The Naturals, #2
Killer Instinct
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Contents
Chapter 27
Overview
The test video confirms every student and TA Geoffrey were in the auditorium when Emerson was killed, collapsing the Colonial-class lead. On the roof, Cassie and Lia confront Dean’s shutdown and their shared stakes, while Cassie reveals Sterling survived Redding. Overhearing Sterling and the director’s clash exposes Bureau politics, Sterling’s past, and her covert visit to Redding. Sterling wins permission to approach Dean with the prison visitor logs.
Summary
The FBI verifies the exam video, proving all 307 students—and TA Geoffrey—were in Davies Auditorium during Emerson Cole’s 7:55 a.m. time-of-death. The Colonial-class suspect pool collapses, rendering the team’s campus lead a dead end.
Frustrated, Cassie and Lia retreat to the roof with ice cream. Cassie acknowledges Dean’s anger and their failed lead. Lia describes how Dean earned her trust years ago—following her when she ran, keeping watch without judgment, and telling her the truth. Cassie discloses that Agent Sterling is a branded survivor of Daniel Redding, likely aided by Dean, explaining Dean’s current shutdown.
When Agent Sterling arrives with the FBI director, Cassie and Lia eavesdrop. Sterling argues against involving Dean; the director insists Dean’s insight into Redding is essential and defends the Naturals program as the teens’ best option. Their dispute exposes old wounds: Sterling left the Bureau after the Nightshade lab murder of Scarlett Hawkins and resents her father’s leadership and broken rules.
Pressed, Sterling reveals she already visited Redding to get under his skin. Leveraging this, she requests to approach Dean herself with Redding’s prison visitor logs. After tense silence, the director agrees—warning that if Sterling and Briggs don’t deliver results, he’ll bring in someone who will.
Who Appears
- Cassie HobbesNarrator; processes the failed lead, comforts Lia, reveals Sterling’s victimization, and overhears Sterling and the director.
- Lia ZhangAngry over wasted lead and Dean’s silence; shares history with Dean; eavesdrops, gauging Sterling–director conflict.
- Agent Veronica SterlingBranded survivor of Daniel Redding; clashes with her director father; admits visiting Redding; authorized to approach Dean.
- The DirectorSterling’s father; defends using the Naturals and Dean; pressures for results; permits Sterling to show Dean visitor logs.
- Dean ReddingOff-page; shut down emotionally; central to debate over consulting him and viewing visitor logs.
- Daniel ReddingImprisoned killer; Sterling’s abuser; his psychology drives the dispute; recently visited by Sterling.
- Emerson ColeMurder victim; TOD fixed at 7:55 a.m.; class video alibis all suspects tied to Fogle’s exam.
- TA GeoffreyProvided test video; presence on film confirms his alibi alongside the students.
- Agent BriggsReferenced supervisor; tasked with results alongside Sterling per the director’s ultimatum.