On a quiet Sunday evening, Donna tells Chris and Patrice that Elizabeth has texted her a name: Jill Usher. Although Jill Usher’s death is officially DCI Varma’s case, Donna argues that it matters to her because Jill died at Coopers Chase and Elizabeth was first to the body. Donna also admits that Elizabeth probably knew she was bored and willing to help, especially after Donna enjoyed their recent break-in.

Chris warns Donna not to let Elizabeth pull her into unofficial work, but Donna says she only intends to make discreet inquiries and pass on anything useful. Under pressure, Donna admits Elizabeth has also asked whether Donna could speak to Paul Brett, Joanna’s husband, because Elizabeth cannot do it herself if Joyce might find out. Chris refuses to get involved, and Patrice gently needles him for clearly being tempted.

To defend his position, Chris tells a story from a recent murder investigation. A garage owner in Rye named Watkins was found murdered, and neither forensics nor intelligence produced a lead. The breakthrough came when a junior officer mentioned an elderly woman complaining that her milk had been stolen on the morning of the murder; Chris and Donna realized that the thief might have been leaving the scene. They returned, checked a neighbor’s CCTV, identified a man in black stealing the milk, and circulated his image.

The suspect was recognized as Johnny Jacks, a hired thug with a long record. When Chris and Donna searched Johnny Jacks’s car, they found a receipt placing him near Rye, a hammer with Watkins’s DNA on it, and even an empty milk bottle. Chris presents the story as proof that he and Donna can solve murders through ordinary police work without the Thursday Murder Club interfering.

Chris then says that in eight recent murder investigations he has not been pestered, misled, or undermined by pensioners, and that he has not missed the club at all. Donna and Patrice do not believe him, insisting that he does miss them. The conversation closes with more teasing about Chris’s firearms course, including his admission that he is performing badly on the range.