It was the next day. As soon as Ben and Teddy returned from the mission, Ben found Molly and told her to gather everyone in the barn and that he would meet them there. He didn't say anymore. Molly, Mary, and Anna had been waiting for nearly an hour. Mary was getting worried, if the three of them were gone much longer, Mrs. Barnes could become suspicious. But as soon as she thought that, the barn door opened, and Ben stepped inside. He was dressed in his uniform again.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Where's Caleb?" Molly asked.
"I've made the executive decision: He's out."
"What?" Anna and Mary asked.
Molly hadn't told them about what happened.
"I'll tell you later." She whispered to them and that seemed to appease them for now.
She didn't like that decision, but she also didn't see any other option. They could talk about it later.
"Well?" Anna asked.
They were all anxious to hear about what happened. After all, Benedict Arnold should be in camp right now. Ben sighed and looked away for a second.
"There's been a…" he paused looking for the right word.
Molly knew what that pause meant.
"They aren't in camp, are they?"
"What?" Mary exclaimed.
"What happened?"
So, Ben told them. When he and Teddy Beddows arrived at the dock, Abe and John were supposed to be waiting for them, with Benedict Arnold in tow. But when they arrived, no one was there. The only thing in the harbor were two British naval ships. Ben walked along the dock until he found two sailors and he asked them if they knew what was going on. The men said that the redcoats were under General Arnold's command and that they were shipping out to Virginia.
"Virginia?!" Mary exclaimed. "She was shaking her head frantically. "But I thought you planned his capture in New York."
"Yes, we were. Then he shipped out in the middle of the night, the same night that we were set to grab Arnold."
Molly swore and then stepped forward to pull Mary into a hug.
"And now Abraham has gone with him?" Anna asked.
Ben nodded.
"And John?" Molly asked.
He nodded again. She was concerned for John as much as she was concerned with Abe. John hadn't signed on for this. He was just as much over his head as well,
"Well you, well, then you need to get him." Mary was close to tears. "You need to get him right away. You need to get him out."
"I will." Ben paused, "I plan to leave tonight."
"What?"
The three women all talked at once, but Ben rose his voice so he could be heard.
"But listen to me. I cannot leave while there is still an active threat in this camp, so you need to tell me if Ann Bates is working alone or if there are others?"
Molly released Mary and grabbed Ben's arm.
"Since when are you leaving? When did you decide that?"
"Wait. Hold on." Anna spoke up. "Who's Ann Bates?"
Molly swore again.
"Ann Barnes." She said. "Mrs. Barnes is a British spy. Mary's been giving us information on her. Trying to see if there are other spies in camp."
Anna's mouth was agape.
"And how long you known of this?"
"A couple weeks." Ben admitted.
"And no one was going to tell me?"
Molly tilted her head slightly. It was strange to hear Anna say that. Molly remembered saying those same words years ago when she had been excluded by Abe and Anna in Setauket.
"The less people who know a secret, the more secret it is." Mary said, repeating the words Anna had used on them so long ago.
Anna's cheeks reddened, but she didn't say anything.
"Now, what's this about you leaving tonight?" Mary asked.
"Aye, I have to. It's the only way to ensure I arrive in Virginia before Arnold's men do. Now, I'm going to need your answer before I leave. Is Ann Bates working alone?"
"I don't know yet." she admitted. "I need a little more time."
"Well, I'm sorry, but that's all the time I can give you. I need an answer."
Molly tugged on Ben's arm.
"Hold on a minute." She said. "You can't go."
"I have to. No one else knows Abe's identity. No one else knows his true allegiance. I'm the only one who can vouch for him."
"No, she's right."
Anna joined the conversation once more.
"What?" he asked.
"Molly's right." Anna repeated. "Listen, Ben, you are Washington's Head of Intelligence. If you leave against orders, you'll be branded a traitor, a deserter."
"I know that. But what other choice do I have?"
"What about Caleb? Send Caleb."
Ben groaned aloud at the idea.
"What?" Anna said. "What? What else have you been keeping from me?"
Molly looked over at her.
"Caleb's not well."
"Aye. He nearly botched the mission with Champe. He was so drunk last night when we were set to take Arnold… Simcoe has gotten into his head."
Anna looked to the side for a moment. She was chewing on her lip, thinking. Finally, she said.
"We have known Caleb our entire lives. As long as we… as long as you two," She was looking at Ben and Molly, "treat him as a broken man, he will be broken. Give him your trust as a friend, and he will earn it back."
