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 let the detective into his apartment, gesturing for him to have a seat.


“You’re looking better than the last time I saw you,” Baines said. “Of course that was when you were being worked on in the ER.”


Alan frowned. “I don’t remember you were there.”


“I’m not surprised. The doctor told me you weren’t in any shape to be questioned, so I backed off. What I need to know, now, is what you remember about the attack.”


“Hearing the car door open, then pain when he hit me. That’s it. I’d just turned my headlights off, and my eyes hadn’t adjusted to the sudden darkness.”


“He timed it well,” Baines said. “I’d be willing to bet that’s how he got the drop on the other men, too.”


“I don’t suppose he’s confessed. I mean, more than what he did when you arrested him. Jim told me about that.”


Baines snorted, then went on to tell him what he’d told Jim earlier in the day.


Chapter 33