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

“They’re all troopers,” Eleanor has said to Jim at one point during the final week of rehearsals. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of actors to work with.”


“Because you encourage them,” Jim responded. “You’re firm with everyone, and make no bones about what you expect, but you don’t bully. You’ve gained their respect and they want to give you their best.”


“Thank you for saying that.” She smiled dryly. “Now if they, if we, don’t all drop from exhaustion before opening night.”


“You know we have a date tomorrow night,” Jim said when he called Alan late Thursday evening.


“Of course I do. It’s opening night, and there’s the party afterward.”


“Yep. It’s been moved though, to Laterza’s.”


“Seriously. No one wanted to go back to Sullivan’s. It holds too many bad memories, now. So I suggested Laterza’s and everyone agreed.”


Chapter 50