the dead police officer. The body was starting to smell. Early stages of decay and De Luca noted the congealed blood on the black uniform jacket.
Sonnenburg clicked his fingers at the paramedics who both rushed forward with their medi-packs. The first of them instantly reached for a pulse on the neck. Then he tried the wrist. He shook his head at the two policemen and closed his medical kit and stood up.
“Thank you,” Sonnenburg said, dismissing the paramedics.
“Well I guess we now have a murder case on our hands,” De Luca said. He turned to look for his assistant just as Ferrara finished the phone call.
“Mario we need forensics here as soon as possible. We now have a murdered cop on our hands.”
“Sir I’ve just got off the phone to Ezio. Those tyre marks you told me to photograph, they’ve come back as a match. The one’s at the roadside and the abandoned airfield are the same. They are identical to tyres supplied to the Carabinieri Alfa Romeo’s. Sir this proves that Balotelli was at that airfield.”
“But you and I investigated that airfield. There was nothing there.”
“Who would want to murder a policeman at an abandoned airfield and dump his body here?” Sonnenburg asked.
They turned at the sound of approaching foot steps. Bauer had just flashed his I.D. and was now hurrying towards them.
“I’ve just heard from my office. German police have been monitoring Von Werner’s bank accounts and guess what? You’ll never believe this. Von Werner has purchased an old abandoned airfield just North of Rome.”
De Luca met Sonnenburg’s gaze.
“I think we just found our suspect.”
“I should say,” Bauer continued, “And that’s not all. Interpol have upgraded the notice on Von Werner to red.”
De Luca was confused.
“What does that mean?”
“It means,” Sonnenburg answered, “That they’ve issued an international arrest warrant for him. Red is the highest notice that they can issue to all member forces. It also includes the power to extradite persons or individuals to the warrant issuing authority.”
“So this means that the German’s want him.”
“As well as the Americans and Austrians,” Sonnenburg added.
“Actually you’re both wrong. It is Tunisia who have requested his extradition.”
“Not a chance,” De Luca shook his head, “If he’s killed or is responsible for the death of one of my officers then I want him.”
“Yes,” Sonnenburg agreed, “If he’s still in Italy.”
“And if he is. I intend to catch him.”
Dennis, Natalie, Hutchinson and Alberto, their guide, all stepped back out into the late afternoon sunshine. They thanked their guide for a wonderful tour which had culminated in the viewing of the sistine chapel.
Despite signs everywhere telling visitors to switch off mobile phones Dennis had kept the one Sonnenburg had given him on. It now began to ring incessantly.
“Excuse me,” he said reaching into his jeans pocket for it.
Hutchinson was busy passing a large tip to Alberto. Natalie took her eyes off the transaction to look at her boyfriend. He cupped his hand over the mouthpiece to speak to her.
“It’s Bauer.”
He turned his attention back to the phonecall. He couldn’t hear over the large crowds of visitors and he apologised and asked the Austrian to speak up. He tried putting a finger in his other ear to drown out surrounding noise but it was still no use.
“I’m sorry Thomas I still can’t hear you.”
He heard the voice reply but still didn’t catch any of it.”
“Hold on Thomas. I will try to get somewhere quieter. Just bear with me….”
Dennis moved through the crowd looking for a vantage point. Then he saw a large gap in the crowds and he pushed his way to it.
“Right Thomas. I might be able to hear you now. Sorry, what were you saying.”
“Peter I need the three of you outside St Peter’s now. I’m at the square of Pope Pius XII in a black Lancia. Meet me there….”
Some tourists waving Brazilian flags suddenly appeared next to Dennis. They were shouting excitedly whilst having their photographs taken against the backdrop of the papal palace. Dennis couldn’t hear what Bauer was saying again and he looked at them with irritation. Then his eyes grew wide as he caught the single word.
“Bomb!”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Natalie and Dennis ran out of St Peter’s square and onto the via Della Conciliazone road. The black Lancia was parked just in front of the square of Pope Pius XII. Bauer had the driver’s door open and was standing and leaning on it. In his hand was a police radio. Beyond the Lancia Natalie and Dennis could see a Carabinieri