The Naturals, #2
Killer Instinct
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Contents
Chapter 26
Overview
Cassie probes Clark and the TA, Geoffrey, after a call reveals Gary Clarkson is top of Fogle’s class. Briggs redirects Cassie to Conrad Mayler, who posts a 7:34 A.M. classroom video. Sloane cross-checks timing, and Briggs confirms Emerson’s time of death as 7:55 A.M., effectively alibiing the 7:30 exam’s 307 students.
The case pivots from classroom suspects toward someone outside the exam room window, narrowing the field and challenging Cassie’s earlier focus.
Summary
Cassie slips into Clark’s mindset, noting his fixation on Emerson but doubting he fits the UNSUB’s organized, controlled profile. A call from TA Geoffrey, intercepted by Lia, reveals Geoffrey’s self-importance and that Gary Clarkson is the class curve-setter, prompting Cassie to flag both Gary and Geoffrey as persons of interest.
Briggs calls, and Cassie relays Gary and Geoffrey. Briggs tasks her with Conrad Mayler, a former student who posted the crime scene video. Cassie quickly profiles Conrad online and links him to Bryce Anderson. Conrad then uploads a new video showing Fogle’s 7:30 A.M. exam at 7:34.
Sloane analyzes the footage, confirming 307 test-takers, including Clark, with Bryce nearby and Derek ahead. Cassie reasons the UNSUB wouldn’t foreground the class, further distancing Conrad from suspicion. The team realizes time-of-death is now crucial to cross-reference against the exam’s timing and location.
Sloane presses Briggs for autopsy details and secures confirmation: Emerson’s body was found at 8:15, with time of death at 7:55 A.M. This timeline effectively alibis all 307 students in the exam room, upending Cassie’s classroom-focused suspect pool and forcing a strategic pivot.
Who Appears
- CassieProfiles Clark and TA Geoffrey; flags Gary Clarkson; researches Conrad Mayler; helps pivot focus using video timing.
- SloaneAnalyzes Conrad’s video, counts students, calculates timelines; pushes Briggs to confirm time of death.
- LiaAnswers Geoffrey’s call, manipulates conversation to extract info about class and top student.
- BriggsDirects Cassie to Conrad Mayler; confirms Emerson’s 7:55 A.M. time of death.
- Geoffrey (TA Geoff)Calls Cassie; boasts about class, Fogle’s book, and judging student ‘potential’; names Gary as curve-setter.
- Gary Clarkson (Clark)Revealed as the class curve-setter; appears in 7:34 A.M. exam video, suggesting an alibi.
- Conrad MaylerFormer student who posted crime scene video; uploads 7:34 A.M. class footage framing the alibi timeline.
- MichaelObserves Cassie, comments on Conrad’s motives and persona.
- DeanOverhears Geoffrey call; withdraws silently, tension noted.
- Bryce AndersonLinked to Conrad; appears near Clark in the exam video.
- DerekVisible in exam video ahead of Clark; part of classroom alibi group.
- Emerson ColeVictim; autopsy sets time of death at 7:55 A.M., key to mass alibi.
- Professor George FogleDeceased professor; his class and exam timing underpin the alibi discovery.