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

Thursday was Thanksgiving. Not that Jim could celebrate it. He’d gotten a call late the previous evening from one of the theater’s owners, telling him to show up at the theater the next morning to meet the new director.


“There go our plans,” Jim grumbled before calling Alan. “I’m sorry, but our date for Thanksgiving dinner is off,” he said as soon as Alan answered, explaining why.


“It doesn’t seem fair that they’re making all of you do that on Thanksgiving,” Alan replied. “But I guess I understand.”


“Thanks. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”


Now, Jim walked into the costume shop to find a middle-aged woman he’d never seen before chatting with his crew.


She turned, smiling at him. “You must be Jim Foster. I’m Eleanor Carter. I’ll be directing the next show. Sorry to mess with everyone’s Thanksgiving plans, but the sooner we get started, the better.”


“Nice to meet you,” he replied with a bit of hesitation.


Chapter 47