With Gordon's help, the East End Police Department's press conference went off smoothly.
Li Jie stood onstage, the badge on his chest reflecting a cold, hard gleam beneath the camera flashes. Central Headquarters' publicity department had revised his speech over and over, leaving no opening in its carefully chosen words.
"...The tragedy at Kane Memorial Bank was one of the darkest chapters in Gotham's history. But justice will be served. Our officers identified the perpetrator within an hour of the incident and shot him dead during the pursuit."
The reporters below hammered their shutter buttons, their telephoto lenses aimed at him like gun barrels.
"Sheriff! Reports say several hostages were seriously injured or killed at the scene. Was this due to a failure of command?"
Li Jie looked at the reporter from the Gotham Gazette who had asked the question. Their questions were always pointed.
"My officers demonstrated extraordinary courage and professionalism. Under those circumstances, every decision had to be made in an instant. We did what we could, and the results bear that out. The perpetrator was brought to justice, and more potential victims were protected."
"But the death toll..."
"Behind every number is a human life." Li Jie cut her off, his gaze sweeping across the room. "That is precisely why we are here. Not to debate casualties that have already occurred, but to ensure that something like this never happens again. The East End Police Department has launched a comprehensive security upgrade, with funding personally provided by Mr. Bruce Wayne."
He threw out Wayne's name like a handful of mud tossed into clear water, and sure enough, the reporters' attention shifted.
"What specific security measures are planned, and how much funding is involved?"
"Those involve operational details that we cannot disclose." Li Jie offered a perfectly measured,