The Electrician's Code by Clarissa Draper Page A

long Doc had that vehicle but, it’s not here so I assume he kept it.”
    Theo leaned in closer to have a look. Doc stood on the banks of a marsh land, holding a large bird in one hand and a large gun in the other. He stood with an older man. Could it be his father? Theo placed his finger on the man in the photograph.
    “Oh, that’s my uncle, Earnest,” she explained. “Father of my cousin Earnest. Doc really loved my uncle. He worked for the government, you know. I don’t know which branch.”
    “Your brother worked for the government?” asked Dorland.
    “No my uncle. I don’t know much about him but I remember Doc used to look forward to his visits. My uncle could tell stories, some crazy stories. I’m not sure any were true. Doc had a code, or so he says. He would place square children’s blocks in the window before Uncle Earnest would arrive. One time to spite him, I pushed his blocks off the window sill. Doc got so mad he threw a metal ornament at my head.”
    She pointed to a scar on her forehead.
    “I know this doesn’t help with the investigation, but, as much as he drove me insane when he was younger, I always felt he was misunderstood. That he wasn’t given the chance. He never received the love he should have, that he was entitled to. I really do hope you catch whoever murdered him.”
    “We will do our best. Perhaps you can give us the names and numbers of your sisters in London. We would like them to come in and give a formal identification and perhaps they have had contact with Doc, you never know. Also, do you think any of your staff will have remembered Doc? Are any still with you?”
    She shook her head. “Sadly no. We had to let a lot of staff go, so we are down to six. No one has been with us longer than . . .” She counted on four fingers, “twelve years. They wouldn’t know Doc.” She rose. “Now, let me get you those names.”
    She went to a desk in the corner of the library and pulled out a leather book. “We should be closer, my sisters and I, but you know how it is. Eventually you lose contact. They marry, have children, and move on with their lives.”
    Dorland rose from his seat and again started making his way around the room, examining all the books on the shelves and the art on the walls.
    “Is that your mother?” Dorland asked.
    “That is.”
    The portrait of Mrs. Tipring covered a large panel on the wall. She was stunning and vibrant in a white evening gown. A large red flower sat neatly in her hair above her right ear. What a creature she must have been in person.
    “The gown she wore there still hangs in her wardrobe. Doc never tore that one to shreds.”
    A short while later, after finishing tea, the officers were headed back on their long trek to London.
    “So, what do you think?” Theo asked his partner when they had left the house.
    “They’re an odd family. But I suppose the rich are often that way.” Dorland pulled down his visor and checked his teeth. “You’d never suspect from examining his flat that he’d ever come from that family. I wonder if he inherited any money from his parents?”
    “I guess his solicitor will be able to tell us that. However, from the way his father took the news of his son’s death, I don’t think there was any love lost between the two. Do you think his sisters had anything to do with his death?” Theo asked.
    “Why now? The statement from the nurse says that he had no contact with anyone. His sister confirms she never talked to him in years. Why would they kill him now?”
    “Well, it looked like the nannies were the ones who spent time with Doc and they didn’t treat him well either. Could one of the nannies have become his nurse later on in life and have killed him?”
    “Why would they do that?”
    “More likely, he would have killed them.”
    “I just don’t see a motive anywhere.” Dorland slammed the visor against the top of the car roof.
    “The only reason I can see is if on his father’s death,