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<span class="mu-b">“We looked into the guys from your list. And out of everyone, Smythe and Stromm stood out to us as people to watch out for.”</span> she began. <span class="mu-b">“Let’s start with Spencer Smythe. According to the data I’ve pulled from his files, he’s been making a series of advanced robots, made from a sort of liquid metal that he’s been developing with the help of another scientist—his assistant, Mark Raxton.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“What are the robots for?”</span> you asked.
<span class="mu-b">“My guess? I think he was preparing to fill an order for that big fat military contract that had landed in Oscorp’s lap.”</span> Julia said. <span class="mu-b">“But it looks like his funding was cut short when they realized that it was cheaper to try and mass produce that bootleg super soldier serum.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“And how’d he take it?”</span>
Julia shrugged. <span class="mu-b">“Dunno. No one’s seen him in a few years. I did, however, manage to track down Mendel Stromm. He just got out of prison a little while ago. It was all over the news for a bit.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“What’s <span class="mu-i">his</span> deal?”</span>
Julia gave you an incredulous look. <span class="mu-b">“His deal? Nothing. He was only found guilty of taking part in one of the biggest embezzlement schemes in recent American corporate history. He and Osborn used to be business partners!”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Wait, seriously? When was that?”</span> you inquired.
<span class="mu-b">“Way back when Oscorp was just a startup. Norman caught Mendel’s hand in the cookie jar, and he went to federal prison for it. Or so we thought…”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“There’s more to the story?”</span> you said, dipping a scone into your tea.
Julia nodded and turned her laptop around so that the screen was facing you. <span class="mu-b">“Check this out. I’ve found evidence that Mendel might’ve been framed by Norman. The numbers don’t quite add up, and the paper trail that leads back to Stromm was a little too obvious. I think he wanted us to find them.”</span> she explained. <span class="mu-b">“And Osborn has a clear motive here. Before Mendel’s arrest, he was the more popular of the two. One was drowning in fame and adoration, and the other in debt.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“So Norman framed him to gain full control over his company?”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“I think so. He was another pioneer of the robotics industry that was shafted by Oscorp. Him and Smythe have decent motives to want to see the company fail.”</span> Julia reasoned.
<span class="mu-r">“But that still doesn’t clear them from suspicion.”</span> you cut in.
<span class="mu-b">“Maybe not for Stromm, but I think it clears Smythe.”</span> she said, brushing a lock of stray, red hair out of her face.
<span class="mu-r">“How so?”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“Well, for one, he named his last batch of robots ‘<span class="mu-s">Spider Slayers</span>’.”</span>
Well that’s not ominous at all.
<span class="mu-b">“If I had to guess,”</span> Julia continued. <span class="mu-b">“I’d say that it was because he was still salty over them scrapping his projects in favor of the spider experiments. He thinks that his new robots are going to blow their spider enhanced experiments out of the water.”</span>
(Cont.)
