SEVEN
A CHANCE MEETING
As events prepared to escalate and Holland and Wright were about to become embroiled in one of the most baffling and gruesome cases of their respective careers, across the town from their office at police headquarters a young man known only to his associates as Michael was waking from a deep sleep. As his eyes opened fully, he squinted against the glare of the shaft of autumn sunshine that cascaded into the room through the uncurtained window a mere three feet from the end of his bed. The room was small, dirty and unkempt and completely matched the two occupants who shared the meagre accommodation. Michael rubbed his eyes, squinted again and turned his head away from the bright rays that met his waking gaze. Instead, he looked across the room to where a second low
