SIXTEEN
GOOD NEWS, AND BAD NEWS
Sweeping rain hammered against the window of Holland’s office. The sudden thunderstorm had taken everyone by surprise. The black clouds had appeared as if from nowhere, suddenly rolling in from the sea carrying the deluge straight towards the resort town. Thunder boomed from above and forks of orange lightning rent the clouds and zigzagged towards the earth, and in the offices of the town’s police headquarters, officers and clerks alike switched on lights to illuminate their workplaces as the day turned to darkness. Against the backdrop of the storm, Mike Holland looked across his desk at his sergeant. Having read the two reports Wright had placed in front of him the inspector knew that something out of the ordinary was taking place, though for the life of
