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

“Do we want to do this again sometime next week?” Alan asked, setting his empty bowl on the coffee table.


“Sounds good to me, but it will have to be Monday. The rest of the week I’ll be involved with final rehearsals before the show opens on Friday.”


“It happens. They can go on into the evening, if we run into problems. That’s why we have them. The actors need to get used to their costumes and the sets.” Jim chuckled. “The saying, if it can go wrong, it will? I think it originated in the theater.”


“Yeah. It’s rarely anything major, but…” Jim spread his hands.


“I’ll stick to accounting, thanks. No matter what, one plus one always equals two and nothing can screw that up.”


“If you need help with it…” Alan replied seriously.


“I was teasing, but thanks for offering.”


Chapter 39