Day after day, inmates at a women’s prison were getting pregnant, one after the other. When the warden decided to investigate and find out why, everyone was horrified. Dr. Elizabeth stared at the ultrasound monitor, her eyes wide. In her more than ten years as a doctor, she had seen many strange things. But these-

These were completely unexpected. The image on the screen was clear and unmistakable, and her mind desperately tried to find a logical explanation for what she was seeing. When Elizabeth could finally formulate her thoughts, she called out to the guard waiting at the door. “Madison, could you call the chief?” “Tell-

“He said it’s urgent,” the doctor asked, trying to keep his tone professional despite the anxiety in his voice. Madison frowned, but didn’t ask any questions. She just nodded and quickly left to call the chief. While they waited, Elizabeth turned to the patient, a young woman named Hillary, who was sitting restlessly on the gurney, drumming her fingers nervously. There was the same confusion in her eyes as Elizabeth’s. “Doctor, I don’t understand much-

thing, but that thing on the screen, is that really what I think it is?” Hillary stammered, unable to finish her sentence. Elizabeth took a deep breath and confirmed. “Yes, Hillary, you are pregnant, but the question is, how? How did you get pregnant here in this place? Please explain. I need to understand how this happened.” Hillary looked down at Mason, trying to avoid the question. Her discomfort only increased when the door opened and Samantha, the head of the department, entered the room with firm steps and a serious expression. Samantha was disturbed to see the look of unease on the doctor’s face. “What is it, Elizabeth? What’s go-

“He?” Samantha asked, alternating her gaze between Elisabeth and Hilary, trying to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Elisabeth pointed to the ultrasound monitor, which was still on. “Look here,” the doctor said, already anticipating the reaction. Samantha walked over and her eyes widened at the image. “No, it’s not possible. Is she pregnant? But how? It’s already the third this week,” Samantha asked incredulously. The doctor and the warden exchanged a look that reflected the same doubts and confusion. “This is serious, Samantha. We can’t just stand by and do nothing. Something is happening,” Elisabeth declared. Samantha ran a hand over her tired face, clearly trying to digest the information. In the women’s prison where she worked, the rules were extremely strict. Intimate encounters were forbidden, and contact with the outside world was controlled. “It’s impossible.” “There’s no way a woman can get pregnant here,” Samantha said, shaking her head. “But you’re right. Something very serious is happening right under our noses.” Hilary, the young prisoner, was silently listening to the conversation. The doctor looked at her with a serious expression, and she nervously began to speak. “Hilary, I’m only going to ask you once,” Elisabeth said, trying to keep her voice calm and gentle. “How are-

Did you get pregnant? Who is the father of the child?” Hilary was sweating and clenching her fists, searching for an answer. “I don’t know how it happened,” she said, her voice shaking. “I didn’t do anything, I swear, I don’t know. Please don’t ask me again.” Elisabeth and Samantha exchanged meaningful glances. Something was wrong. The young woman clearly knew something, but refused to talk. The head warden, who was growing impatient, crossed her arms over her chest and approached Hillary as if her mere presence could elicit an answer. “Listen, Hillary,” the head warden began in a firm voice, “you are the third woman to get pregnant here and only this week, which means something is going on in this correctional facility and we need to know what and how. So tell us, how did you get pregnant?” Hilary staggered back, surprised by the sudden confrontation. “I told you I didn’t know and I didn’t want to talk about it anymore,” she said.

