By November, the Calderwoods still don’t have news of William. Sophia begins to wonder if he is dead but regrets the thought each time.

The British claim Fort Washington, the last American fort in Manhattan. During the battle, the British capture thousands of patriots. While discussing these events with John André one day, Sophia mistakenly refers to Benedict Arnold as “our general” (62). John André warns her not to say things like that lest she expose herself as a patriot sympathizer. Embarrassed, Sophia hopes John André won’t hold her mistake against her.

One day, Sophia and John André take a walk together. Sophia feels proud to be at his side in public, wearing his blue ribbon. Suddenly, a band of prisoners passes and Sophia sees William among them.

Sophia doesn’t recognize William at first and momentarily wishes she didn’t have a brother. John André notices how upset she looks, particularly when he reveals that the prisoners will be hanged for treason. He insists she dismiss her worries, as these political issues are of no concern to a lady like herself. Sophia hears herself blurt out that William, her brother, is among the prisoners. A shocked John André indicates that he will keep her secret if they both pretend that she never mentioned William. Unable to play along, Sophia flees in the direction of the prisoners.

Sophia chases after the prisoners, calling William’s name. The British soldiers demand she back up and go home. She watches as the captives proceed towards King’s College, which is now “surrounded by soldiers” (71). Unable to access the location, she turns towards home, terrified of encountering John André there and unsure what to tell her parents.

On the way, Sophia stops at Mr. Gaine’s shop. He has recently returned from Jersey. He promises to give Hiram remote editing work and offers her a job as his apprentice. His former assistant James has been lost to the war. As he speaks, he insists he is a loyalist, but Sophia discerns that he is telling her the opposite. She is surprised by his employment offer but promises to discuss the matter with her parents, who certainly need the money.

Back at home, Sophia informs her parents she saw William and that she mistakenly told John André she has a brother who is a patriot. However, she assures them that John André was sympathetic and suggests he might help them free William. She also gives Hiram the advertisements which Mr. Gaine needs edited and tells them about his job offer. Her parents reluctantly agree, as the arrangement would help them to fund William’s rescue.

After a family discussion about the prospect of asking John André for help, Molly takes Sophia aside. She warns her about being too attached to John André given his loyalties and theirs. She reminds her she is only 12 and there will be plenty of other worthy young men. A mortified Sophia promises Molly she doesn’t care for John André that way.

Later that evening, John André returns home and announces that he has been reassigned to a new position on Staten Island. Sophia can’t help but wonder if his leaving has something to do with her, but when she asks him about this later, he assures her he has rather enjoyed their time together.

In bed alone, Sophia rereads John André’s poem and clutches the blue ribbon he gave her. She promises herself she will devote all of her energies to rescuing William from now on. Still, it feels hard to let go of John André.

Sophia avoids John André the next morning, and heads out early to see Mr. Gaine. On the way, she runs into a local gossip, Mistress Lorenz, who informs her that Washington is retreating.

A worried Sophia races on to the shop, where she exchanges Hiram’s completed ads for his payment and informs Mr. Gaine that she wants to work with him.

Sophia tromps through the snow until she reaches King’s College, where she sees Provost Cunningham outside. An anxious Sophia takes the money from Mr. Gaine and approaches a foot soldier. She pays him to give her word of William. The soldier informs her William is now being held at Crown Street’s sugarhouse. Sophia leaves, hoping that John André will still help them save William.

Back at home, Sophia and Hiram discuss the news of William, make plans to ask John André for help before his departure, and confer about her and Mr. Gaine’s working arrangement. Sophia goes to bed, hopeful that John André will fulfill his promise to help her family.

The next day, Sophia waits in the front hall while John André bids her parents farewell. She considers joining them, but still feels heartbroken over his departure and wants a private audience. They ultimately bid farewell in the hallway, where Sophia asks if he will help them free William. John André explains that his position in the loyalist army is paramount to his and his family’s survival; he is supporting all of them and can’t risk his position to help the Calderwoods. He also insists that because Sophia is not a lady, and just a child, he does not have to keep his promise to her. A humiliated Sophia vows that from then on, she will do everything she can to free her brother.

Sophia visits the sugarhouse several days in succession, determined to understand how she might enter and help William. A few days before Christmas, her parents inform her that Washington has seized Trenton and defeated Princeton troops. Sophia struggles to rejoice, terrified that more war will only further endanger William. However, these thoughts make her ashamed.

Sophia returns to the sugarhouse and pays two soldiers to let her inside to see William. Sophia is horrified by the dank conditions. She wanders the dark annals, calling for William. The longer her call goes unanswered, the more afraid she becomes.

Finally, William answers Sophia. The siblings share a tearful embrace. William then reveals that he was taken prisoner after the Brooklyn battle and has been in captivity ever since. The best way she can help is to bring him food.

Outside afterwards, Sophia makes an arrangement with the soldiers to pay them again in exchange for letting her bring William food. The rest of the way home, Sophia weeps over her brother’s condition.

A week later, Sophia finally manages to return to the sugarhouse with the money necessary to bribe the soldiers. However, they inform her that William has since been transferred to the Good Intent, a prison ship located in the King’s Wharf. A despondent Sophia heads in that direction and offers another set of soldiers money in exchange for entrance onto the ship.

The soldier attending Sophia to the Good Intent warns her about spending too long on board, insisting the conditions are harrowing. He also remarks that she reminds him of his sister before rowing her to the ship.

Sophia is horrified by the Good Intent. She asks after William and is directed towards an unlit corridor. She calls out to him, but no one answers. Finally, a voice in the dark informs her that William died two days prior.

On her way back to shore, Sophia ruminates on her brother’s death. She vows to avenge him by taking up the patriot cause.