Before Molly could say anything, Ben made the decision for them.
"You're right. I am still Head of Intelligence. I'll have to resign my post."
He pulled his arm free from Molly's grip and began to walk out of the barn. Mary and Anna gave Molly the same look, and she knew what she had to do. She rushed after him.
Once outside, Ben was confidently walking back in the direction of the man camp.
"Ben! …Ben!"
He wouldn't even glance back at her.
"Ben!"
She ran to catch up with him so that she was beside him. But she quickly fell behind again. He refused to slow his pace.
"Benjamin Tallmadge, you talk to me right now!"
"I am listening to you, but I won't slow down." He called back.
She swore under her breath and walked behind him.
"Why are you so adamant that you must be the one to go?"
"I have to. There's no other option."
She was walking beside him again.
"Yes, there is. Why not just tell Washington about this? Perhaps he could send men to ambush them. And provide Abe with an opportunity to escape to our lines."
He looked over at her and lowered his voice.
"You think we haven't tried that. Listen, myself and the other officers have been proposing to send men South for years. But Washington refuses every time. He is adamant… no, he is obsessed with taking New York. He argues that the war cannot be won without it."
Ben had stopped telling her about his officers' meetings years ago. She had not personally spoken to Washington in years, but she couldn't understand why the loss of New York and Arnold's betrayal were still affecting him so. That was a long time ago.
"What, and no one can tell him that?"
"Men have tried. He won't listen."
"Well, is he right? Is New York essential for a Patriot victory?"
Ben slowed his pace finally, and she was grateful for it.
"In my opinion, no. We don't need New York. If we could take control of the remainder of the colonies, and isolate the British to New York, I believe that is how we achieve victory."
"And have you told him that?"
Ben knew she was going to ask him that, and he suddenly regretted telling her. He tightened his jaw.
"No, I have not."
"Well, why not?"
He didn't respond.
"Surely, if he will listen to anyone, he will listen to you. You're his Head of Intelligence of God's sake."
He remained silent. She huffed in frustration but changed the subject.
"If you resign your post, who will take over?"
"I expect Hamilton."
She scoffed, "Alexander Hamilton?"
"Aye."
"What makes you think any of us would trust him as Head of Intelligence. Ben, I hardly know the man. And the others have never met him."
"He's Washington's aide-de-camp. He's known about our work for some time now, and I believe he can be trusted."
She reached out and grabbed his arm again, pulling him back. He finally stopped walking, and they faced each other now.
"What about me? If you resign, then what is my purpose for being here?"
"The ring is your purpose. I'll tell Hamilton the reason for my resignation, and I'll ask him to look after you in camp."
"No."
"Wha— Molly!"
"If you go, I am going with you. I am tired of us being constantly being separated."
"Molly, we have been with each other these last two years."
"I don't care. If you are truly going to Virginia, you'll be walking through enemy-held territory. You'll be risking yourself by going to the front lines. And if you choose to do that, I want to go to with you."
"Molly, you will only slow me down. You can't go."
She blinked away the tears forming in her eyes.
"Listen to me." He took her face in his hands. "I am doing this for Abraham. Alright? Listen, Molly, he's been involved than anyone else. This entire thing, the ring, was only supposed to be me, him, and Caleb. It's my fault he's involved, and I will see to it that he survives this. I owe him that much."
They looked at each other for a second.
"Now go tell Mary that I meant what I said. She has until tonight to get information on Bates. And before I leave, I will see to it that she is arrested."
Molly went back to the barn and was glad to find Anna and Mary still there.
"You talked to him?" Anna asked.
"Aye."
"And?"
"He's made up his mind. He refuses to be convinced."
Anna put a hand to her forehead. She could feel her nervous headache becoming more intense.
"I still don't understand. Why can't we ask Caleb?" she asked.
"He won't listen to me." Molly admitted. "We argued and… I don't know. I think he's still mad at Ben and I."
"Well, I'll go talk to him."
Molly nodded. She knew Caleb would be better suited to go find Abe. His time as a sailor and privateer meant he was familiar with the Southern colonies. She also knew it would be easier for Caleb to ask around and find out exactly where Arnold's regiment landed in Virginia. It wasn't that she doubted Ben's ability, but it was just that Caleb had always been the more charismatic of the two. But that wouldn't work now. Ben was the only option. Unless…
"Wait a minute." Molly gestured to Anna to stay.
"What is it?"
"Wait, I have an idea."
Molly turned her attention to Mary.
