Hepsibah is now charged with two murders and her court-case is going disastrously wrong, as Flavia's choice of lawyer is young and inexperienced. Nubia, Lupus, Flavia and Jonathan have to race against the clock to find the evidence that will clear Hepsibah. Meanwhile, the comical drunken Floridius befriends Lupus and does his daft best to help out. Jonathan's prophecy of a death comes tragically true.