She abruptly stood up from the gurney, visibly shaken by the pressure. Before she could stop her, Hilary walked out the door, accompanied by a female guard, leaving the doctor and the warden once again without an answer. Over the next few days, tensions rose in the prison. Samantha decided to call a meeting of the prison staff to discuss the suspicions and try to find new evidence. Gathered in a small conference room, the security staff and other employees listened intently to Samantha’s account of the situation. Madison, one of the guards in charge of the prisoners, scratched her head before saying, “I spend all day with these women and I’ve never noticed anything suspicious. They spend all day in the cafeteria or on the yard, doing their chores. I don’t understand how they could get pregnant.” Elizabeth nodded. “And intimate encounters aren’t allowed here. Contact is always controlled.” Everything is monitored by cameras. This makes the situation even stranger. A heavy silence hung over the room until another guard, Maria, said, “What if it wasn’t someone from outside? What if it was someone who works with us?” Samantha looked at Elisabeth. The idea was disturbing, but it made sense. Do you think an employee could be involved? “I’m not accusing anyone, but we can’t rule out such a possibility.” “Perhaps someone took a break from work to meet with the women away from the cameras,” Maria suggested cautiously. Samantha took this suggestion to heart. But all the security staff, as well as the other cleaning and cafeteria employees, were women. The only man here was Mr. Alex. An even deeper silence reigned in the room. No one dared accuse the old man of such a thing. He was well known for his kindness and gentlemanly charisma. Mr. Alex was a guard who stood at the front gate of the correctional facility, and in the twenty years he had worked there, he had almost no contact with the prisoners. At least, that’s what everyone thought. Doubt began to arise in Samantha’s mind, and she decided to watch all the surveillance camera footage from the past few months. Later, in the observation room, Elisabeth and Samantha watched every recording they could. They examined every hallway, every corner, looking for anything that might have gone unnoticed. The work was exhausting, but necessary. During one of these recordings, Elisabeth noticed something unusual. The footage showed Guillary, the latest prisoner to become pregnant, being released through one of the hallway doors, and right behind her, Mr. Alex. The two of them entered another hallway,where the toilets were and where the camera couldn’t film, and after a few minutes only Mr. Alex returned. It all seemed very suspicious. “Why is-

Did he go to the bathroom with the prisoner?” “There’s a bathroom in the guardhouse,” Samantha said. “Do you think he could be responsible for all this?” Elisabeth asked, her enthusiasm undisguised. None of them wanted to believe that Mr. Alex could be the person responsible for all these pregnancies. But he was the only male employee there, and suspicion fell on him. Before jumping to conclusions and blaming someone for something so serious, the warden decided it would be best to simply speak to Mr. Alex. But to her surprise, he was on vacation. Doubts grow, the mystery remains. The news of Mr. Alex’s vacation dispelled all suspicion, as the old man had been away for almost a month when the first pregnancy was discovered. During a telephone conversation, he also explained that he had started using the prisoners’ bathroom while the one in the guardhouse was being renovated. Samantha was relieved to learn that poor Mr. Alex wasn’t responsible for anything. But the secret remained. And as if fate were against her, another hole burst into their lives. Only a week after the last pregnancy discovery, Elizabeth walked unhesitatingly into the chief’s office. Her face was pale, as if she had just received terrible news. “Samantha, you won’t believe this, but we have another case, and this time it’s Suzanne,” Elizabeth declared. In the look Samantha gave Elizabeth, there was a mixture of surprise and despair. Suzanne was a prominent figure in the prison, known for her intimidating demeanor and the influence she exerted over the other prisoners. She was an imposing woman, with a strong stature and a firm expression on her face. Her stern stare was enough to make anyone avert their eyes. “We need to speak to him immediately,” Samantha declared, standing up hastily. Elisabeth nodded, and they went together to the courtyard, where Suzanne was usually at this time of day. When they arrived, the prisoner was already waiting for her with a defiant expression on her face. Arms crossed over her chest and one eyebrow raised, she seemed ready for any confrontation. The other prisoners around her murmured, exchanging curious glances. “Suzanne, can we

“Would you like to talk to us alone for a bit?” Samantha asked, trying to keep calm. Suzanne let out a sarcastic laugh and shook her head dismissively. “Suzanne, we want to understand what’s going on here. Three prisoners got pregnant, and now you too. We know something’s going on here, and we need to know what it is,” Elisabeth said. Suzanne looked at them closely, challenging them both. “You shouldn’t be interfering in other people’s problems. I won’t tell you anything. So stop your little investigation.” Giving Samantha one last threatening look, Suzanne turned and walked away. The impasse and the new discovery. The next day, a meeting was scheduled with the prison administration. Samantha and Elisabeth were visibly tense as they entered the room where serious faces awaited them. Samantha began the meeting by recounting the events of the past few weeks, and Elisabeth shared the documents and medical details regarding the prisoners. When they mentioned the lack of appointment-

