A former soldier navigates plague and political intrigue to solve crimes and fulfill a promise.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Return to the Plague City
Mateo arrives in plague-stricken Seville to fulfill a promise to a deceased friend. He navigates the dangerous streets while confronting his past with the Inquisition.
Key Events
Plague Outbreak in Seville — Bubonic plague devastates the city in 1597. Location: Seville
Mateo Returns to City — Former soldier arrives to honor a promise. Location: Seville Gates
Mission to Find Son — Mateo seeks the deceased friend's son. Location: City Streets
Inquisition's Death Sentence — Mateo recalls his past execution order. Location: Historical Records
Forced Flight from City — Mateo previously escaped to save his life. Location: City Walls
Arrest and the Devil's Bargain
Inquisitor bailiffs capture Mateo and offer a conditional pardon. He must trade his freedom for solving a series of dark, diabolical crimes plaguing the city.
Key Events
Forced Flight from City — Mateo previously escaped to save his life. Location: City Walls
Arrest by Bailiffs — Inquisitor's guards capture Mateo upon return. Location: Market Square
Pardon Offer Extended — Bailiffs promise life pardon for solving crimes. Location: Interrogation Room
Diabolical Crimes Reported — Strange crimes with dark overtones emerge. Location: City Archives
Mateo investigates crime scenes under heavy surveillance while searching for the friend's son. He uncovers hidden connections between the crimes and forbidden knowledge.
Plague Spread Intensifies — Disease worsens while investigation continues. Location: Quarantine Zones
Mateo's Deduction Process — Mateo pieces together crime patterns. Location: Safe House
Search for Son Continues — Mateo prioritizes finding the friend's son. Location: Orphanages
Bailiffs' Surveillance — Guards monitor Mateo's every move. Location: City Alleys
First Major Clue Found — Evidence links crimes to forbidden texts. Location: Abandoned Church
Resolution and Departure
The investigation reaches its peak as Mateo confronts the culprits and locates the boy. He negotiates his pardon and leaves Seville with his mission complete.
Key Events
First Major Clue Found — Evidence links crimes to forbidden texts. Location: Abandoned Church
Plague Outbreak — Disease devastates the city population.
Inquisition Rule — Religious authority enforces strict control.
Protagonist Background — Mateo's past as a soldier and printer shapes his journey.
Former Soldier — Military experience aids his investigation.
Forbidden Books — Past printing crimes trigger his arrest.
Inciting Incident — Mateo's return and immediate capture set the plot in motion.
Return to Seville — Arrival to honor a deceased friend's request.
Arrest by Bailiffs — Immediate detention by Inquisition guards.
Central Conflict — The deal between Mateo and the Inquisition drives the narrative.
Diabolical Crimes — Dark murders require immediate investigation.
Pardon Deal — Freedom traded for solving the cases.
Investigation Arc — Methodical crime solving under constant surveillance.
Crime Scene Analysis — Examining locations for hidden patterns.
Clue Discovery — Linking crimes to forbidden knowledge.
Personal Mission — Mateo balances the official case with his private promise.
Finding the Son — Searching orphanages and hidden shelters.
Moral Dilemma — Choosing between self-preservation and duty.
Climax and Resolution — Final confrontations and the fulfillment of all objectives.
Confronting Culprits — Direct engagement with the crime organizers.
Final Departure — Securing the pardon and leaving the city.
Abner lives a drab, downcast, solitary existence. His wife has abandoned him for good. Working for pest control company Panther, his job remains his sole connection to the outside world. It seems going nowhere until he meets Viola, a client who is existence is as sad as his. Wife of a vain college teacher Dodie, Viola is a trapped bird. And meeting Abner seems to give her a chance to fly free. The house, infested with rats all around, becomes a powder keg of emotions and danger as sexual tension between Abner and Viola turns to illicit affair, all happening under Dodie’s nose. In order to extend their relationship, Abner devices something that will eventually lead to a tragedy that will change their lives forever.
