In exchange for saving his life, Mateo receives the commission from Celso, the Grand Inquisitor, to investigate the death of one of the most prosperous merchants in the city. In this investigation, Valerio becomes Mateo's shadow, helping him at all times. During his investigations Mateo will meet again with Teresa, widow of his friend German, turned into a prosperous painter forced to sign with the name of his father to be able to sell his paintings. Recently Teresa has found inspiration with Eugenia, a young prostitute who will act as a model for the painter. Meanwhile, Zuniga tries to corrupt the Cabildo so that the epidemic of plague, which has already entered the city, is not made public. The corpse of a murdered girl appears in the river.