The Electrician's Code by Clarissa Draper Read Free Book Online

Liam—to have access to my every conversation, I do take comfort in knowing they can protect me if they know what I’m up to.”
    “Then, let me just tweak it a bit.”
    “At least you can work. I’m envious, you can’t hear the noise coming from the flat above.”
    “Oh, I feel it. Just because I’m deaf doesn’t mean I can’t feel.”
    “Just because you’re deaf doesn’t mean you can steal my credit card to buy yourself a new mobile phone. I see you bought two.” Sophia gave Crystal a wink. The first year the two worked together, they carried on a long-running “just because you’re deaf” joke. It had bonded the two women working in a mostly male environment. When they met condescending, chauvinistic attitudes from their male counterparts, they expressed their anger and frustration through sign.
    “Has the woman done anything while I was gone?”
    “Well, let’s see,” Sophia said, sliding her notepad down off the table and laying it at her feet. “She’s made six cups of tea, peed five cups worth, washed the dishes, made her bed, showered, crocheted a little more on the blanket, watched an episode of Corrie, rolled pennies, and loads of other boring things. I think she knows we’re watching and is torturing us. Now she’s vacuuming the hall carpets.”
    Sophia’s mobile phone vibrated on the floor. Crystal picked it up and finger-spelt L-i-a-m before handing it to her co-worker. Sophia was about to put her mobile into her pocket but Crystal waved her hands about.
    “Answer it,” she signed. “You might find him to be the most irritating person on planet Earth but he is still your superior.”
    Sophia sighed. “Hello, Liam, to what do I owe the honor of hearing your voice?”
    “I was wondering if you needed me to bring you two some lunch?” he asked. “Chinese take-away or something.”
    “That’s all right, Liam. Crystal has bought us food for our incredibly exciting assignment. You won’t believe what a laugh we’re having.” She related all the suspect’s activities, including trips to the loo and putting the kettle on. If she had to suffer, he might as well be made to hear it.
    “I really appreciate that you’re doing this for me.”
    She could hear him breathing deeply on the other end of the phone.
    Then, he continued, “I know this is not why you signed up for the security service, but with—”
    “You owe me, all right?” She cut him off. About once a day he came to her, or rang her up to thank her. Or apologize to her for his asinine remarks. She wasn’t going to let him have the satisfaction this morning. “I have to get back to work.” She rang off.
    Crystal stared at her.
    “What?” Sophia asked.
    “Why are you always so rude with him? He fancies you, you know.”
    “I was perfectly civil. Besides, how do you know what I was saying?”
    “I can see your face when you talk to him. I know how you’re feeling.”
    Sophia sighed. “I don’t want him to get any ideas. Besides, he’s irritating as hell. Almost every day he asks me for coffee or dinner. I feel bad because I just can’t, it’s too soon. Everything . . . I want to leave dating behind for a while. Dating, love, men. The whole lot.”
    Crystal just signed, “Men.”
    Crystal had her share of bad relationships. She had never married, but raised two boys on her own. Even now that her sons were grown, Sophia had never seen her with any men. She never talked about them.
    “Would you like me to make you a sandwich?” Sophia asked, getting up and stretching her legs.
    Crystal nodded.
    Sophia walked to the fridge and pulled out the two bags and emptied the bread, ham, cheese, various condiments, and paper plates onto the worktop. A large spider crawled out from behind the coffee maker and Sophia threw a piece of bread down on it. “Gross.”
    Crystal watched and laughed silently at her.
    When Sophia returned with the food, Crystal signed, “Your friend Mr. Blackwell received a new case this