The Impossible Fortune
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 42
Overview
Donna identifies a major flaw in Elizabeth’s earlier theory about Jill Usher and reframes the lead around Jill’s husband, Jamie Usher, a convicted fraudster who makes far more sense as Holly Lewis’s contact. This gives the investigation a stronger new suspect and shows Donna making an important independent breakthrough.
On her way to question Paul Brett, Donna also catches Ron and Bogdan in an obvious lie about their secret Saturday outing. Their evasiveness hints that the retirement-village side of the investigation is still hiding something significant.
Summary
Donna heads to London to question Paul Brett about the murder investigation, but before leaving she stops at Joyce’s flat because she has found new information and wants to enjoy telling Elizabeth that Elizabeth has missed something important. Donna has been investigating the name Elizabeth gave her, Jill Usher, and has uncovered a stronger lead than Elizabeth expected.
At Joyce’s, Donna questions Elizabeth and Joyce about their visit to Jill Usher in Manchester. After drawing the moment out, Donna reveals that she does not think Holly Lewis was really trying to contact Jill Usher at all. Donna explains that Jill’s husband, Jamie Usher, has past convictions for benefits fraud, insurance fraud and mortgage fraud, and that Holly calling a convicted fraudster makes more sense than Holly calling a nursery-school teacher.
Elizabeth quickly sees the logic and admits the new lead is good. Donna suggests that the phone may have been in Jill Usher’s name while Jamie Usher actually used it, which would explain why Holly Lewis appeared to be calling Jill. Donna says Greater Manchester Police are already going to visit Jamie Usher, though she has not yet found a direct link between Jamie Usher and Holly Lewis.
After Joyce offers tea and sends Donna off with fruit cake, Donna leaves with Bogdan and reflects that Jamie Usher may now be a more plausible suspect than Paul Brett. Outside, Donna runs into Ron, who has returned to the building. Donna uses the chance to ask Ron and Bogdan where they went together on Saturday.
Ron and Bogdan both claim they went ten-pin bowling in Fairhaven, with Ron insisting he won. Donna does not believe the story, and she can tell Bogdan is lying because Ron is leading him. Even so, Donna decides there is probably a good reason for the secrecy, and she continues on with her day and her investigation.
Who Appears
- DonnaDetective who uncovers Jamie Usher as the more likely lead and notices Ron and Bogdan are lying.
- ElizabethVeteran investigator forced to accept Donna has found a flaw in her Jill Usher theory.
- JoyceHosts the meeting, helps identify Jill Usher’s husband as the overlooked possibility, and sends Donna off with cake.
- BogdanAt Joyce’s with Elizabeth, then backs Ron’s false bowling story when Donna questions them.
- RonRuns into Donna outside and hides his real Saturday activity behind a bowling story.
- Jamie UsherJill Usher’s husband, a convicted fraudster whom Donna now sees as Holly Lewis’s likely contact.
- Holly LewisMurder victim whose call to the Usher phone is reinterpreted as an attempt to reach Jamie.
- Paul BrettDonna’s next intended interview subject as she travels to London after this breakthrough.