Chapter summaries Jigsaw Jonathan Kellerman

Chapter 38 Summary & Analysis: Doubt and Distraction

[Spoiler Warning: This page contains full plot details for Chapter 38 of Jigsaw by Jonathan Kellerman.]

Summary

After escorting Heck to the elevator, Milo and Alex return to the office to examine the dumpster video sent by detective Alicia Villalobos. The nighttime aerial footage shows a dark SUV pulling up to a bin in a narrow alley. A medium-sized, hooded figure emerges and heaves a large oblong bundle—likely Lynne Gutierrez’s body—into the dumpster before the vehicle drives away. Milo immediately points out the near-total lack of identifying details and scoffs at Heck’s claim that Tiana Crown is behind the murders, calling it a classic criminal tactic of denial and distraction.

To satisfy professional curiosity, Milo checks Tiana Crown’s DMV record: she is forty-three, five-foot-eight, and drives a Toyota Camry—not the vehicle in the video. Her NCIC report is clean. Her address is still the family’s former San Marino mansion, which makes Alex wonder whether she is deliberately hard to find. Carla Bonair then delivers Heck’s phone records on a zip drive. The data turns out to contain a staggering amount of pornography but, at first glance, nothing criminal. Milo decides to postpone analyzing the calls and suggests Alex leave.

Key Events

  • Milo and Alex view the dumpster video; the figure’s height and movements rule out Heck but are consistent with someone Tiana’s size.
  • Milo dismisses Heck’s Tiana Crown theory as a deflection and vows to comb through Heck’s phone and financials first.
  • A DMV search reveals Tiana Crown owns a Camry, not an SUV; her NCIC history is spotless.
  • Tiana’s address is the old San Marino property, suggesting she may be avoiding detection.
  • Carla Bonair delivers Heck’s phone records, which contain massive amounts of pornography but no immediate evidence of a crime.
  • Milo decides to dig deeper into the call logs later and dismisses Alex for the day.

Character Development

  • Milo Sturgis demonstrates his investigative instincts: he distrusts a suspect’s attempt to redirect the inquiry and insists on following the data before chasing a lead. His comment that he hadn’t told Heck about the subpoenas underlines his cunning.
  • Alex Delaware contributes psychological observations—labeling Heck’s behavior as “deny and distract” and reading Tiana’s outdated address as a sign she “doesn’t want to be found.” He remains the analyst in the room.
  • Carla Bonair appears as a efficient, bantering colleague who brings the phone records with a wry remark about Heck’s “hormonal problems,” lightening the mood.
  • Heck is not present but his credibility erodes further; Milo explicitly links him and Bel Geddes to a “monster civil suit payoff” and labels him a scumbag.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

  • Misdirection and Manipulation: Heck’s entire story about Tiana Crown is framed as a possible smokescreen. The chapter reinforces the investigative theme that guilty people try to redirect attention.
  • The Limits of Surveillance: The dumpster video is a “low-quality, nighttime shot” that conceals faces, license plates, and vehicle make—underscoring how even crucial evidence can be ambiguous.
  • Data vs. Narrative: Milo contrasts Heck’s dramatic accusations with cold, hard data (DMV, NCIC, phone records). The discovery that Heck’s phone is stuffed with porn further blurs the line between a person’s private life and criminal intent, but Milo refuses to jump to conclusions.
  • Evasiveness and Hidden Identity: Tiana’s continued use of a lost address mirrors the theme of people who do not wish to be found, a motif that runs through the entire investigation.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 38 acts as a narrative pivot. It introduces concrete physical evidence—the dumpster video—that seems to confirm Lynne Gutierrez’s body disposal, yet simultaneously plants deep skepticism about Heck’s preferred suspect. By having Milo systematically debunk Heck’s theory before doing any fieldwork, Kellerman models patient detective work over impulsive action. The chapter also introduces a new character (Tiana Crown) only through records, keeping her a cipher. Finally, the comedic yet unsettling discovery of Heck’s porn collection serves as a humanizing detail that does not exonerate him but reinforces the theme that everyone is hiding something.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Milo immediately dismiss Heck’s theory that Tiana Crown is the killer?

Milo sees it as a textbook distraction. He argues that guilty criminals routinely “deny and distract,” and points out that Heck stands to benefit from a civil lawsuit payoff, which keeps him squarely on the “Scumbag List.” Milo also notes the lack of a clear motive for Tiana to commit three brutal murders over a years-old, possibly invented threat.

2. What does the dumpster video reveal and what does it conceal?

The video shows a hooded figure of medium build dumping an oblong bundle into a bin at night, which fits the timeline of Lynne Gutierrez’s disposal. However, the poor angle, darkness, and obstructed view hide the person’s face, the SUV’s make and model, and any license plate. The visual evidence confirms the crime but provides no definitive identification.

3. How does the discovery of Heck’s phone records affect the investigation?

The records initially appear irrelevant, containing only massive quantities of pornography. Carla Bonair jokes about “hormonal problems,” and Milo notes nothing illegal so far. However, the depth of Heck’s hidden personal life underscores why investigators must inspect every detail; Milo still intends to comb through the call logs, refusing to dismiss the records just because they look sordid rather than criminal.

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