photograph showing himself near the body.
Who Appears
- Chrisdetective who confronts Jason with traffic-camera evidence and requests fingerprints and DNA.
- Donnadetective who links Jason’s phone number to calls made to Tony before the murder.
- Jason Ritchieformer boxer training for Celebrity Ice Dance; refuses to explain his link to Tony.
- Ice dance instructorskater in a purple leotard helping Jason practice before the police interview.
- Tony Curranmurder victim whose house, phone calls, and photograph connect Jason to the investigation.