S.P.E.C.T.O.R-Chapter 557: Flemming families’ task

Stacey tucked her head in and Charlotte’s eyes widened as they heard Adam’s words.

“I would request you not to kill Miss Flemming. Lady Flemming is trying to build better ties with you,” Charlotte replied.

“Well, she should have sent someone else then,” Adam replied.

“That much is apparent and I will be sure to inform Lady Flemming of that,” Charlotte replied before adding, “Lady Flemming was the only one of the five family heads who wanted to clear you of Jenny Downs murder.”

“Is that so?” Adam asked with a frown before thinking, {Spector, can you look into that?}

[[Affirmative.]]

“It is,” Charlotte replied.

“Very well, I will give Isabella Flemming the chance to prove how sincere she is about building a close friendship with me,” Adam replied.

“Might I ask how so that I can let Lady Flemming know?” Charlotte replied.

Adam played with his uniband, causing a holographic Image of a male to appear above his wrist, surprising Stacey and Charlotte before he asked, “Do you recognise this man?”

“Robert!” Stacey said in surprise as she recognised the individual.

“Robert Flemming, elder brother of Stacey here and grandson of Lady Isabella,” Charlotte replied before asking, “Might I enquire as to why you wish to know?”

“Oh, I already knew, I was just testing you,” Adam replied before he had a holographic screen appear featuring Robert Flemming's information.

[[Name: Robert Flemming]]

[[Age: 35 (Earth Calendar)]]

[[YOB: 1991 (Earth Calendar)]]

[[Race: Earthling (100%)]]

[[Species: Humanoid]]

[[Home Planet: Earth (Milky Way Galaxy)]]

[[Birth Planet: Earth (Milky Way Galaxy)]]

[[Registered Ship: N/A]]

[[Convictions: N/A.]]

[[Mercenary Hall Rank: None]]

[[Bounty Hunter Guild Rank: None]] 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

[[Additional Information: Grandson of Isabella Flemming, head of the Flemming family. Suspected of numerous crimes, though never convicted because of the mysterious disappearance of vital evidence or key witnesses.]]

[Celebrityhunter69 (Earth): So a member of the Flemming family was indeed behind the kidnapping attempt?]

[Superherofangirl (Earth): Seems that way.]

“Is this the man who hired the kidnappers?” Emma asked in surprise.

“That’s correct,” Adam replied as a third holographic window appeared, showing a video from the restaurant's CCTV featuring Robert Flemming sitting in the restaurant and using his phone.

“The time and date of this footage corresponds exactly with that of the message the kidnappers received about us visiting you in your office,” Adam stated. Spector had hacked into the restaurant's security system almost immediately after they had arrived.

“Do you know him, Emma?” Lorelie asked.

“Only by association,” Emma replied before continuing, “He accompanied some other members of the Flemming family to meetings I had with them in the past.”

“Love at first sight?” Aphrodite asked with a wink.

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Emma replied with a sigh.

“Ohhh, sounds like there's a story there, you will have to tell us about it later,” Aphrodite replied with interest.

“If Isabella Flemming wants to prove her sincerity, then she needs to hand Robert over to me or tell me where to find him. That’s my condition,” Adam stated.

“You want my grandmother to hand over her grandson?” Stacey asked as she finally managed to speak up again.

“That’s up to her,” Adam replied with a shrug before continuing, “I can find him myself quite easily; this is just a test for your grandmother.”

“And what do you plan to do to my brother?” Stacey asked.

“That’s a decision I will leave up to Emma; it’s her that he tried to kidnap for some reason,” Adam replied, causing Stacey and Charlotte to look at Emma.

“Do you two perchance know why he would try to kidnap Emma here?” Stacey asked.

“Afraid not,” Charlotte replied before adding, “Lady Flemming ordered everyone not to interfere with anything related to Miss Hopkins after she learnt about her meeting with you all.”

“Is that right?” Adam asked as he raised an eyebrow before adding. “Well, it would seem that someone didn’t listen.”

“That does seem to be the case, I’m afraid,” Charlotte replied.

“Then I would suggest the Flemming family look into this. We have other business to take care of here on earth after finishing our meal, so you have until then to find Robert Flemming and hand him over,” Adam stated.

