A thirty-something junk-food maven and brash, brainy Berkeley cop, Jill Smith usually doesn't spend much time contemplating her navel. But she accepted an invitation to see the new guru in town. She was as shocked as the rest of the packed house when the young man's spirit rose to heaven before their very eyes . . . with a little earthly aid from the dagger buried deep in his swirling red robes. His followers say it was hi karma to die. Now Jill Smith's seeking enlightenment-looking deep into prime causes such as love, hate, ambition, and dark dreams. Among a host of devoted disciples, rough real-estate dealers, rival soul savers, and beautiful consorts, she's searching for the answer to a cop's prayers: the person whose karma is to kill.