Page 11 of Shameless

“What do you mean, they’re taking him to the police station in Berry Point?” I scowl at Sheriff Pullin. “Is he being charged with anything?”

“Not at this stage. Rikki was covered in Trevor Braverman’s blood, son. He claims he touched the body, trying tohelp. They want to confirm if he’s telling the truth by checking if the blood on his shirt was just Trevor’s and do a gun residue test on himto rule out him being the shooter. If Rikki is telling the truth, cooperating with the police is the best thing he can do.”

There’s compassion in the sheriff’s eyes. He’s a Star Cove High alumnus, a huge fan of the school’s football team.

God knows he’s been called out to a few wild parties back in the day and he’s always turned a blind eye to the underage drinking, just making sure that no one drove home under the influence. But that doesn’t mean he’s on my side now. Or on Rikki’s side.

“I don’t understand why he’s the only one they want to check. How about all the people who were on the island at the time of the shooting?” I argue.

“No one else had blood on them,” the sheriff explains. “And pretty much everyone else has an alibi. Rikki is the only one who was alone right before the shooting.”

It doesn’t make sense. “Well fuck, then someone is obviously lying. I think we should all be checked for gun residue. I volunteer.”

My impression of Katniss Everdeen doesn’t convince the sheriff. “It’s pointless, Crew. Some of us had stopped in a picnic area not far from the stables for a cold breakfast when we heard the shots. We climbed on our golf carts to check where the shots came from and I saw you and Stefan Cutler running toward the stables. You were clearly coming from the docks in the opposite direction to our crime scene. I can’t rule out with absolute certainty that you could have run from the crime scene and then changed course and both you and Cutler are athletic enough that you could have run fast enough. But, you were together and you’re each other’s alibi unless we can prove you’re both lying. To answer your other question, there’s no point in checking everyone whoparticipated in the hunt. We’ll all have gun residue on our hands and clothes.”

I don’t like this.

I feel powerless, exactly like when I boarded that yacht to keep my friend from doing something stupid and then got blamed when she crashed it.

Rich people always stick together, they protect each other and their own interests. That was another one of my father’s lessons when I was growing up and I hate to admit that Eddie was right.

“This is bullshit,” I insist. “I saw little cameras everywhere. There were some at the stables. The murder could be on tape.”

The compassion in the sheriff’s gaze stings more than if he had told me to shut the fuck up. “That’s true. But last night’s storm cut the power. The emergency generators didn’t work and that means the security system was down. Mr. Andrews had someone call the company that manages the network that the entire household and both islands are on but they were still working on it when we came back to the house. So there’s no footage after 8 p.m. last night.”

Fuck.

“I want to go with him.” I don’t think Rikki did it, but until I know for sure, I can’t leave him alone to deal with this mess.

“Crew, the police boat has already left. Besides, there’s nothing you can do for him at this stage.”

I know that on a rational level, but what else can I do?

A soothing hand lands on my shoulder.

“Scott is right,” Arianna says softly. “You can’t help Rikki right now, but he can. Scott, would you mind running to Berry Point to assist Rikki? Whatever the results of the gun residue test, I think having an attorney there can’t hurt.”

I nod, grateful that at least someone is looking out for us. Mom is standing next to Arianna, her face pale and her expression withdrawn. I know that look, she had it after Eddie left us ten years ago. She’s in shock and that adds to my worry; last time she had to deal with major upheaval, she fell into a deep depression and looked for solace at the bottom of a bottle.

I’m gonna have to keep an eye on her, but Rikki is a more urgent matter.

“Maybe I could see if someone from my practice in Star Cove could drive down?” Scott Larson takes his phone out of his pocket.

“Scott, I would rather you take care of this.”

The lawyer looks reluctant. “I acted as your attorney now because of the circumstances, but you know my specialty is corporate law. My wife Samantha is the best lawyer for a case like this.”

Arianna insists. “True, but we’re closer to Berry Point. I would feel better if you could go until Samantha gets there.”

“Sweetheart,” Lula’s Dad intervenes. “Maybe I can make a few phone calls and see who else is available? With Scott acting as our attorney today, I wouldn’t want to put him or his firm in an awkward situation if this turned out to be a conflict of interest.”

It takes me a second to understand what he’s implying.

Tom thinks Rikki might be guilty.

“I agree,” Scott Larson says. “Besides, Rikki is dating London and that in itself would make us representing him look less than kosher.”

Fuck them. Fuck them all.

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