[StealthAssassin9 (Earth): Damn, the streamer is totally bossing them around.]

[Whostolemyduck (Earth): With great power.]

[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Comes the ability to make others fear you.]

[Whostolemyduck (Earth): That’s not how the saying goes.]

[Gunlovergirl (Earth): I know, but it’s also true.]

“What other business?” Stacey asked.

“I don’t believe that's any of your concern,” Adam replied before adding, “Now I think we are done here, so please allow us to return to our meal without further interruptions from unwanted guests.”

Stacey flushed in and was about ot angrily retort, but luckily Charlotte managed to speak first, “Of course, please excuse us and our apologies for interrupting your meal.”

“If you're really apologetic that you can waive the cost,” Rowena suddenly stated with a smile, causing Stacey to glare at her.

“Of course, I will inform the staff,” Charlotte replied as she grabbed Stacey’s armpit and forced her to stand before adding, “If you will excuse us.”

“What are you doing?” Stacey asked angrily as Charlotte led her away.

“Saving your life, miss, or would you like Mr Spencer to kill you?” Charlotte replied.

“That Stacey doesn’t seem to like you much, honey,” Stacey said with a smirk as she watched the pair walk away.

“The feelings mutual,” Adam replied.

“Is this all because of Jenny?” Tephe asked curiously.

Adam was silent for a moment as he took a sip of his wine before saying, “She never approved of my relationship with Jenny and always told her that she could find someone better. Back then, I assumed it was simply because I was an orphan and she was a snob; now I know it’s also because she wanted to recruit Jenny into the Flemming family.”

“Damn bitch, you should have killed her,” Tephe snarled.

“Now Tephe, we can't go killing everyone we don’t like,” Lorelie said with a smile before frowning as she added, “No matter how tempting it may be.”

“Rather strange though, isn’t it?” Aphrodite asked thoughtfully.

“What?” Adam asked.

“It makes sense that they would want to recruit Jenny into their family if she really was that smart, but why send Stacey in under a different name?” Aphrodite replied.

“Probably because it was in the US, which is Mororse territory,” Emma stated.

“Sure, but you said that Stacey disappeared from the public eye when she was young; the Flemming family can’t have known about Jenny back then, surely,” Aphrodite stated.

“That is strange,” Adam mused before thinking aloud, “Also, since Stacey is from one of the five families, why didn’t Victor recognise her? The five families don’t interact with each other much, but they must keep dossiers on one another.”

“Perhaps it’s something to consider asking Isabella when you speak with her,” Rowena suggested.

“Perhaps,” Adam replied uncertainly.

“You don’t sound too sure, babe,” Lorelie said in a concerned tone.

“That's because looking into things related to Jenny will just make me remember her death,” Adam replied.

Lorelie placed her hand longingly on Adam’s before softly saying, “Her death still haunts you and it's something that will stay with you for the rest of your life, but it’s also something you need to think about putting behind you.”

“Lorelie’s right, this is the most you have ever spoken about Jenny and that’s because it was something you were always running away from,” Stacey added as she took his other hand.

“This Jenny thing seems far more complicated than just one man's obsession, daling,” Rowena remarked before adding, “Take it from someone who has lost seven husbands and numerous lovers. You need to face this loss head-on and put it behind you; that’s the only way you can move on and love again.”

“You're suggesting that I have Spector look into Jenny and why the five families were so interested in her?” Adam asked.

“I am,” Rowena replied with a reassuring smile.

Adam closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and saying, “I’m not sure if I’m fully ready to say goodbye to her, so let me think on it.”

Rowena nodded and said no more on the topic while Stacey and Lorelie both gave his hands a gentle squeeze.

“I’m not sure how much your AI can find if you decide to look into Jenny Downs,” Emma suddenly stated before continuing, “I had my people look into both of you after our previous interactions and they didn’t find anything strange.”

Emma thought for a moment before adding, “Though I admit they didn’t look into any potential connection Jenny Downs may have had with the five families.”

“How about we table this conversation for the moment, as we already have Emma’s mystery to solve?” Adam asked.

“Yeah, I want to see more of Earth,” Tephe stated cheerfully.

“It’s remarkable how fast your emotions change,” Rowena said to Tephe with a chuckle.

“Hehe,” Tephe giggled as she took the comment as a compliment.