Chapter summaries Jigsaw Jonathan Kellerman

Chapter 29

Spoiler Notice

This page reveals key plot points from Chapter 29 of Jigsaw. If you haven’t read the chapter yet, proceed with caution.

Summary

After parking in Santa Barbara, Alex shares a new theory with Milo: Bettina Bel Geddes may be the unidentified blonde who supplied Michael Heck’s hotel alibi ten years ago. He reasons that Heck’s refusal to name the woman while sitting in jail could have been a calculated move—if Bel Geddes was the companion, both could have been setting up a massive false-arrest lawsuit. Milo sees the logic and realizes that proving Bel Geddes colluded to obstruct justice would kill Heck’s civil suit and free him to pursue Heck as a murder suspect. He calls Alicia and orders her to hunt for hotel video, parking-lot footage, and vehicle matches. On the drive back, Alicia reports that overhead elevator shots show Heck and a woman wearing what appears to be a platinum wig, but no clear face. A desk clerk doesn’t recognize Bel Geddes’s photo. The team waits for exterior camera results. Milo drops Alex off, anxious for news.

Key Events

  • Alex floats the idea that Bettina Bel Geddes was the blonde at Heck’s alibi hotel and that the two may have conspired to manufacture a false-arrest claim.
  • Milo immediately orders Alicia to gather hotel interior video, parking-lot footage, and DMV records on Bel Geddes’s cars.
  • Alicia reports back: the limited elevator video shows a woman in a platinum wig with Heck; a clerk cannot confirm Bel Geddes; the hotel is still searching for parking-lot files.
  • Milo and Alex note the woman’s height seems compatible, and the wig suggests deliberate concealment.
  • Milo drops Alex off at home, then drives away visibly impatient for an update.

Character Development

  • Alex Delaware demonstrates sharp deductive leaps, connecting the lawsuit, the unknown blonde, and Bel Geddes’s early career as Heck’s attorney.
  • Milo Sturgis shows the toll the lawsuit has taken; his facial grimaces reveal a deeper repertoire of stress than Alex has ever seen. He is willing to pivot resources to protect his own position as much as to solve the murders.
  • Alicia displays loyalty and motivation, eager to nail Bel Geddes for obstruction and, even more, to tie both Bel Geddes and Heck to the murders.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Manipulation of the justice system: The chapter explores how a false-arrest suit could be staged, turning a criminal investigation into a payday.
  • Partnership and trust: Alex’s insight directly drives Milo’s next move, and Alicia’s dedication underscores the team’s reliance on one another.
  • Truth as a double-edged sword: Uncovering Bel Geddes’s possible role could free Milo from the lawsuit but also risks complicating the murder cases.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 29 shifts focus from the three homicides to the legal subplot threatening Milo’s career. By linking Heck’s alibi to Bel Geddes, Alex opens a new investigative path that could dismantle the lawsuit and remove the barrier preventing Milo from pursuing Heck as a suspect. It demonstrates how personal stakes can reshape a police investigation and sets up the race for video evidence.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. What leads Alex to suspect that Bettina Bel Geddes was the woman with Heck at the hotel?
    He notes that Heck’s refusal to name the woman despite facing murder charges makes little sense unless both stood to gain from a false-arrest lawsuit. Knowing Bel Geddes represented Heck on the Alberts case and that she is blonde matches the description.

  2. Why would proving Bel Geddes obstructed the investigation end Milo’s lawsuit problem?
    If Bel Geddes colluded with Heck to fabricate or exploit a false-arrest scenario, the lawsuit would be based on fraud. Exposing that conspiracy would likely cause the suit to collapse, allowing Milo to once again treat Heck as a suspect.

  3. What does the video footage reveal, and why is it important?
    The elevator footage shows Heck with a woman wearing a platinum wig, suggesting she took steps to hide her identity. Although her face isn’t visible, the wig corroborates the idea that the companion was someone who needed to stay anonymous—potentially Bel Geddes, whose identification could confirm the conspiracy.

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