Chapter 12

In the living room, Cassie tells Michael that Veronica Sterling effectively threatened to shut down the Naturals program. Their playful banter about how to threaten Michael turns raw when he jokes about Cassie’s “sadistic streak,” triggering Cassie’s memories of Locke and her fear of using people’s weaknesses.

The conversation shifts to Dean. Michael teases Cassie for visiting Dean despite Lia’s stance, revealing his own masked concern. Cassie admits Dean won’t be okay until the case is closed and blames Sterling’s secrecy. Michael reads Sterling’s emotions from brief encounters: Sterling dislikes his rule-breaking, isn’t afraid of Dean, likes Lia, and sees someone in Sloane.

Judd enters and dismisses Michael. He asks Cassie why the program handles only cold cases, then underscores the real reason: active cases push people to cross lines and make sacrifices. He trusts Briggs mostly and trusts Sterling, but leaves the director’s past choices—using Cassie as bait—unspoken between them.

Judd then grounds Cassie from the basement for weeks and orders her to stay out of the active case, insisting Sterling could teach her. Cassie rejects the idea, saying she only cares that the killer is caught. As he leaves, Judd adds a final, quiet disclosure: Sterling and Briggs have only ever had one case they couldn’t solve.