The Bullet That Missed

Andrew arrives at Henrik’s house. They have been exchanging emails. Henrik shows Andrew his library, and Andrew admits that he likes writing books more than reading them. Henrik asks Andrew what he wants.

While Andrew and Henrik talk, Joyce and the others hide in a staff kitchen and watch a live feed of Andrew (Henrik is off camera). Joyce notes that Henrik’s changes to her crypto account made her a large amount of money. Elizabeth had given information about Henrik to Andrew, who believed that the information was between the two of them. Andrew was behind the VAT fraud, killed Bethany, and blackmailed Jack and Heather. Joyce figures out that Michael Gullis is the name of a character in one of Andrew’s books. Ibrahim discovers that Carron Whitehead is an anagram of Catherine Howard.

Andrew asks the Viking to help him with his VAT money. He admits that the fraud was originally an idea for a book then became a real crime. Then, Andrew admits to working with Jack and making millions.

As they watch, Joyce thinks about how Elizabeth and Viktor drilled the lines Henrik is now saying. They know the video won’t be admissible in court. Mike practices his lines for the upcoming scene.

The live video is being broadcast on Fiona’s Instagram, and people are messaging her that her account is hacked. Her follower count grows as more people watch the livestream. She recalls how Elizabeth asked for her login information.

The Viking asks Andrew if he killed Bethany, Heather, and Jack, claiming to be worried about working with him. Andrew denies killing anyone.

Ibrahim watches social media fixate on Bethany as the livestream continues. Elizabeth and Viktor whisper together, and Joyce thinks they are going to “send in the Bullet” (364).

Viktor, claiming to be named Yuri, joins Andrew and the Viking. Andrew is suspicious but calmed when Viktor compliments his book To Remain Silent. As Viktor talks to him, Andrew fantasizes about getting a place in Spain where he can write with the VAT money, and he continues to deny that he killed anyone. Viktor says he knows Andrew blackmailed Jack and Heather with Bethany’s corpse buried with incriminating evidence. Then, Andrew confesses to killing Bethany.

Connie watches the livestream on a large TV in her cell. She knows that Andrew didn’t kill Heather because Connie had found Heather’s original suicide note and replaced it. This was in hopes that her assistance in solving a murder would shorten her sentence. She plans to have one of her people pretend to have witnessed Andrew visiting Heather on the night of her death. When released from prison, Connie plans to go after Ron. She thinks about how she had Heather’s original suicide note in her pocket when she met with Ibrahim and looks forward to more therapy sessions with him.

The Thursday Murder Club is excited about Andrew’s confession, and Fiona’s Instagram engagement keeps rising. Ron tells a story about being hit by a policeman. Joyce reflects on how everyone came together to solve the mystery and the budding romances. Mervyn sends Joyce a short, but positive, text about her dog.

At the police station, Chris, Donna, and everyone else watch Andrew’s confession. While his audience seems to hate him, his book sales are rising. Mike comes on screen and acknowledges that they are on a livestream. Andrew tries to run, but an arm catches him. Donna recognizes the tattooed arm as Bogdan’s. Mike thanks the audience for this tribute to Bethany and says how much she meant to him. He notes that people will lose interest in this story, like all news stories, over time. However, he asks that people think of Bethany from time to time, rather than Andrew.

Bogdan apologizes for missing Donna’s award ceremony, and she forgives him. When Donna sees Carwyn slip a hateful note in her bag, she realizes who had been sending the notes to Fiona and Bethany. After that, Carwyn is no longer at South East Tonight. Bogdan gives Donna the statue of Anahita and tells her he got it for one pound because he told Kuldesh that he was in love with her.

At Ron’s suggestion, the group goes to Shakespeare Cliff in Bethany’s memory. A prison guard, coached by Connie, claims to have seen Andrew visit Heather. However, Ibrahim hasn’t been able to figure out who Robert Brown MSc is. Everyone throws roses over the cliff, except for Henrik (who didn’t attend the gathering). Mike speaks and leads the group in a walk. Ron, finally admitting his knees hurt, sits down with Pauline. He mentions how her cosmetics have migrated into his place and connects Robert Brown MSc with her Bobbi Brown mascara.

