Niccolo Rosselli, the gaunt, charismatic leader of a Florentine political movement, collapses at a rally. His longtime partner Flavia has disappeared, leaving him literally holding their new baby, at least until Rosselli's formidable mother takes charge. Meanwhile, Sandro Cellini has been reduced to looking into a possibly fraudulent insurance claim. Soon he is drawn into the mystery surrounding Rosselli, and when Flavia's fate is revealed, events take a terrifying turn.