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

As soon as he saw Alan go up the drive next to one of the buildings, Jim pulled into a vacant spot on the street. Turning the car off, he eased out, closing the door silently.


Now all I have to do is hope to hell the officers watching Alan’s lot don’t think I’m the killer.


He had no idea where Alan parked, except that it wasn’t on the same side as the driveway, since he’d seen Alan turn left. Taking a chance that he was right, and that Alan parked on the far side of the lot, Jim hurried to past the building, then inched forward along the side, toward the lot.


Three things happened at the same time. Someone grabbed his arm, Alan’s headlights went off, and there were shouts of, “Drop your weapon and put your hands in the air!”


“Like hell I will!” The man’s voice seemed to echo through the lot, then Jim heard someone running, followed by more footsteps.


“Let me go,” Jim said fiercely, struggling to get free of whoever was holding his arm.


Chapter 30