The moment the two of them stepped into the East District Precinct, scattered applause broke out. Like a few drops of rain falling on dry ground, it quickly faded away.
"Jay, nice work!" a voice called from the corner.
"Wilson, well done!" another voice chimed in, though it sounded more like someone going through the motions.
The atmosphere was a little odd. Before they could respond, a middle-aged officer walked over carrying a stack of files. "Hey, Jay, Bob said to see him as soon as you got back. Also, good work today." He clapped Li Jie on the arm. "The moment Wilson called for backup, I bet you two could pull it off."
"Thanks. I'll go right now." Li Jie responded listlessly to the greeting. In fact, most people were staring at their desks for no apparent reason, while others muttered things like "Bet on the wrong side" and reluctantly handed their cash to Sergeant Elbert.
He had long since gotten used to this. Ignoring his colleagues, he went with his partner to knock on the wooden door at the end of the corridor marked "Chief's office." When they pushed it open, the thick smell of cigars hit them. A potbellied white man sat behind the desk, holding a phone and swearing furiously.
"You called to demand that I punish my officers? Fuck you! They put their lives on the line every day. What the hell have you done?" As he ranted, he pointed at the chairs opposite him, signaling for them to sit. "Think it through before you call again, or I'll complain directly to Loeb!"
He slammed down the phone and curled his lip at the two of them. "Would you look at that? The medical examiner at headquarters complained to me, saying you and Wilson covered up misconduct."
Bob McGinnis fixed him with a stern stare. "Do you know how much pressure that put me under?"
"Huh?" Li Jie blinked. "That happened first thing this morning, and he's only calling now? Who do you think you're fooling?"
"Oh, he called this morning. I was just reenacting the conversation for you." Bob remained perfectly composed, without the slightest embarrassment at being exposed. "I'm the chief. You need to show me some respect."
"No problem." Both men sprang out of their chairs and gave him impeccably crisp salutes. "Thank you very much, Chief."
"Well, I thought you might thank me with something a little more substantial." Bob gestured for Li Jie to sit back down. "Sure, that guy means jack shit to me, but you still need to watch yourselves. Headquarters got a new guy the year before last-though he's hardly new anymore-named James Gordon. Self-righteous bastard. He even arrested Flass once. Gora complaining about you is no big deal, but don't let Gordon get anything on you."
"James Gordon? We saw him today. He came to take over." Li Jie nodded.
"That's right. He even called me a hero," Wilson hurriedly added, pointing at Li Jie. "Uh... him too."
"Fuck being a hero, you idiot. Remember, heroes never last. You think Gordon's a hero? Under Grogan, he always takes the fall for the biggest, dirtiest messes. One of these days, he might get shipped off to guard a door." Bob scoffed at Wilson's words. "Look at you two. One rookie with less than six months on the job, and one idiot with barely two months. Why do you think you were paired up, huh?"
He leaned back against the broad backrest of his leather chair. "Veteran cops don't like training rookies, and they care even less whether anyone else lives or dies. Remember, dead people are soon forgotten. Jay, do you still remember how Garcia, who trained you, died? But I have to say..." He paused. "Second thing. Good work, boys. You shot and killed three criminals who hijacked a prison transport, and took another one alive." A trace of approval appeared on his face, followed by a sigh. "Shame you couldn't save those guys from Blackgate Penitentiary."
"I'm sorry. If I'd moved a little faster, maybe..." Li Jie sighed along with him. "But Garcia drank himself into a brain hemorrhage..."
"Never mind those little details. Deaths, charges, compensation-that's headquarters' problem, not ours. You did a fine job." Bob waved a hand. "Long story short, starting tomorrow, you're on administrative leave for a week. When you get back, we'll arrange your promotions."
"Hey, isn't administrative leave usually two weeks?" Li Jie exchanged a glance with Wilson, then glared at Bob. "Why am I only getting half?"
"Because I'm fucking out of people! Did you hear about Turner when you came back?"
"Turner? From homicide? What happened to him?"
"Someone killed him in an alley around noon today. I know it was probably Falcone's men, but there's not much I can do." Bob tapped the desk a few times with his fist. "There's a saying in your homeland: a wise man knows when to bend with the times. The police don't call the shots in Gotham these days."
Li Jie nodded, suddenly growing wary, afraid Bob was laying some sort of trap in his words.
"I'm a citizen here now. As for my homeland..."
"Don't worry, kid. I didn't mean anything by it. A man shouldn't forget his homeland. You know I've always wanted to send the queen off to Ireland to grow potatoes for the rest of her life." Bob spread his hands. "A man never truly cuts himself off from his roots. My ancestors were immigrants a few hundred years ago, after all."
"Uh... all right, Chief, but I think we're getting a little off topic, and changing the subject doesn't really work on me." Li Jie curled his lip. "You can't make me pay for your ancestors scalping Native Americans to make boots by cutting my administrative leave."
