The Naturals, #2
Killer Instinct
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Contents
Chapter 41
Overview
The team confirms Clark killed Trina, while the remaining apprentice executed Clark to protect the scheme. Cassie realizes Redding never chose victims; the apprentices selected targets for each other, creating airtight alibis. This "Strangers on a Train" method explains Emerson’s and Christopher Simms’s alibis and reframes the hunt for the surviving killer.
Summary
The team absorbs that Clark’s DNA ties him to Trina’s murder and that the remaining apprentice killed Clark. Cassie profiles Clark as disorganized and imagines the surviving UNSUB eliminating him for risking exposure.
Dean probes how sloppy Trina’s scene was; Agent Sterling confirms Clark followed the MO poorly. Cassie fixates on Redding’s earlier statement—he didn’t choose the victims—and presses Lia to confirm he hadn’t lied.
Michael connects the dots: the apprentices chose victims for each other. Clark’s obsession and resentment toward Emerson made her his pick, but another apprentice killed her while Clark had an alibi.
Sloane cites the "Strangers on a Train" model; Briggs notes this grants each killer an alibi. The pattern also explains Christopher Simms being with Briggs when his mother died, confirming the mutual-target scheme.
The realization reframes the case: Redding orchestrated control while distancing himself, the apprentices selected targets, and the surviving killer removed Clark to preserve the plan. The team pivots to identifying the remaining apprentice and his chosen counterpart targets.
Who Appears
- CassieNarrator; deduces Redding didn’t pick victims and uncovers the mutual-target alibi scheme.
- MichaelRecognizes Clark’s anger; articulates the apprentices choosing each other’s victims concept.
- DeanQuestions Trina’s crime scene organization; recalls Redding’s exact words; supports control-focused profiling.
- Agent SterlingConfirms Trina’s murder followed the MO poorly; part of the analytical discussion.
- Agent BriggsHighlights how the scheme provides alibis; recalls being with Christopher during his mother’s murder.
- LiaVerifies Redding didn’t lie in Cassie’s interview, enabling the key deduction.
- SloaneCites Strangers on a Train, framing the mutual murder-alibi mechanism.
- ClarkRevealed as Trina’s killer and an apprentice; murdered by the remaining UNSUB.
- Daniel ReddingMastermind; had apprentices pick each other’s victims, maintaining control without choosing targets.
- EmersonVictim likely chosen by Clark; murdered by the other apprentice while Clark had an alibi.
- Trina SimmsVictim killed by Clark in a poorly executed copycat murder.
- Christopher SimmsHeld an alibi with Briggs during his mother’s murder, supporting the scheme.