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When Simcoe returned to Setauket, Elizabeth was surprised. For weeks he had been assumed dead. She thought maybe his near death experience might make him a bit more amiable but he immediately set on a crusade that often included him harassing her father, Lukas.
A week into his return, awful things started to happen including the near poisoning of the Major and the shooting of Judge Woodhull. Elizabeth intended to visit Abraham to see how the Judge was doing when officers came and arrested her father. She found out swiftly that they had taken the Reverend Tallmadge too along with many others in the town. A trial was to be held in the once church and she hurried to see what was going on.
Elizabeth watched silently as Abraham interrogated her father. She could tell by her father's shaking that his palsy was already flaring up and Abraham yelling was only making it worse.
She couldn't believe Abraham. This was the boy she had grown up with. He knew how fragile her father was and yet he was screaming at him like he was a hardened criminal.
As Lukas started to fall apart, Elizabeth could no longer take it.
"Stop it!" she screamed standing up. She could feel all the eyes in the room shift to her. "I did it!" She didn't know where it came from.
"Elizabeth," Abraham whispered confused. She saw in his eyes complete disbelief. She knew she had to say something convincing to save everyone else.
"I tried to poison the Major," she said without wavering. "I was married to an abusive British officer for a year trying to convince you all I was a Loyalist. But I'm not and I never have been. It's time you left us in this town alone and one day Washington will make you leave." She tried to appear braver than she felt.
"Mrs. Brooks," Major Hewlett addressed her, "it is obvious that you are unwell and are trying to save your father but he is the guilty one, not you. Please sit down."
"But it's true," she urged. "It's a well-known fact that poison is a woman's weapon. And the round that shot your father, Abraham, was from a British military rifle. Much like the one my late husband owned. The one I used to shoot him. Though he wasn't my target," she added looking at Simcoe. When she looked back at Hewlett, she saw that he seemed convinced.
"Very well, Captain Simcoe please arrest Mrs. Brooks," he said.
"Brewster," she corrected. Simcoe seemed compliant though he hesitated a second almost as if wanting to argue.
He dragged her to a makeshift cell in the basement of the tavern.
"Johnathan always said you were a piece of work," Simcoe sneered. Elizabeth remained silent thinking only of how she hoped her sacrifice would save Reverend Tallmadge and her father with the rest of the men on trial and that her death for treason would be swift. Simcoe realized that he hadn't rattled her so he continued to speak.
"I guess it's only fair to tell you that your little stunt isn't going to help them." Elizabeth couldn't help but look up at him. "They are to be sent to the Jersey to serve their time on the ship. Your father probably won't last a day." She was horrified. "Don't worry; he will get to see you hanged." He knew that had struck a nerve in her.
"You've always been a monster," she finally spoke up.
"Oh, no," he said, "the Patriots are monsters. Make no mistake, this war will be over soon and all of your traitorous friends will join you in death." She wondered what friends he could mean. "I happened to run into some old friends of yours, a young Tallmadge boy and your cousin. They seemed quite surprised to hear of your unfaithfulness to them," he taunted. She could only think of Ben and Caleb. She suddenly realized she wouldn't get to say goodbye to them. They wouldn't know until it was too late. He laughed viciously at her and ascended the stairs.
A few hours later, she heard footsteps again. She turned around defensively but it was Anna holding a lantern and followed closely behind by Abraham. She turned away.
"Elizabeth," Anna whispered.
"How long have you two been back together?" Elizabeth asked bitterly. She felt bad for being so mean but after the way Abraham had acted and after how he had been acting the past few weeks, she felt as if she no longer knew him.
"Elizabeth, don't be like that," Abraham urged.
"You could have put him to death," she accused him. "You could have had all of them hanged."
"No," he replied. "My intention was to prove they couldn't have done it. I know who did; it was Simcoe trying to find a way to arrest the Reverend and your father." She began to understand.
"But why my father and the Reverend?" she asked.
"To get to Ben and Caleb," Anna answered. "He met them when they captured him in Connecticut." She nodded as it started to make more sense.
"But now they're going to hang you and send everyone else to the Jersey," Abraham said.
"It's a death sentence either way," Elizabeth concluded. Anna nodded knowing first-hand the killing power of the Jersey.
"We need to get you out of here," Abraham decided.
"No," Elizabeth stopped him. The determination in her voice cause both Anna and Abe to look hard at her. "I want to do this. If I run, there will be another investigation. You two could end up in trouble. No, I intend to let them do this to me."
"Elizabeth," Anna whispered starting to cry.
"It's okay," Elizabeth responded, "I'm ready for it. Just tell Caleb and…" she paused swallowing shallowly, "and Ben that I love them." Abraham extended a hand to her through the bars.
"We will," he said as she took his hand and squeezed it. Anna did the same and they spent a last few moments with each other before Anna and Abe snuck away. Only then did Elizabeth permit herself to cry.