Thursday Murder Club, #1
The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 105
Overview
Chris and Donna’s investigation shifts from vague Cyprus connections to a concrete local lead: Steve Ercan, a Turkish Cypriot gym owner with old ties to Tony Curran’s world. Steve will not openly admit helping Johnny Gunduz, but his evasions and the returned envelope of five thousand euros strongly suggest Johnny recently stayed above the gym. The clue supports the theory that Johnny came back to Britain under another identity and had local assistance, raising the stakes for anyone connected to him.
Summary
After the graveyard rescue, Chris and Donna return to Fairhaven and follow Joe Kyprianou’s suspicion about the original investigation into Johnny Gunduz. They discover Kent Police never properly investigated Northern Cyprus, never explored Johnny’s family links, and sent officers to Nicosia who produced nothing useful.
Chris and Donna then re-examine passenger lists from Larnaca to Heathrow and Gatwick in the week before Tony Curran’s murder. Remembering Joe’s point that Johnny would need help in Britain, Chris connects Johnny to another Turkish Cypriot with past links to Tony’s circle: Steve Ercan, a respected gym owner known to both police and locals.
At Steve’s Gym, Chris and Donna question Steve in his office. Steve confirms he is Turkish Cypriot but denies seeing Johnny for twenty years. Chris presents a theory: Johnny returned, pressured Steve into giving him somewhere unregistered to stay above the gym, then used the visit to deliver items and tie up a loose end. Steve refuses to confirm anything and says the imagined story sounds dangerous.
Donna and Chris ask about the flat above the gym and who used it on June seventeenth. Steve says the flat is a refuge for vulnerable people and will not say whether Johnny stayed there. When Chris suggests Steve might be protecting family in Cyprus from consequences, Steve ends the interview.
Before Chris and Donna leave, Steve gives them a plastic wallet containing five thousand euros, claiming someone dropped it and asking them to put it in Lost Property. Chris and Donna understand the cash as an indirect confirmation that Johnny was there and that Steve is taking a risk by helping them. Steve adds that Tony Curran was a bastard but did not deserve his murder.
Who Appears
- Chris Hudsondetective who links Johnny Gunduz to Steve Ercan and carefully tests the theory.
- Donna De Freitasdetective assisting Chris, pressing Steve about Cyprus, the upstairs flat, and the money.
- Steve ErcanTurkish Cypriot gym owner who denies helping Johnny but quietly hands over suspect cash.
- Johnny Gunduzabsent suspect whose possible recent return and stay above the gym become central.
- Tony Curranmurder victim formerly connected to Steve’s criminal circles and Johnny’s suspected return.