cab driver exploded with rage. Grabbing the student around the neck, the driver pummeled him on the head. As others joined in, Bielgard and Michellini reached the far side of Via di San Marco. They spotted the two assailants running toward a parked Alfa Romeo. The driver of the car pulled out from the curb and the assailants jumped in. As the car picked up speed, Bielgard threw his walking stick at the windshield and jumped spread-eagle onto the hood. Unable to find a grip, he lost his balance and rolled to the ground. The driver slammed on the brakes but not fast enough to avoid hitting Bielgard. He then put the car into reverse to avoid rolling over Bielgard's body. He did not see Michellini rush over to help her injured colleague. Shifting the Alfa Romeo into third gear, the driver floored the gas pedal. Suddenly, he saw Michellini kneeling on the ground and swerved to avoid hitting her. It was too late. The right fender of the car struck her full force.
Pedestrians poured into the street—some tried to help Bielgard and Michellini — others tried to stop the Alfa Romeo. Gunning the accelerator, the driver sped off, weaving furiously through the stalled traffic. Within seconds, the taillights of the Alfa Romeo disappeared down a narrow street.
Detective Giorgio Cameri from the Rome Police Department took a phone call at 11:45 P.M . It was a report of an accident on Via di San Marco. Two Americans had been injured, but the details were sketchy.
Normally a detective would not be sent to investigate a car accident unless there were fatalities. But as a favor, Cameri thought the captain might give him this assignment. It was almost midnight, and Via di San Marco was on his way home. After he had finished the investigation, he could leave early and fill out the necessary paperwork at home.
Cameri walked over to the captain's desk.
“I'll take this accident on Via di San Marco. Two Americans have been injured.”
The captain smiled. “There must be a vehicular homicide before a detective can go out on the investigation. You know that as well as I do, Giorgio.”
“Come on, Captain. I've been working lots of overtime lately.”
“Okay, go ahead. Remember you owe me one.”
The first ambulance arrived with two police cars. A surgeon jumped out of the ambulance and ran over to the bodies lying on the street. Detective Cameri followed her.
The surgeon attended Bielgard first, searching for a heartbeat.
“Blood pressure's falling.” The surgeon pushed hard on Bielgard's chest with her hands. “He's going.” The doctor shouted to the paramedic. “Get a defibrillator.” The doctor hit hard on Bielgard's chest a second time. Cameri saw Bielgard's lips move.
“Doctor, he's trying to say something.”
The surgeon put her ear next to his lips.
A shudder ran through Bielgard's body.
“He's seizing.” The doctor gave Bielgard a shock from the defibrillator. “Damn it! No pulse.”
The surgeon jumped up and ran to Michellini.
“What did he say?”
“‘Barbo — Francesco Barbo.’ Detective, get these people out of the way. I've got to work on the woman here in the street or she'll die, too.”
Cameri pushed back the crowd of onlookers. The surgeon hooked Michellini to an intravenous injection and strapped an oxygen mask over her face.
“Get the tent up. Hurry!”
The paramedic pulled a large canvas bag from inside the ambulance and quickly assembled a tent in the street. Cameri and the paramedic gently lifted Michellini onto a stretcher and carried her inside the canvas flaps of the emergency enclosure.
“Shine the headlights into the tent. I've got to do a tracheotomy right now.”
Cameri maneuvered the ambulance so its headlights illuminated the inside of the emergency tent.
A second ambulance arrived. Two paramedics lifted Bielgard's body onto a gurney and wheeled it to the back of the vehicle. When Bielgard's body was securely racked, the ambulance moved off through the crowd. The wail of the
Pedestrians poured into the street—some tried to help Bielgard and Michellini — others tried to stop the Alfa Romeo. Gunning the accelerator, the driver sped off, weaving furiously through the stalled traffic. Within seconds, the taillights of the Alfa Romeo disappeared down a narrow street.
Detective Giorgio Cameri from the Rome Police Department took a phone call at 11:45 P.M . It was a report of an accident on Via di San Marco. Two Americans had been injured, but the details were sketchy.
Normally a detective would not be sent to investigate a car accident unless there were fatalities. But as a favor, Cameri thought the captain might give him this assignment. It was almost midnight, and Via di San Marco was on his way home. After he had finished the investigation, he could leave early and fill out the necessary paperwork at home.
Cameri walked over to the captain's desk.
“I'll take this accident on Via di San Marco. Two Americans have been injured.”
The captain smiled. “There must be a vehicular homicide before a detective can go out on the investigation. You know that as well as I do, Giorgio.”
“Come on, Captain. I've been working lots of overtime lately.”
“Okay, go ahead. Remember you owe me one.”
The first ambulance arrived with two police cars. A surgeon jumped out of the ambulance and ran over to the bodies lying on the street. Detective Cameri followed her.
The surgeon attended Bielgard first, searching for a heartbeat.
“Blood pressure's falling.” The surgeon pushed hard on Bielgard's chest with her hands. “He's going.” The doctor shouted to the paramedic. “Get a defibrillator.” The doctor hit hard on Bielgard's chest a second time. Cameri saw Bielgard's lips move.
“Doctor, he's trying to say something.”
The surgeon put her ear next to his lips.
A shudder ran through Bielgard's body.
“He's seizing.” The doctor gave Bielgard a shock from the defibrillator. “Damn it! No pulse.”
The surgeon jumped up and ran to Michellini.
“What did he say?”
“‘Barbo — Francesco Barbo.’ Detective, get these people out of the way. I've got to work on the woman here in the street or she'll die, too.”
Cameri pushed back the crowd of onlookers. The surgeon hooked Michellini to an intravenous injection and strapped an oxygen mask over her face.
“Get the tent up. Hurry!”
The paramedic pulled a large canvas bag from inside the ambulance and quickly assembled a tent in the street. Cameri and the paramedic gently lifted Michellini onto a stretcher and carried her inside the canvas flaps of the emergency enclosure.
“Shine the headlights into the tent. I've got to do a tracheotomy right now.”
Cameri maneuvered the ambulance so its headlights illuminated the inside of the emergency tent.
A second ambulance arrived. Two paramedics lifted Bielgard's body onto a gurney and wheeled it to the back of the vehicle. When Bielgard's body was securely racked, the ambulance moved off through the crowd. The wail of the
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