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

Alan applauded with the rest of the audience when the cast took their curtain calls. When he’d arrived at the theater, he’d prayed that he’d be able to get a seat, since he hadn’t decided to see the show until that morning, when he’d seen the ad for it in the paper.


If he’s one of the actors…That had been the impetus for going. Another chance to see Jim, even if he didn’t know Alan was there. He’d been disappointed when he’d read through the program, only to discover that Jim was the costume designer. So I won’t see him. He’d sighed at that thought, before settling back to try to enjoy the show anyway—which he had.


The curtain went down, then rose again to reveal the cast, who bowed in unison. Then one of the stars stepped forward to introduce the director, the music director, the scene designer—and the costumer. Alan felt his pulse quicken when Jim walked on stage.


Chapter 10