The Final Reveille: A Living History Museum Mystery by Amanda Flower

brow knit together. “Did I hurt you?”
    â€œNo,” I lied, holding my chin up. “Why do you need my help?”
    â€œBecause this is your turf.”
    â€œThat’s how I can help you; how can you help me? Because so far this is sounding pretty one-sided in your favor, and that doesn’t work for me.”
    He sig hed. “I know the reenactors. This isn’t my first reenactment. My uncle has been dragging me to these events since I was in middle school. As a reenactor, I can move through the camps and ask questions without raising suspicions. Everyone is going to be t alking about Maxwell’s death, so if I ask some subtle questions, they’ll think I’m just making conversation and passing time. Just like in real war, the time sitting around between real battles can get pretty boring.”
    â€œI’m not going to help you without knowing your connection to Maxwell.”
    He removed his forage cap and ran a hand through his blond hair. The hair stuck up in all directions and gave him a boyish quality that I did not trust. His playful appearance was misleading. I knew nothing about this man. He could be a stone cold killer. He was the one I found looming over Maxwell’s body after all.
    He sighed. “Okay, you win. All I will say is that I knew Maxwell. We were not friendly.”
    â€œI wouldn’t say that cryptic history is winning my support.” I stepped backward. “Why did you act like you didn’t know who the body was?”
    â€œI panicked. You found me in a very awkward position, and I knew Candy would be called in. She’s always called in when there is a suspicious death anywhere in the county.”
    â€œSounds to me like Detective Brandon has it out for you.”
    â€œYou met her,” he said. “That’s a very scary position to be in.”
    â€œThat’s your problem, not mine. And I can’t say I blame her since you were standing over a dead body and all.” I watched him closely. “How did you know Maxwell?” I pressed.
    â€œFrom business.”
    â€œBusiness? I thought you were an EMT.”
    â€œI am.”
    I waited. He said no more. I shrugged as if it didn’t matter to me and kept walking. We were on the edge of camp now; much closer and reenactors would begin to overhear our conversation.
    He stepped beside me. “Now I’m in a worse spot because the chief will think that I purposely misled him by claiming I didn’t know Maxwell.”
    â€œDidn’t you?” I asked.
    â€œYou aren’t making this easy either.” He slapped his cap back onto his head.
    â€œI see no reason to.”
    â€œSo you don’t want my help? You’re willing to try to solve this case all on your own. What about your son?”
    â€œWhat about my son?” I snapped, jabbing him in the chest with my index finger. “Don’t you dare bring him into this!”
    He held up his hands as if in surrender. “Whoa, I’m sorry, Mama Bear.”
    â€œI think we’ve talked about this long enough.” I stomped away.

Twelve
    I pulverized pebbles on the path as I marched back to the visitor center. How dare that cocky EMT bring Hayden into our conversation? I suddenly had a desperate need to see my son. I picked up my pace and ignored reenactors who tried to wave me down with questions. I couldn’t deal with their need for gossip at the moment.
    I passed the visitor center as my phone beeped in my pocket, telling me I had a new text. It was from Justin. I’m here was all the message said.
    I made a sharp turn toward the visitor center as my former brother-in-law came of the sliding glass doors. Justin blinked in the early morning light. He was probably out late the night before at a night club or trendy bar trying to impress the ladies with his bright, shiny new law degree. Many times I wondered if Justin would ever settle down and stop being a playboy. He was