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

“He was mugged and died. No, not mugged. He was murdered and whoever did it tried to make it look like a mugging.”


Jim shook his head. “I wish I was. The police are real sure his death was intentional.”


“I have no clue.” It seemed, to Alan, as if Jim wanted to say more, then decided not to. “But enough of that,” Jim said with a small smile. “Would you like to do something next weekend?”


“Sure.” Alan took out his phone, still unable to believe that Jim really wanted them to do more things together. He found the listing for coming movies and told Jim what they were. They quickly decided on one they both wanted to see, and then set a time to meet. Shutting off his phone, Alan said, “You haven’t told me anything about you.”


Jim grinned. “Next weekend. You can quiz me to death. Right now, I should head home. I have to be up at the crack of dawn for work.”


Chapter 21