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

“Sit and tell me what’s going on,” Baines said succinctly when they got to his desk, eyeing Alan like he was some strange species of criminal, in Jim’s opinion.


“This is Alan North,” Jim said by way of introduction. “He told me, last night, that he’s the one who wrote the notes, after I told him what was happening.”


Baines nodded, focusing on Alan. “Why should I believe you’re not the man who killed Mr. Howe and Mr. Ramsey?”


“Because I’m not,” Alan replied emphatically. He sucked in a breath. “I’m not sure how to prove it, unless, well, we came up with an idea.” He looked at Jim, appeal in his gaze.


Jim responded to it, saying, “Alan and I went to a movie last weekend, and then, last night, we ate dinner together at Laterza’s. Do you know the restaurant?”


“We talked about the murders, and…everything,” Jim continued. “Okay, admittedly Alan’s still alive, which might mean whoever my stalker is, he hasn’t seen us together.”


Chapter 26