"Yeah, he's right," Wilson said, dragging his chair a little closer, even though he had no idea what the two of them were talking about. "Your ancestors might've locked my great-great-grandfather on a plantation to pick cotton, too. So I say you should give me a few extra days off."
"Shut your mouth! But we're seriously short-staffed right now, and the circumstances of this shooting are clear. The investigation is just a formality. How about this..." Irritably, Bob pulled open a drawer, took out an envelope, and set it on the desk. "Five hundred dollars. Go get yourselves a drink. Whatever the precinct approves will be separate, though it might take a few days."
"Huh? What could possibly make a cheapskate like you pay out of your own pocket?"
Li Jie froze, then leaped backward. "Whatever you are, get out of Bob right now!"
"Fuck! I told you to show me some respect." Bob waved an arm. "Seriously, I only care about two things. First, keeping the precinct running smoothly. Second, making sure nothing gets in the way of me lining my pockets. You're a good kid. I've got faith in you."
"But don't rush into things like this again. Leave it to headquarters. I never force you boys to charge into danger. Your lives are your own, after all."
"Yes, sir. No problem, sir."
Li Jie wasn't quite sure how to respond. The East District Precinct was different from other police stations: from top to bottom, everyone was just coasting. Bob was a miser. Of the roughly forty thousand dollars in dirty money the gangs sent over each month, he pocketed more than half himself. But beyond that, he never touched compensation, death benefits, rewards, or any equipment they were supposed to receive. He also never interfered with his subordinates making money however they could. If someone embezzled something, his attitude was to neither interfere nor cover for them.
Arthur Brown, chief of the West District Precinct, was the exact opposite. He took barely a fifth of the dirty money each month and distributed the rest among his officers, but he demanded a cut of practically every shady business his subordinates ran. He even sold their body armor and standard-issue shotguns on the black market.
Still, Li Jie couldn't quite trust what he was seeing. Looking at the white envelope, he reached out tentatively, only to discover that Bob's fingers were pressing down firmly on it.
"Uh... you're sure you won't regret this, right? Maybe we should forget it?"
"Take it before I have a heart attack!" Bob pulled his hand back and clutched his chest theatrically. "Get out of here. Keep up the good work."
Li Jie tucked the money into his inside pocket. The two men saluted and left. He pulled out his chair and sat back down at his desk, then tossed the money to Wilson to count.
I've got over four thousand now... barely over. Maybe I'll have a little more when I get back from leave. But there are plenty of things I need to buy right away. First, a car. Sure, I drive a patrol car every day, but I can't take precinct property out for personal use while I'm on leave. A decent used car costs at least five to seven thousand, though.
Argh!
Li Jie rubbed his face in frustration. Being broke was pure agony. He steadied himself, took out a sheet of paper, and began scribbling on it.
This is Gotham. Of the people I've met, Nygma is working inside the police department, so he probably won't be a major problem anytime soon. But Killer Croc is different. Once he starts killing, there'll be no turning back.
I need to find a way to get him out.
He sat there thinking for a while, then crumpled the paper on his desk into a ball and turned to ask Wilson:
"By the way, do you know anyone who sells used cars?"
"You want to buy a car?" Wilson scratched his head. "Why don't you try the Employee Benefits Auction? If there's a car you like, you can slip someone at the Equipment Management Office a little something to reserve it in advance. Retired vehicles, confiscated vehicles, impounded vehicles-they've got everything... Wait, weren't you the one who told me that?"
"Right. I kind of forgot." Li Jie sighed. That made his already tight budget even tighter. "Seriously, I'm starting to regret giving that kid a hundred this morning."
He stood up and headed upstairs under Wilson's gaze. A little while later, he returned with his lips pursed, looking as though he'd swallowed a fly.
"Huh? Looks like they bled you pretty good?"
"Three hundred bucks to move my registration form to the front of the queue. And there's an internal auction in the Gotham Police Department parking lot tomorrow at noon." Li Jie patted his cheeks, calming himself a little. "But I need to go out of town tomorrow. Can you take a look for me? Something cheap, sturdy, and able to take a beating. Preferably with a bit of room."
"No problem." Wilson rubbed his hands together. "If I see something suitable, I'll just..."
"You'll just call me!"
"Oh, fine, fine. Got it." Wilson lowered his hands, a little disappointed, but soon perked up again. "Don't worry, brother. I'll find you something good!"
Li Jie nodded and slumped back into his chair, staring blankly at the mottled stains on the ceiling. After a quiet moment, he got up, gathered the things on his desk, put them away, and stood.
"Where are you going?"
"Look at the time." Li Jie checked his watch. "It's late. I need to go home and make dinner."
"Huh?" Wilson's eyes lit up. He split the money into two stacks and handed one over. "Are you making... General Tso's Chicken? I'm fine with Chinese food, too."
"Like hell I am." Li Jie took the money and stuffed it into his pocket. "I'm going home to boil macaroni."
"Tss..." Wilson bared his teeth. "Even a dog wouldn't eat that stuff."
"You're right." Li Jie glared at him viciously. "As long as it's cheap, even if a dog won't eat it, I will!"
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