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

“Yes,” Baines replied, nodding. “The cast party broke up around four in the morning, according to witnesses. It would be hard to account for where everyone was before then. Meaning it would be possible for someone, Mr. Saunders to be specific, to leave and return without anyone being aware he’d been gone, as long as it wasn’t for too long a time period.”


“My bet’s on him,” Alan said. “He’s the one who was complaining about sneaking around. He could have gotten frustrated and decided to take matters into his own hands.”


“Possibly,” Baines agreed. “I won’t know until I dig deeper into both of their alibis for the time in question.”


“At least you know it was probably one of them,” Jim said. “Or both of them.”


“I intend to find out,” Baines replied, getting up. “Thank you for calling me, although it could have waited until morning.”


Baines smiled dryly. “You’re forgiven, this time.”


After he left, they debated going back to the party.


Chapter 44