to the bottom of the stairs and threw themselves into cover behind benches. The gunmen were retreating backwards towards the main doors. Dennis motioned to Bossano and together they pushed the bench they were crouching behind over to give them better cover, the wood being thicker on the seat. This was met with more gunfire. As the gunmen reloaded Bauer ran, bent over double, and took cover behind a thick stone pillar. A burst of fire followed him. Dennis got himself into position so he could see towards the main doors. There were three of them moving backwards. One fired a burst at Bauer who dodged forward two rows of seats and took cover. Two of the gunmen kept up the gunfire as the third lifted the heavy bar that locked the front doors of the church. He swung the massive double doors open with tremendous strength. They were going out the front way. Bauer gave Dennis a signal to stay put and he gestured for Bossano to follow. They got up to move forward when three hand sized orbs came arcing into the church. One landed spinning next to Bossano. Bauer threw himself down flat on his face. Bossano, not so quick was staring at the object when it exploded, throwing him into the air in a spray of his own blood. His body landed with a soggy thud and Dennis looked into lifeless eyes as the other two M67 grenades exploded deafeningly inside the church.
“Fuck,” Dennis said, “Grenades now! They’ve stepped up their game.”
Bauer got up from the floor. A quick glance at Bossano told him the policeman was dead. Then he pressed forward, moved into cover at the door, peered around as he heard more machine gun fire, saw Angelo’s body fall to the ground, saw two of the gunmen shoot the tyres on the police car as the black Hummer raced up to them and they got in. Bauer rushed out into the open air.
“Bauer wait!” Dennis shouted rushing to the doors.
He watched in horror as the back window of the Hummer was lowered and the barrel of an MP5 poked out and sprayed Bauer with bullets. He crashed heavily to the ground as the Hummer sped away. Dennis ran out onto the piazza in front of the church. Bauer was face down and Dennis turned him over. He was still alive, his shirt soaked in blood. He tried to speak to Dennis but only blood bubbled from his lips.
“Don’t talk,” Dennis said reaching into his pocket for his mobile phone. He dialled the emergency number and asked for an ambulance. Bauer was struggling to try and move.
“Bauer stay still. Help is on its way.”
Bauer tried to speak again. Suddenly his body went into spasms then went still. Dennis watched as the eyes glazed over. The sound of the Hummer bouncing off the pavement and striking a parked car got his attention. It zigzagged across the road as it sped away. Dennis fished around in Bauer’s pockets until he found the keys to the Lancia. He let Bauer’s head down gently onto the road and stood up.
“Goodbye Thomas,” he said.
He rushed over to the Lancia. The engine roared into life as Dennis stomped on the gas pedal and he had to swerve around Angelo’s body as he roared away back the way he and Bauer had come. The Hummer’s tail lights easy to see in the growing dark.
Dennis got his phone out again and selected dial and rang Sonnenburg. The phone rang five times before it was answered.
“Sonnenburg,” the voice said.
“It’s Dennis. I’m in pursuit of a black Hummer which contains three armed men. They’ve attacked the church and killed the priests, two carabinieri and Bauer.”
“Understood Peter. Are you able to follow long enough for us to get a helicopter to you?”
“I think so. I’m in the Lancia driving down the Viale carlo Felice. Hang on! They’ve just swung onto the Via Appia Nuova. Jesus they nearly just ran a group of girls over.”
“Hold on Peter I’m just getting a lock on the Lancia. We’ve got our problems here.”
“I take it that explosion was the car bomb.”
“It was.”
“Anyone hurt?”
“We lost the bomb disposal guys. The blast killed them.”
Dennis swallowed hard. Not wanting to ask the next question.
“And Hutchinson and my girlfriend?”
“They’re both fine Peter. They are right here beside me.”
Dennis closed his eyes with relief for a moment.
“Keep me updated Peter. Where are you now?”
“I’m trying,” Dennis said struggling to see the sat nav now he