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

him.”
    “Yes, I do know what it means, officer. It’s a difficult question to answer. You see, I haven’t seen him in ages, and the last time I saw him, I wanted to kill him.”
    “Oh?” said Theo. “When was the last time you saw him?”
    “Oh, at least ten years ago. I know it sounds shocking that I would want to kill my brother, but you see, he was such an . . . unusual person. I come from a family of seven children and he was the youngest. In this day and age, the youngest is often spoiled; however, in our household, that didn’t happen. Poor Doc. I suppose I can understand why he was the way he was.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “My mother really shouldn’t have had any children—she epitomized the word selfish, you see—but, she somehow ended up with seven. The first six turned out well because we were all girls and took care of each other. However, gin and tonic became her best friend by the time Doc, her first boy, came along, and she couldn’t feign caring any more. In short order, he became the property of various young nannies.”
    “Why did you want to kill him?”
    “Well, I don’t think I really would have killed him, not really. Typical brother and sister angst: we would pull down his trousers and knock him round a bit. In return, he would pull our hair or tattle on us. Silly things really. We gave him a difficult time but eventually he got us all back. We’d find our favorite frocks shredded and hanging from the trees in the garden. Or he’d put coloring in our hand cream. I told him I’d kill him if I ever saw him again because he put itching powder on all my clothes before I had an important business trip to Europe—I had an important interview. I ended up getting the job, but I was so angry. I moved to Spain shortly after and . . .” She shook her head. “We weren’t really close.”
    “What about your other sisters? Were any of them close?”
    “I don’t think so. Patty married a Canadian and moved to Canada, Carolyn’s in Italy with her husband. My sisters Beatrice and Yvonne live in London, but as far as I know, they don’t have contact with him. And my sister Roberta, she died, ten years back now. Sadly, if anyone knew him, it would be the nannies. He always felt closer to staff than to his family.”
    “Do you think he still has contact with them?”
    “The staff? No. I don’t remember the name of any of my nannies. And if I did, it would be only their first names. I don’t know where my mother found them. They weren’t much older than we were. Anyway, Doc moved out of the house and down to London when he was seventeen. I think my father kicked him out of the house.”
    “Why was that?”
    “Possibly because my father expected Doc to take over the family’s steel business. He chose instead to get into trade—an electrician or something like that. It was inevitable though, Doc was determined to become the opposite of whatever my father wanted him to become.”
    “Where’s the doctor?” Henry called out. “I will not see the doctor.”
    Diane turned to him and yelled, “Dad, the police have come to tell me Maddock is dead.”
    Henry didn’t reply.
    “Did you know your brother was missing a leg?” asked Theo.
    “Yes, I knew.”
    “Do you know what happened to it?”
    “It happened at work. He was installing wiring and scaffolding gave way. He only sustained a gash in his leg but then the cut got infected and had to be amputated.”
    “That’s too bad,” replied Theo.
    Diane only shrugged.
    “We found some pieces of art in his home, tiled art. Has he always been an artist?” asked Theo.
    “Artist?” She laughed. “Not that I’m aware of. All anyone in this house expected of Doc was for him to get a good education and take over the family business.”
    “So then, who took over the business when your father stopped working?” Dorland asked. He rose from the sofa and began to peer at the figurines on the mantle place.
    “My cousin Earnest. And