Chapter 10: Hidden Cash and Shifting Suspicions

[SPOILER NOTICE] This page contains spoilers for Chapter 10 of Jigsaw. Proceed only if you have read this chapter.

Chapter Summary

Milo and Alex leave the restaurant after interviewing Heck Bel Geddes, bypassing a hostess who attempts to retain them with a lie. They walk to their cars parked on a quiet, pine-shaded Beverly Hills street, the calm belying the violence of the case. Milo immediately asks for Alex’s thoughts. Alex deems Heck credible, and Milo agrees, though he worries about a looming civil suit from Bettina—information Heck himself revealed about his two-day jail stay that may have been part of a legal strategy. Heck’s disclosures about Sophie’s friends and his long-ago association with Darren Alberts are new leads, but Milo frets that a subpoena could hamper him.

Alex shares that he already knows Alberts has been declared severely demented by three neuropsychologists, including a friend. They consider the possibility that someone else at Alberts’s firm engineered the DNA frame-up that sent Heck to prison. Milo scolds himself for not interviewing Sophie’s girlfriends earlier; Alex offers tough love, reminding him the system was manipulated.

Their conversation cuts short when Alicia calls with startling news: she found a paper bag stuffed with a hundred hundred-dollar bills hidden behind stacks of National Geographic at Martha’s house. Milo instantly pivots, now entertaining a burglary motive or the involvement of Martha’s missing daughter, Lynne Matthias, who stands to gain from the money. He invites Alex to the scene and hands him a sealed coverall, booties, and gloves—welcoming him deeper into the physical investigation.

Key Events

Milo and Alex dismiss a lying hostess and walk to their cars on a tranquil Beverly Hills street.
Alex confirms he found Heck Bel Geddes credible, and Milo agrees but notes Bettina is setting up a major civil suit.
Heck’s information points to Sophie’s friends and his history with Darren Alberts, whom Alex reveals is in a care home with severe dementia.
Alex and Milo hypothesize that someone else from Alberts’s firm may have framed Heck with fake DNA evidence a decade ago.
Milo expresses guilt over not interviewing Sophie’s girlfriends sooner; Alex consoles him.
Alicia calls to report finding $10,000 cash hidden inside a paper bag at Martha’s cluttered residence.
The discovery redirects Milo’s theory toward a financial motive—either a burglary or Martha’s missing daughter, Lynne Matthias.
Milo gives Alex protective crime-scene attire and brings him along to the house.

Character Development

Milo Sturgis shows his investigative flexibility, pivoting from a revenge-framing theory to a money-driven motive within seconds. His self-criticism over the missed interviews reveals his professional conscience, while his instinct to bring Alex along emphasizes their partnership.

Alex Delaware provides both vital information and moral support. His call to a neuropsychologist friend proves crucial in undermining the Alberts-as-mastermind narrative. His “tough love” reassurance to Milo and his immediate acceptance of the coverall underscore his deepening role from consultant to active participant.

Heck Bel Geddes is further established as a potentially credible informant, yet the specter of the civil suit—and his wife Bettina’s influence—makes him an uneasy ally. Off-page, Bettina emerges as a legal antagonist who may have manipulated Heck’s jail time.

Alicia’s brief call introduces a game-changing piece of evidence, highlighting her competence in a thorough search.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The Reach of the Past: A decade-old conviction, a senile lawyer, and buried grudges all resurface, showing that old cases never fully die.
Money as a Dark Motivator: The stash of cash reframes the crime as potentially a robbery-homicide, turning attention to who knew about Martha’s hidden wealth.
Deception and Trust: The chapter scrutinizes who can be trusted—from the hostess’s casual lie to Bettina’s lawsuit planning, to the possibility that the wrong person was imprisoned for tampering with DNA.
Guilt and Self-Reproach: Milo’s harsh self-assessment is a reminder of the emotional toll of investigative work, balanced by Alex’s admonition that the system itself was gamed.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 10 marks a turning point in the investigation. The discovery of the hidden money pivots the case from a purely revenge-based scheme toward a possible robbery or familial betrayal. It also deepens the procedural realism by showing how quickly detectives must adjust their theories when confronted with physical evidence. Alex’s role expands from behind-the-scenes consultant to on-site investigator, cementing the duo’s collaborative dynamic. The revelation about Alberts’s dementia exposes a wider conspiracy, hinting that Heck’s imprisonment may have been a manipulation by someone still at large—a thread that may tie back to Sophie’s murder in unexpected ways.

Study Questions and Answers

How does the hidden money reported by Alicia alter Milo’s working theory?
The cash suggests that Sophie’s mother, Martha, had substantial hidden assets. Milo immediately considers that the murder might have been a botched burglary, or that Martha’s missing daughter, Lynne Matthias, could be involved, either as a thief or as someone with knowledge of the money. The motive shifts from solely revenge against Heck to financial greed.
Why is Alex’s knowledge of Darren Alberts’s dementia significant for the case?
Alberts’s severe mental decline makes it unlikely he could have orchestrated the DNA frame-up ten years ago. This opens the possibility that a subordinate or associate at his firm committed the fraud—and that person could still be targeting Heck or his loved ones. Alex’s inside information pushes Milo to consider a more complex conspiracy.
Explain Alex’s response when Milo berates himself for not interviewing Sophie’s friends sooner. What does it reveal about their relationship?
Alex tells Milo he was not at fault but rather “had” by the system, much like Heck was. This blend of honesty and support—what Alex calls “talking truth to power”—shows that Alex is not merely a professional consultant but a trusted partner who can bluntly reassure Milo without dismissing his feelings. It underscores the deep mutual respect that allows them to work through setbacks together.