Birthday Party Murder by Leslie Meier Page A

own. From what he said they were very loving parents. His father was a court officer or something and he was terrifically proud when Sherman became a lawyer.” Rachel furrowed her brow. “Do you think the fact he was adopted has something to do with his death?”
    â€œI don’t know,” admitted Lucy. “But instead of sitting here swilling booze with Pam, I really ought to be talking to Chap Willis. Who is he? Just point me in the right direction.”
    Rachel scanned the crowded rooms.
    â€œSee that guy in the uniform, the officer with the gold sash and all the brass buttons?”
    Lucy spotted him, a middle-aged man in a knee-length blue coat. He was the man who had led the pallbearers.
    â€œWith the sword?”
    Rachel nodded. “That’s Chap Willis. They were best friends.”
    As Lucy crossed the room to talk to Chap Willis, she realized she had seen his muttonchop whiskers and big grin in several of the photographs in Cobb’s house and office.
    â€œExcuse me,” she said, introducing herself. “The Goodmans have asked me to investigate Sherman Cobb’s death and they said you might be able to help me.”
    â€œI wish I could,” said Willis, smiling genially. “But I don’t know what I can tell you.”
    â€œI understand you were good friends,” prompted Lucy.
    â€œThe colonel and I go way back, let me tell you. I joined the Fifth Maine Brigade about the same time he did. Longer now than I’d care to admit, that’s for sure.”
    â€œThe brigade was a big part of his life,” said Lucy.
    â€œI’ll say. He was voted colonel ten years ago. He really put a lot of himself into the brigade, and the fellows all recognized it. There was no question he deserved it.”
    â€œI’m sure,” said Lucy. “Can you tell me anything about his personal life? Did you suspect he might be considering suicide?”
    â€œNot a clue.” Willis shook his grizzled head. “Especially not with the Invasion of Portland reenactment coming up in just a few weeks. It’s the biggest thing we’ve ever attempted. Reenectment groups are coming from as far away as South Carolina.” He scratched his chin. “His death has left us in a very awkward situation, you know.”
    â€œInvasion of Portland, Maine? ” Lucy wasn’t sure she’d heard right.
    â€œThat’s right. Not many people know about it. Truth is, the Confederates tried to take the harbor. They penetrated St. Albans, Vermont, too.”
    Lucy was suspicious. “I never heard that.”
    â€œThere’s a whole lot about the Civil War that they don’t teach in school. Don’t have time, I guess. But you’ve got to remember, it didn’t take five years to fight the Battle of Gettysburg. It was a big war, over half a million men died. It changed the country.”
    Lucy wanted to steer the conversation in a different direction; she wanted to learn more about Sherman Cobb. But whenever she brought up his name, Chap Willis would reply with a Civil War history lesson.
    â€œYou know what really caught the colonel’s fancy?”
    Lucy jumped at the bait.
    â€œThem bringing up that Confederate submarine, the Hunley . He was just amazed that they had the technology to build a submarine back then. And the courage of those men. It was a suicide mission, you know.”
    â€œWhat did he think about that? About suicide in general, I mean.”
    â€œI don’t know that he actually said.” Chap stroked his beard thoughtfully and returned to his favorite subject. “The mission succeeded. They blew up a Union frigate. The U.S.S. Housatonic.”
    Lucy felt her eyes glazing over as her brain filled with trivia. She had a feeling the Hunley and the Housatonic had displaced some vital information in her brain.
    â€œThanks for your help,” she said, wishing he’d actually been helpful. Then she had a