Page 69 of Shameless

“No,” I bite out, resigned. “But I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“It’s all your father’s fault. He’s a lousy parent, but I shouldn’t be surprised since he’s too busy with his whore to take proper care of his daughter.”

I want to defend Dad and tell Tiffany that at least in Dad’s house I can sleep without worrying for my own safety.

But Tiffany isn’t done with her rant and charges on. “I can’t believe he let you come to the club dressed like that. At least if those were designer clothes, we could pass that for an edgy style, but your father has absolutely no taste.”

Well, he married her after all.

I don’t say that out loud, eager to end this interaction as soon as possible.

“You’re right Mrs. Johnston,” Crew smiles, giving Tiffany a once over. “Lula should definitely learn from you.”

I stifle a giggle when my mother doesn’t detect the sarcasm in Crew’s voice and looks down at her outfit the same way I just did a minute ago.

“Why thank you, Crew.” She attempts to smile, failing miserably because her face is frozen by her latest beauty treatment. “I’m glad someone in Lula’s life has some sense of style.”

She smooths her tennis dress, that in Tiffany’s habitual fashion bears the logo of the designer in a dizziness inducing pattern.

She looks like she got that outfit at an outlet mall, especially since her heels and bag exactly match the same pattern as her dress.

“What are you kids up to?” she asks.

Her friendly tone worries me more than if she’d said something rude and I can’t help but showing my concern.

“If you’re going to yell at me for hanging out with Crew, I?—”

Tiffany’s eyes narrow but her forehead remains smooth. That must be all the movement range she has left. “No, I might just reconsider my opinion on this young man,” she lowers her voice. “I heard you might be coming into some serious money, as long as you had nothing to do with your father’s murder, of course.”

Go figure.

Tiffany hated Crew when she thought he was penniless, but now she’s willing to give him a chance.

I should probably ignore her, but I can’t help it. “Crew would never hurt anyone like that.”

Tiffany’s fingers close around my forearm with a viselike grip. “Don’t be naive, Talulah. Ironically, you, Jules, and Rikki are the only ones who are officially cleared so far.”

This is news to us. “Really? How do you know? I mean, the sheriff released Rikki since the gun residue test was negative but he didn’t say anything about me and Jules.”

Is there any way the sheriff knew about Mason’s air tag?

Tiffany’s superior smirk—or at least the attempt at a smirk—would usually piss me off, but I’m too curious to antagonize her right now.

“You don’t know because you don’t have the connections I do. The forensic team has been at work at Twinberry Cove and they could confirm part of your story. The ground was soft because of the storm and yours and Jules’s footprints are consistent with your story and apparently their placement isn’t consistent with you two being the shooters.”

Crew asks the question on the tip of my tongue before I can. “Did the sheriff tell you that?”

Tiffany cackles, pleased with herself. “He told Howard late last night. He’s keeping him updated with the investigation in real time. Isn’t it funny how Arianna thinks she’s someone in this town because she went to school with the sheriff and the mayor, and her family has money butmy husbandhas way more influence than she could ever dream of?”

I don’t care about Tiffany’s stupid power games. What I care about is that the police know I’m innocent.

“Thank you for letting me know,Mom.” I bite out, bitter about her behavior last weekend. “Now hopefully you can stop wastingyour time telling the police that if drugs were involved, I’m the only possible culprit.”

Tiffany doesn’t show any regret for the way she’s been acting. “Can you blame me? After all the trouble you’ve caused in the past year, what did you expect me to think? If that Trevor was a drug dealer, I’m surprised you didn’t at the very least befriend him.”

“Trevor and I weren’t friends.” I snap.

“That’s good to know. Hopefully what happened last year has taught you a lesson, Lula. God knows how many problems you caused between me and my husband. You should stay out of trouble and take your brother as an example of what Howard and I expect from our kids.”

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