Free The Root of All Trouble by Heather Webber Page A

to you."
    " Listen to me about what?" I asked.
    " Delphine is innocent."
    " Jean-Claude," I said softly.
    " She's innocent, Nina. The Reauxs are lovers, not fighters. She didn't kill Joey Miller. And I can prove it."

Chapter Nine
     
     
    I t turned out there was no reason to go to the police station with Jean-Claude because he refused to tell me how he knew Delphine was innocent on grounds that he might incriminate himself.
    That comment had certainly raised my eyebrows, but he insisted that he hadn't killed Joey, and that he didn't know who did, but only knew that Delphine was innocent. That I'd have to trust him.
    Oddly, I did trust him—about this. Sure, he was a conman at heart but there was no mistaking his earnestness when he spoke about his cousin.
    But unless he was willing to spill what he did know, then Delphine would be staying in jail.
    Jean-Claude had left in a huff.
    That had been two hours ago, and I was still stewing about it. I was feeling curious and anxious and a little bit guilty for not jumping in to help.
    But there wasn 't anything I could do unless he spoke up.
    Nothing I could do except...
    "You have that look," Ana said. She'd come over to see about borrowing my truck to haul her stuff to Kit's house and had stuck around for a cup of coffee.
    " What look?" I asked.
    " You're planning something."
    I plunged my hands into soapy water. I 'd never minded washing dishes—it was a soothing chore for me. "I was just thinking that if Jean-Claude doesn't spill what he knows then the only way to help him is to prove Delphine is innocent."
    Ana 's dark hair had been pulled back into a sleek ponytail. "And how do you plan on doing that?"
    I wiped off the waffle iron. "I guess the only way is to find out who's really guilty."
    She set her mug on the counter. "You mean, you're planning to catch yourself a killer."
    I really wished she wouldn 't put it that way. "I guess so. Want to help?"
    " Hell, yes."
    I smiled. "Good. You know I hate killer-catching on my own."
    " The sad fact of that statement is that you've actually had experience with it. I guess it goes hand in hand with you being a corpse whisperer and all."
    I threw a wet sponge at her as Mr. Cabrera dragged himself into the kitchen and lurched onto a stool. "Who's a corpse whisperer?" he asked in a monotone.
    " Nina is," Ana said.
    He winced at the pitch of Ana 's voice. "I shoulda guessed that. It's her curse."
    " What's with him?" she asked.
    " Too many gin and tonics yesterday."
    He groaned. "Don't say that word."
    " Which one?" I asked. "Gin? Tonic? Gin and tonic?"
    He blanched. "You're a cruel, cruel woman."
    I slid another mug of coffee over to him. "I've been called worse."
    " Make the room stop spinning," he begged.
    " Put your head down on the countertop," Ana advised.
    He smushed his face against the cool tiles. "Is Ursula back yet?"
    " Nope," I said.
    " She'll be back," he mumbled.
    " Where'd she go?" Ana asked.
    " A vacation," I said.
    She glanced between Mr. Cabrera and me. "A regular vacation or one from him?"
    " Both."
    He started snoring.
    We stared.
    " Should we wake him?" Ana asked.
    " Leave him." I motioned for her to follow me into the living room. For a house that was packed to its rafters with guests, it was relatively quiet.
    Gracie was asleep beneath the couch, Riley was at work—he had a part-time job at the sports complex where my mean trainer Duke worked—and Mario and Perry had an appointment with their decorator. Maria had offered to go with them, and they 'd taken pity on me and agreed.
    I felt bad about it, until I could practically hear my mother 's voice in my ear saying, "Gift horses, cherié , gift horses."
    They were due back in another hour—just in time for Nate to swing by and pick up Maria.
    As I gave the "Cliffs Notes" version of why Brickhouse had moved out, I handed Ana the keys to my truck, which was still parked across the street.
    She headed for the door, jangling the keys. "It shouldn't take too long