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 found the one he needed. As he started to open the door, he heard someone on the other side say quietly, “When can we stop this charade.”


The second man replied, “Soon. It wouldn’t be right for me to stop mourning too soon. I have to keep up appearances.”


“It’s been a month, damn it. I’m tired of sneaking around. We did enough of that before Neil died.”


There was a long silence, punctuated by a low groan of need—if Alan was reading things correctly. Carefully, he eased the door closed before walking down the hallway to the back entrance of the restaurant, in order to avoid the men when they left the men’s room.


“Going out for a smoke?” Deanna asked cheerfully from behind him.


“Umm, no. Just fresh air.” Alan opened the door then grimaced. “Not that I’ll find any back here.”


Chapter 43