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To his disgust, the driver of the offending car didn’t stop, but carried on up the road, took a right and disappeared out of sight

A passer-by made a tentative approach towards the victim

‘Do not move her,’ Francesco barked as he pulled off his helht have a broken neck If you want to help, call for an ambulance’

The passer-by took a step back and dug into his pocket, allowing Francesco to stand over the victim

The woman lay on her back, half on the pave in all directions Her helmet, which had shifted forward and covered her forehead, had a crack running through it Her bike was a crumpled heap of metal

Dropping to his haunches, Francesco yanked off his leather gloves and placed two fingers on the fallen cyclist’s neck

Her pulse beat faint beneath his touch

While the passer-by spoke to the eency services, Francesco deftly removed his leather jacket and placed it over the unconscious worey trousers and an untucked black blouse covered with a waterproof khaki jacket On one of her bare feet was a white ballet shoe The other was

His chest constricted at the thought of theshoe

He wished he could tuck his jacket under her to create a barrier between her and the cold, damp concrete, but he kneas imperative to keep her still until the paramedics arrived

The i

‘Give me your coat,’ he barked at another spectator, as hovering like a spare part A sht scornfully Not one of them had stepped forward to help

It never occurred to hi in the , that none of the crowd dared offer their assistance

The spectator he’d addressed, a ed off his coat and passed it to Francesco, who snatched it fros,sure to cover her feet

‘Five inal passer-by said when he disconnected his call

Francesco nodded For the first time he felt the chill of the wind He palmed the woman’s cheek It felt icy