In 17th Century Rome, connections are everything. But for 15-year-old Beppo Ghirlandi, an indentured servant accused of murder, there is nowhere to turn. The only one who will help him is the painter from across the Piazza, the madman-genius known as Caravaggio—who, unfortunately, has himself just killed a man. By helping Caravaggio flee, Beppo might just be able to stay alive.