Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data THE MENACE WITHIN IS A SPELLBINDING NOVEL OF LOVE AND FEAR, OF THE TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES OF A YOUNG WOMAN AND OF THE PEOPLE WHO IN VARIOUS UNEXPECTED WAYS ARE CONCERNED WITH HER DESPERATE SITUATION. BUT AMANDA, PREOCCUPIED WITH THE CRISES IN HER OWN LIFE, WAS BLIND TO THE SIGNS OF DANGER. SOMEHOW THE FORMIDABLE BROTHERS WOULD HAVE TO PREVENT HER FROM WRECKING THEIR PLANS. BECAUSE SHE WAS TAKING CARE OF A FRIEND’S TWO-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, SHE COULD NOT BE LURED FROM THE HOUSE. THEN AMANDA APPEARED, CUTTING OFF HIS ESCAPE. IF ALL WENT AS HARVEY HAD ARRANGED, CLAUDE WOULD LEAVE THE SHELTER THAT NIGHT AND BE IN ANOTHER STATE BY MORNING. EVEN IF THE GIRL’S BODY WERE NOT FOUND, IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR HER MURDERER TO GET OUT OF ALBUQUERQUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE INEXPLICABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELLIE PEALE, A YOUNG SUPERMARKET CLERK, WAS WIDELY FEATURED IN THE NEWS.

ONLY HARVEY SWEET, PETTY CRIMINAL AND PART-TIME HANDYMAN, REMEMBERED IT WAS THERE, THE PERFECT HIDING PLACE FOR THE KILLER, HIS HALF BROTHER CLAUDE. IN FACT NEITHER AMANDA NOR HER AUNT, WHO HAD BEEN RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL THAT AFTERNOON WITH A DISABLING STROKE, HAD KNOWN THE CLEVERLY CONCEALED BOMB SHELTER EXISTED. AMANDA MORELY HAD A FLASH OF FEAR WHEN SHE WENT INTO HER AUNT’S EMPTY DARKENED HOUSE, UNREASONING FEAR BECAUSE SHE DID NOT SUSPECT THAT BELOW HER, IN A SECRET ROOM, ELLIE PEALE’S KILLER WAS PACING WITH ANGRY IMPATIENCE.

Don't Open the Door by Ursula Curtiss