Thursday Murder Club, #1
The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 113
Overview
Chris briefly turns toward the possibility of personal renewal, imagining how to make his flat presentable enough to invite Patrice over. That hopeful mood is interrupted by a confidential letter from Demir Gunduz, who claims Johnny has been missing for years and begs Chris for help.
The message complicates the Johnny Gunduz thread by raising the possibility that Johnny did not simply return to his father, though Chris dismisses it as manipulation. Chris’s refusal to engage keeps his existing theory intact while leaving Demir’s plea unresolved.
Summary
Chris takes a taxi home and returns to his flat feeling unexpectedly lighter. Looking around, Chris decides the place needs cleaning and small improvements so it can look like the home of someone still making an effort. Chris plans to buy fruit, bedding, towels, perhaps flowers, and then invite Patrice for dinner while Patrice is in Fairhaven.
Before bed, Chris checks his emails. Among routine messages about a sergeant’s triathlon and a police awards invitation, Chris finds an unfamiliar email from Kyprios Associates marked strictly private and confidential. Because the message appears connected to Cyprus, Chris wonders whether it might involve Johnny Gunduz or an attempt by solicitors to warn the police away.
The attached letter is from Demir Gunduz, Johnny’s father. Demir says Chris claimed Johnny returned to Cyprus in 2000, but Demir insists he has not seen, heard from, or received any message from Johnny since. Demir refuses to speak to police directly, but asks Chris for help, offers a large reward, and says he fears Johnny may be dead.
Chris rereads the letter and weighs whether Demir is manipulating him, perhaps hoping Chris will pass the message to the Cypriot police or to Joe Kyprianou. Chris also considers whether the letter could be exactly what it appears to be: an old man’s plea to find his missing son.
Chris rejects the plea. Based on what Chris believes he knows about Johnny’s whereabouts on 17 June, Chris concludes Johnny is alive, returned home with Tony Curran’s money, changed his identity and appearance, and has been living safely in Cyprus. Chris decides Demir will receive no reply and shuts down his computer.
Who Appears
- Chris HudsonDetective considering personal change, then rejecting Demir’s plea about Johnny as likely manipulation.
- Demir GunduzJohnny’s father; sends a confidential letter claiming Johnny is missing and asking for help.
- Johnny GunduzAbsent subject of Demir’s plea; Chris believes Johnny is alive and hiding in Cyprus.
- PatricePotential romantic interest whose visit motivates Chris to improve his flat.