Responding to a call at a mansion in an East Bay neighbourhood Deputy Coroner Clay Edison comes upon the body of Dr Walter Rennert a controversial Berkeley psychologist sprawled at the foot of his stairs. There are no wounds and no signs of intrusion or struggle. Clay knows the obvious diagnosis is natural death. But ten years ago Rennert's partner was found dead and to this day the crime remains unsolved. Tatiana Rennert's daughter will not let the case lie. She knows her father has been murdered. It is not part of Clay's job description to investigate crimes but he is enthralled by Tatiana and it won't be long until he is forced to question where his true loyalties lie.