Chapter 110

In Penny’s room, Elizabeth confronts John with a manila file from Penny’s stored police cases. Elizabeth explains that Karen Playfair’s recognition of John pushed Elizabeth to check one final detail in an old Rye case from 1973: the death of Annie Madeley.

Elizabeth recounts the official version: Annie was stabbed during a daytime burglary and died in the arms of her boyfriend, Peter Mercer. The Thursday Murder Club had already suspected the story was false because the supposed burglary made little sense, the wound meant Annie would have lived long enough to be saved, and Mercer’s military background meant he likely had the training to help her. Instead, Mercer apparently waited for Annie to die, then disappeared soon after.

Ibrahim’s check of Penny’s file confirms the crucial detail Elizabeth wanted: Mercer had been invalided from the army with a gunshot wound to the lower leg. This links Mercer to the body and reveals that Penny had found him after he escaped justice. Elizabeth states that Penny paid Mercer a visit one dark night, implying Penny killed him after the law failed Annie.

John breaks down and explains how he learned Penny’s secret. During Penny’s illness and mini-strokes, her mind drifted through old memories and secrets until she eventually told John about the worst one. John says he could not let people discover what Penny had done, which explains his desperate efforts to cover it up.

Elizabeth decides John should go home for the night, write any letters he needs to write, and wait for Elizabeth to come with the police in the morning. Before leaving, John is given a private moment to say goodbye to Penny, while Elizabeth stays behind with her friend.