Her Stepfather's House — June Wetherell

Deadly questions

Her mother's new home, a three-story shambles dominating a hill near the edge of the village, wasn't at all what Gail had expected. At autumn dusk, with its windows lighted, it looked like an evilly leering jack-o'-lantern.
From the moment of her arrival, Gail felt apprehensive. Not only was there something sinister about the house itself, but Wolff Sorenson was anything but the jovial importer of fine foods he pretended to be. Why did he so carefully guard his office? Who were the strangers who called on him at odd hours of the night? Was handsome Donald Bishop quite what he seemed - and what was the real reason Ben Haynes wanted to talk to Wolff?
Gradually the answers came clear. But with them came the dreadful certainty that no one could know what Gail had learned - and continue to live!