Donna and Bogdan visit Elizabeth and Stephen. Bogdan considers Stephen’s impressive list of books and thinks about improving his skin care routine. When Bogdan asks Stephen to play chess, Stephen doesn’t remember that he plays, and Bogdan hides his sadness as Donna passes out mugs of tea.

Ron asks Pauline for the whole truth, and she asks him not to tell the others. Pauline tells him that Bethany asked her to change her appearance the night of her disappearance. Bethany told Pauline she would pay her for her makeup and wig services and did so with the name Robert Brown MSc, but Pauline never touched the money. Also, Bethany borrowed one of Pauline’s mannequins and put it in the passenger seat of the car. Pauline admits that Bethany faked her death, changed her identity, and disappeared. She worries that Mike will be upset if he finds out the truth, but he might have to face it.

Bethany, in Dubai and going by the name Alice Cooper, noticed Fiona’s livestream going viral. She learned, during her research into the VAT fraud, about false identities and how to control the money. Andrew sent her the bullet with Mike’s name scratched on it. After that, she moved Andrew’s money around so he couldn’t access it, and eventually she siphoned off money to finance her life after faking her death. Bethany was more concerned that Andrew would harm Mike than she was about breaking the story about Andrew to the public.

Mike goes through the emails he received on the anniversary of Bethany’s death. He notices one with a no-reply email address that is just an image of a red rose. After searching further, he realizes he’s gotten the same email each year. Because her body was never found, Mike wonders if Bethany could be alive. He hopes the emails are from her, hopes that she saw the livestream, and toasts her with a cider.

Joyce submitted her story, “Life Is but a Dream—A Gerry Meadowcroft Mystery” (394) and waits to hear back from the Evening Argus. She has started a new story in her mystery series. Andrew, charged with fraud, is in prison. The investigations of the murders of Bethany and Heather are ongoing, but Joyce isn’t sure Andrew will be charged with murder. However, Andrew’s books are bestsellers, with the money going to the courts. Many of Jack’s stashes have been dug up in Heather’s yard. Joyce buys books, such as On Writing by Stephen King. Mike’s career has taken off since the livestream, and Fiona plans to have dinner with Joyce after a filming of Stop the Clock.

Ron and Pauline went on vacation in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Joyce notices that Ibrahim seems lonely now that Ron is in love. Joyce flirts with Mervyn, and he gives her a copy of The Times, thinking that she might enjoy an article in it. Joyce considers Christmas and plans to invite Viktor when she goes to his swimming pool the next day. Her crypto account has fluctuated wildly in value, which Henrik assures her is normal.

Andrew, in Belmarsh Prison, considers how his greed and “being too clever” (399) landed him in prison. He should have used his plot for a story, not an actual crime. He regrets sending the bullet with Mike’s name on it to Bethany and wonders who killed her. He had taken credit for murdering Bethany to impress the Viking, but he did kill Jack and make his death look like a suicide. Andrew thinks he will enjoy writing another book in prison if he isn’t charged with murder.

Chris suspected Jack’s suicide was faked but needs evidence to link Andrew to the murder. Patrice suggests Jack’s DNA would be found on Chris’s medal and its velvet pouch, and she is correct. Andrew contaminated it. Chris and Patrice celebrate with healthy food and watching darts.

Elizabeth thinks that Bogdan is hiding something from her, and she suspects she knows what it is. She and Viktor drink on his terrace. Henrik sends Viktor cat videos somewhat regularly. Elizabeth and Viktor stopped trying to figure out the identity of Robert Brown MSc. However, they find and decide to follow a money trail to Dubai, where Bethany is (unbeknownst to them). Viktor says he’s pleased to have met Elizabeth’s friends and become part of their friend group. Ron and Ibrahim sit by the pool as Joyce swims in Viktor’s pool.