"Mary. I know we don't have much time, and I know you still need to speak with Mrs. Barnes. But will you do us a favor?"
Mary looked at the two Strong women warily.
"What is it?"
"I need you to speak with Caleb."
Mary chuckled, but her smile faded when she saw that Molly was being serious.
"What? Me? Molly, he doesn't like me."
"Oh, no, Mary, he does. More than you think."
"I fear he is still angry with me for the incident with the Rangers."
"Do you know which of us fought the hardest to get you to camp?" Anna asked.
Mary shook her head.
"Aye. It was Caleb." Molly agreed. She still remembered the night they had that conversation.
Anna nodded, "Caleb still blames himself. He still believes he was the one who told Simcoe that Abe is Culper. He feared what would happen to you and Thomas if he did not collect you from Setauket immediately."
"Mary, please. We need your help."
Molly had been at waiting with Anna at the sutler cart for hours now. She was nervously helping with the trading and bartering, trying to keep herself busy. She was too nervous to mend clothing. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking.
It was nearly nightfall when Mary made an appearance at the tent.
"Well?" Anna asked.
Mary glanced back at the camp followers' tents for a moment. She looked nervous. She knew she couldn't be seen talking to them for very long.
"I talked to Caleb. He agreed to do it."
Molly laughed aloud and pulled Mary into a hug.
"How did you manage?"
"I just told him that Abe would do the same for him." She paused, and then recited a line from the Bible, "'Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive.'"
Molly tilted her head to the side.
"And that helped convince him?"
"Yes. It did."
Strange. Molly thought.
Their entire time growing up, Caleb was also vocal about how boring he found Sunday sermons. He did not find Reverend Tallmadge boring; it was more the idea of sitting in the pews for a couple hours at a time. If it hadn't been for his friendship with Ben, Molly was sure he would've stopped going long before. But, despite that, Caleb had never been one for Scripture.
"Is he with Ben now?" she asked.
Mary shook her head.
"No. He left hours ago."
Molly's expression fell. He hadn't said goodbye. And now, if anything went wrong, the last conversation she had had with him was their argument. She suddenly felt nauseous. But that would have to wait, because Mary continued.
"Also." She lowered her voice. "Tell Benjamin that Ann Bates is working alone. And that her contact in the Royal Army is General Clinton himself."
Anna remained at her cart, Mary went back to her tent and Thomas, and Molly walked further into camp, to Ben's tent. When she stepped into the tent, Ben was not alone. Hamilton was there as well. The men were looking over a series of maps laid out on the main table. They were talking in hushed tones.
"Good evening, Mrs. Tallmadge." Hamilton smiled.
She nodded, "Colonel." Before turning to Ben. "Is it safe to talk in front of him?"
"Aye, come in."
She repeated what Mary told her.
"My God." Hamilton breathed, "I'll go round up some men. See that she's brought in for questioning."
"No, wait!" Ben said.
"What? Why are we waiting this time?" Molly asked.
Ben and Hamilton exchanged a look.
"I know about Caleb." She said. "I know you're not going to resign. So tell me, what is the new plan?"
"I spoke with Washington, like you suggested." Ben said.
Molly noticed Hamilton's expression turn to one of surprise. He didn't comment on it though.
"About what?"
"About going South."
Ben kept eyeing Hamilton. He hadn't told anyone about how involved Molly was with everything. Hamilton knew she transcribed letters back at Middlebrook, but that position had been attributed to her brief service at the Battle of Monmouth. It was considered a courtesy and nothing more. Although Hamilton had known her since then, Ben still wasn't quite sure what his reaction would be to this.
"You did?"
She looked as surprised as she sounded.
"Yes," Hamilton said slowly, "the General is considering alternative strategies at the moment." He gestured towards the maps on the table. That was what he and Ben were working on. "But there is, of course, the issue with how to evade British troops if we are to send men South."
"Aye." Ben agreed, but then he paused as a thought came to him. He turned to Hamilton. "Wait, our main concern is how to convince the high command in New York the relocate or recall their troops."
Molly caught on to what he was suggesting.
"And General Clinton is in New York as part of the high command." She said.
"Exactly."
Hamilton was eyeing the both of them now.
"So..." he said slowly. "We need only convince the British we're to head to New York… but we never do?"
Ben nodded, trying to suppress the smile tugging on his lips. Of all things, he never thought Mary Woodhull's intelligence would amount to something like this.
"Colonel." He said. "I think I know how we can convince Clinton that we intend to attack the city. And we won't need to move a single man to do it."
"I'll wake the General."
