Page 3 of Shameless

Cutler nods. “That’s his team owner polo shirt and he still has his high school graduation ring.”

“Your father,” the sheriff’s expression changes. “And you’re all here. I’m sure there’s one explanation that isn’t the one that comes to mind looking at this mess.”

Stefan reacts before any of us can say anything.

“Believe me, Mr. Pullin, we’re just as shocked as you are. We just got here after we heard the gunshots and found him.”

Jules agrees with his brother. “Stefan is right. Unfortunately Eddie isn’t the only victim. There are two more bodies in there and there.” He points out two of the connected buildings. Each “cell” is the size of a two car garage and the attached buildings form a square where one side is missing and is left open.

“What? Two more bodies in the stables?” George Andrews gasps. “Who else?—”

“No!” Lula leaves my side to run in front of our host, stopping his advance. “No please sir, don’t go in there. Dad, Mr. Pullin, don’t let him go in there. Maura is…” Lula loses her battle with the tears she’s been fighting since we all got here.

“Sweetheart,” Arianna, Tom and Mom are immediately by her side. “Are you saying that George’s daughter is…?”

Lula nods, covering her face with her hands. “Maura and Trevor.”

George Andrews runs toward the stables before anyone can stop him.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget the way he cries out when he finds his daughter’s body.

“Fuck,” the sheriff mutters. “No one move. This is a crime scene, am I clear? Everyone stays exactly where they are. Scott,” he turns to look at Paris and London’s dad. “On second thought, come with me. This isn’t my town, but until the local police are called, I guess I’m the one who’s gonna have to deal with it.”

As Lula keeps crying softly in her dad’s arms, I check on my mom. She’s holding onto Arianna’s hand like a lifeline, her face pale, her gaze fixed on Eddie’s hand.

“Mom,” I say as softly as I can muster. “Don’t look at him. Come here.”

She cups my face with both hands, like she used to do when I was a kid and I was sad because something didn’t go my way. “Are you ok, Crew?”

I nod. “I’m fine. He wasn’t much of a father to begin with and I learned to live without him for the past decade. I’m not surprised someone shot him. With the way Eddie treated others, I’m not surprised someone finally snapped and took care of his ass.”

“Crew,” Mom whisper-yells. “You shouldn’t say this stuff. Especially not in front of the sheriff. We’re on a private island, they’re going to look for the person who did this among all of us.”

She’s right.

As it is we’re stuck on this island with someone who just unloaded a shotgun on three people and got away, leaving a bloody mess behind.

However I’m not too worried for my own safety right now. “Mom, I’m going to be ok. But we need to protect Rikki.” I nod toward my brother.

Rikki is hugging London, both of them weeping softly.

“What do you mean? You can’t think your brother did this?”

I try to keep my voice as low as possible. “One of the victims, Trevor, was selling to Rikki. I’m not sure what happened exactly, but Rikki was looking for Trevor and got here while the shooterwas still here. He was the first to find Trevor and he tried to help. He’s covered in his blood.”

Mom covers her mouth with one hand. “You can’t possibly think your brother did this?”

I shake my head. “No. But we need to make sure the sheriff knows that Rikki has nothing to do with this. It’s only a matter of time until they figure out Trevor was a drug dealer and his connection with Rikki is going to draw attention.”

A sardonic laugh comes from the Jeep the owner drove here.

“If drugs are involved, I can bet my engagement ring that my daughter has something to do with this entire kerfuffle.” A rail thin woman in tight khaki pants and huge Gucci sunglasses jumps out of the Jeep. “I guess it was too much to ask for you to keep Lula out of trouble, huh Tom?”

Lula’s father tucks his daughter into his side. “Tiffany, this isn’t the time.” His tone is annoyed but laced with something else. Warning maybe.

“Mom?” Lula gasps. “What are you doing here?”

So that’s the famous Tiffany. I take a better look at Lula’s mother as she comes closer to her ex-husband and her daughter.

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