The Investigators, Inc. The Jigsaw Puzzle Mystery. Chapter 7. Plans.

Our next move was to have a leader’s meeting to decide who goes on this case and make the necessary plans to get in and out of the prison. Hopefully with Alex coming out with us and hopefully without losing anyone. Since this is not a prison in some far off foreign country, we need to be very careful. Just as we don’t want any of our people getting killed, we also don’t want to kill any of the prison personnel. That means we will be using our dart guns, not bullets. And of course we will have our rings on to put people to sleep if necessary also, that way they won’t remember anything either. We will also be using that same sleeping drug in our darts, it works fast and is very effective.

Aari and the Black Wolves are already busy with watching the jurors, judge and defense lawyer, so they can’t help us much with the prison break. However, Dave and Thomas, who are electricians, plus a couple others from the Wolves will be joining us. We also have Abigail and Cathy, who are also electricians, to help us out with this one. Cathy has been with us for a long time now and was our only electrician for most of our existence. Good thing we have more now since one electrician wouldn’t be able to handle it all quickly enough.

We not only have to take out their normal electrical supply, but any secondary, or backup supply they have as well. They will still have emergency lighting in the halls. Sky will be tasked with taking out their security cameras, plus opening the doors once the power has gone off. Unfortunately they will remain locked without any electricity, so Sky will provide the electricity for each door as we go along. For this one we will use Sky’s Bad Girls and Misty’s Sneakers, plus Rock, Cal and Burk. Cal and Burk have both been in prison so they understand the layout and how things are operated.

Some of the girls on Misty and Sky’s teams have also been in prison, so that will also be helpful for us. “I notice you keep saying ‘us’ a lot,” said Jennifer, “I think maybe you should switch to ‘you’ from now on, after all, you are not going anywhere.” “Um, yes, well, it was just a way of saying things,” I told her, “I wasn’t really planning on going. I mean, would I do such a thing?” “Do I really need to answer such a question?” she asked in return, “I will go instead.” “Oh no you don’t,” I said, “if I’m staying home then so are you. That’s the rules, I need two of you for bodyguards, plus my regular bodyguards, it was your idea.”

“It doesn’t need to be me though,” she replied, “it can be any two of the G girls.” “Well, it’s supposed to be at least one of the more experienced and one younger one,” I reminded her. She sighed. We compromised and Jennifer and Kitty will stay behind as my bodyguards. As it turned out, Friskie also stayed behind since we have Helene to guard as well. Soon the teams were flying to their destination, fortunately they don’t have to go very far, but flying is still the quickest way to go. Sienna insisted on going this time to represent me since Alex is expecting me to show up and talk with her.

That is what Helene told her and she showed her a picture of me too. That’s a slight problem because Alex may not trust anyone else, knowing that others are out to kill her. But hopefully this will work. Sienna will be bringing one of her best lawyers along as well which will make her visit more official. Angel will also go along, invisibly, to make sure there are no problems while in there and getting back out again. Then, tonight, we will have a good old fashioned jail break, providing that Alex is still alive. But if she wasn’t alive, Rossana would know and tell us right away. At least I hope she would. Of course she would.

I think perhaps I’m a little nervous about this one, that’s what Jennifer says anyway and she’s probably right. Soon our teams were in position, as close as they could get anyway until tonight. Sienna got in to see Alex, though she had to push a bit and having her lawyer present certainly helped a lot. They were actually escorted back to the area where Alex was kept in solitary confinement because of fighting with guards. Inside the cell, which surprisingly was fairly large, Sienna introduced herself, letting her know that she was my friend and why I couldn’t make it.

She then told Alex to say something, anything at all, just in a normal voice. She also told Alex that no one could hear them talking but not to look puzzled or anything, it was just something we have to block conversations so people can speak freely. But we need her voice to make up a conversation so it looks like they are talking. She smiled and just said a couple of random sentences and Sienna said that was enough. Sienna then asked why she was fighting the guards, but she maintained that she wasn’t fighting at all, instead the guards had been throwing her around and hitting her.

They said it was her that started the fight and they had to secure her and that’s why she was put into solitary confinement. “There are two guards especially that treat me roughly,” said Alex, “it’s like they want me to fight. They even make it easy for me to take one of their guns, which I never do, because then they would have an excuse to shoot me. Three of the inmates also give me a rough time, pushing me, spilling my food, tripping me, punching me and other things. At least in here I can sleep, out there I was afraid to sleep because that’s when one of them stabbed me.

If I hadn’t woken up before she stabbed, then I likely would have been killed. I never killed that woman either, I’m sure it was my brother that did it. He wanted to talk with me and gave me that address, when I went inside the woman was on the floor with a knife in her chest. It supposedly had my fingerprints on it, but I don’t know how, I never touched it at all. I guess I will be here all my life which probably won’t be long, someone will likely succeed in killing me, then my brother will get the rest of the inheritance.”

“I was only aware of him getting 20 million pounds,” said Sienna. “It’s more like 100 million pounds,” said Alex, “providing he is the lone heir.” Sienna then told Alex not to worry about a thing and that she would soon be out of prison, that’s why she had brought her lawyer along to listen to her side. She also told her not to worry, no one would hurt or kill her before she got out of here. Sienna also told her that she would be visited by more of her friends and that she should trust them totally.

“The name of one is Kat,” she said, “she used to be married to Steve and works with him now, she’s very nice, you will like her. Helene is looking forward to seeing you again too.” Alex smiled. “Helene has been like a sister to me,” she said. Sienna and her lawyer then left, but Angel remained behind to protect Alex until the team can get her safely out of that prison tonight. After they left, two guards came and put the key in the lock of the door. “Oh no, they have come to beat me because of those people visiting,” Alex said quietly…

To Be Continued. ©2026 Steve McLeod.