Rome 26BC. An infamous slave trader, Herennius, has been robbed and murdered. Stabbed in the chest. Caesar himself has taken an interest in the crime.Marcus Agrippa instructs one of his agents, Rufus Varro, to investigate. Varro must interview various party guests who were with Herennius on the night of the murder - including a corrupt advocate and an enigmatic young poet. Everyone is a suspect, yet everyone is seemingly innocent.