As you intimately shared, the faces of those present became even more confused. “With all due respect,” Samantha said, taking a deep breath, “this situation already seems ridiculous to us.” Four pregnant women in a place where it shouldn’t be possible, and we have no idea how it’s happening. After a moment of awkward silence, the prison director finally broke the tense atmosphere. We can’t ignore this. We must act. We will increase surveillance and install cameras in every possible corner. The decision was unanimous. There would be no more unmonitored premises. Not a single corridor, entrance or courtyard, would be without a camera. It was the final attempt to solve the mystery. Over the next week, Elisabeth and Samantha spent countless hours going through the recordings. Every movement of the prisoners, guards, and staff was analyzed in detail. But no matter how closely she looked, nothing unusual happened. Everything was apparently under control. And the secrecy persisted. Exhausted, Elisabeth rubbed her eyes, watching the video from the last shift again. Samantha, I don’t know what to think anymore. “We’ve analyzed every detail and found nothing,” Elisabeth said. Samantha shook her head in disappointment and replied, “I too am beginning to doubt we’ll find anything. We’ve watched everything, from dawn to dusk, and nothing.” The days became monotonous. Samantha and Elisabeth followed a single routine. They worked and spent their free time immersed in their notes, searching for answers. One afternoon

At noon, Elisabeth was leafing through medical records in her office when Madison entered, accompanied by a young prisoner. “Doctor, this is Louise. She’s not feeling well, so I decided to bring her here,” the guard explained, guiding the prisoner to the gurney. “Tell me how you’re feeling, Louise,” the doctor asked. The young woman looked down and answered hesitantly. “I’ve been sick for a few days. My stomach hurts and I feel pain all over my body. I can’t eat properly and I can’t sleep.” Elisabeth watched her closely. Something about Louise’s posture suggested she was hiding something. “I’m going to do an ultrasound to get a closer look at what’s going on,” Elisabeth said, already suspecting what she would discover. Within minutes, her suspicions were confirmed. “Louise, you’re pregnant,” Elisabeth said, already thinking about how she would tell Samantha that a fifth woman was pregnant. Upon hearing this news, the young woman opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word. Instead, she trembled and then burst into tears uncontrollably. Elisabeth sighed deeply before turning to the guard. “Madison, please go to Samantha and tell her we have another pregnant woman,” she asked, trying to keep the tension in her voice. Madison wasted no time. Quickly laying her head down, she left the room, and Elisabeth stood there, looking at Louise, who was still crying, tears streaming down her face. “Louise, it’s going to be okay. You can trust me. Tell me what’s going on.” “You’re safe here,” Elisabeth said calmly and encouragingly. With trembling hands, Louise wiped her face and confessed in a guilty whisper. “I made a mistake. I did something very serious.” Before she could continue, the door opened and Samantha walked in, followed by Madison. Samantha stepped into the room, looking at Louise with a mixture of curiosity and seriousness. Arms crossed over her chest, she looked questioningly at Elizabeth, who responded with a slight nod, indicating the situation was delicate. “Louise, we’re here to help.” “Can you tell us what’s going on?” Samantha said, softening her tone to calm the young woman. Louise sighed deeply, as if gathering the courage to open her heart. The truth is out. A clandestine love behind bars. Louise hesitated, her gaze shifting from Elizabeth to Samantha as if afraid her words would be refuted. “You’re looking behind us.” Everyone here knows that. But the problem is, you’re looking in the wrong place,” she admitted, her voice quiet and uncertain. Samantha frowned and leaned forward slightly to hear me.”What do you mean? What does ‘in the wrong place’ mean?” he asked.

