Mary Ryan, San Francisco pastry chef, is happy to be teaching at her old alma mater. But before long, she realizes the teaching staff are at loggerheads with each other. Adding to her dismay, ex-lover and Homicide Detective O'Connor has enrolled as a student, claiming to be on disability from the San Francisco Police Department.

In the middle of this turf war, Mary is ordered by dean Robert Benson to force Coolie Martin to leave the school or lose her job. But why would Coolie's father, a member of the Board of Directors, allow this to happen? Then when faculty and staff begin dying, Mary fears Coolie's forced exit might be part of a larger, more sinister plot.

Acting on a hint from O'Connor, Mary is soon knee deep in murder, money-laundering, blackmail, professional sabotage, and computer hacking, and must rush to uncover the truth before the bodies start stacking up..

Beat Until Stiff