When the first note shows up at the restaurant where he works -- when he isn't designing costumes for a local theater -- Jim Foster laughs it off. When the notes keep coming, he doesn't find the fact that he might have a secret admirer quite so amusing. Alan North, a lonely, bookish customer at the restaurant, is too shy to even think of talking to Jim -- as much as he wants to. Then the killings begin. Two of Jim's friends are murdered in what appear to be muggings. However, the detective in charge of the cases believes they're more than that, and that Jim is either the killer ... or being stalked by one. When Jim and Alan finally connect, can they help find and stop the stalker, or will Alan end up dead before their budding relationship can become more than friendship?

His Secret Admirer

Which he did, settling on the sofa, with a cup of coffee, and Callie curled in his lap, while he watched some mindless sports show on TV. He was half asleep when the news came on. He snapped awake moments later when he heard Vic’s name. The reporter was apparently recapping an earlier news story about the body of a man that had been discovered in the parking lot behind an apartment building, beaten to death. “The victim has now been positively identified as Victor Howe who lived in the apartment building where the body was discovered.”


For a second, Jim hoped it was another Victor Howe. After all, it’s a fairly common name. His hopes were dashed when the Vic’s photo came up behind the reporter.


“It can’t be. Why? A mugging gone wrong?” Shock and disbelief warred for supremacy as he continued listening to the story.


According to the reporter, the police were considering that explanation but wouldn’t confirm it until they had finished the investigation.


Chapter 7