she, without hiding her growing curiosity. Louise looked away, visibly nervous, and after a long silence, admitted that it wasn’t the people here who did this. This revelation left Elisabeth and Samantha stunned. They exchanged incredulous glances before Samantha moved even closer to the young woman. “You mean men come here from outside the prison? How is that possible?” Samantha asked, trying to remain calm in the face of what she had just heard. Louise lowered her head, her words almost a whisper. “You’ll understand if you look at the courtyard. There, between the bissons and the stone benches, where Suzanne and the others always have a good time.” Elisabeth and Samantha were in shock. The information seemed absurd. But it partly explained the mystery that had tormented them for several weeks. “Louise, are you sure?” » “Are people hiding in the courtyard?” Samantha asked, her expression grave. Louise nodded, almost tearing her eyes away. “They’re not hiding. You’ll see if you look closely.” Despite the young woman’s hesitant tone, something about Louise’s frightened expression made everything seem more real to Elisabeth and Samantha. The fear in Louise’s eyes made everything more believable. “So why do so many women get pregnant? Are these meetings organized there?” Samantha asked, still trying to process what she had heard. Louise bit her lip, visibly uncomfortable. “Please don’t go when everyone is in the courtyard. If Suzanne finds out what I told you, I don’t know what she’ll do,” she whispered, almost pleading. After her confession, Louise left the room. Elisabeth and Samantha exchanged views, realizing this was the most concrete lead they’d had so far. “We need to check the cameras; we’re going to look at the exact spot she mentioned. If there’s something there, we need to see it now,” Samantha said decisively. Elisabeth nodded, her heart pounding. It seemed they were finally close to solving the mystery that had tormented them for so long. The discovery of the tunnel and the end of the mystery. Within minutes, they were both standing in front of the monitor screen, carefully observing what was happening. They focused on the corner of the courtyard Louise had mentioned, between the bushes and stone benches. For the first few minutes, everything seemed abnormal. The prisoners were chatting, sitting on benches, and walking around the courtyard. But then Elisabeth noticed something unusual. There were only three women instead of four. Samantha replayed the video, squinting to focus on the images. “You’re right, one of them disappeared into the bushes. We need to see where she went.”Samantha said as they both continued to watch. For thirty minutes, they watched the three remaining prisoners, who seemed on guard, as if they were monitoring something. Then the missing prisoner reappeared among the bushes, as if nothing had happened. Elisabeth held her breath, feeling the tension rising. They waited until the courtyard was empty at the end of the day.

Once all the prisoners had returned to their cells, Samantha and Elisabeth left the observation room and headed towards the indicated location. Arriving at the bush, Samantha carefully parted the leaves and discovered something unexpected. A small hole in the ground, almost invisible among the thickets. “Elisabeth, look, we found it!” Samantha exclaimed in surprise. Elisabeth bent down and her eyes widened when she realized it was a narrow, well-camouflaged tunnel. Everything was tense under their noses. They quickly called the guards to go down into the tunnel and find out where it led. The security guards walked along a narrow path and, after a few minutes, returned with the long-awaited answer.

The tunnel connected the women’s prison yard to the men’s prison yard. Samantha, Elizabeth, and the guards burst out laughing as soon as they realized what was happening. “So that’s it!” Samantha commented, wiping away her tears of laughter. The secret of the pregnant women was actually a secret love affair between prisoners from both departments. According to the guards, the tunnel was apparently the result of an old escape attempt that had failed. Instead of taking the prisoners out of prison, they had dug it to the opposite wing, creating a secret connection between the two penal institutions. There, in a narrow, hidden tunnel, two prisoners met regularly, taking advantage of the opportunities and luck they had discovered this passageway. The constant meetings and the lack of contraception inevitably resulted in several prisoners becoming pregnant. Samantha and Elizabeth informed the management of both prisons of what had happened. After a long discussion, a simple and effective solution was adopted. Close both tunnel entrances to prevent further secret meetings and, consequently, further unexpected pregnancies. As an alternative, the administration decided to organize visits on certain days of the month, ensuring that these meetings took place in a safe and controlled environment, while maintaining the necessary confidentiality to avoid future problems. Over the following months, Samantha and Elizabeth carefully observed the consequences of revealing this secret. Five babies born in prison were entrusted to the prisoners’ families, who were to care for the children while the mothers served their sentences. The mystery of pregnant women is a funny and instructive story, which they recount with great pleasure at meetings and professional gatherings, as a reminder that the truth is often simpler than one imagines.