The sirens drew closer, and soon glaring red and blue lights tore through the gloom of the alley. Gordon was among the first to rush in. When he saw Barnes lying in a pool of blood, the color instantly drained from his weathered face.
"Jim..." Li Jie raised his head, his voice hoarse. "I... I was too late..."
Gordon ignored him and rushed straight to Barnes, checking his carotid pulse with trembling fingers. Then he whipped around and roared at the officers following him, "An ambulance! Now! Fucking move!"
The scene descended into chaos. The paramedics carefully lifted Barnes onto a stretcher, his vital signs so faint they were barely detectable. Camera flashes from the Forensics Division went off one after another, documenting the brutal scene.
Gordon finally stood and walked over to Li Jie. His eyes held shock, grief, anger, and a barely perceptible scrutiny.
"Jay, what happened? Why are you here?"
"I... got a vague tip that something was going on here." Li Jie avoided Gordon's gaze, repeating the story he had made up while waiting. It sounded hollow and unconvincing. "When I got here, I saw... Zsasz... he was attacking him. I fired, but I missed... he got away."
"Zsasz? Victor Zsasz?" Gordon's pupils contracted. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Li Jie nodded. This time, he met Gordon's gaze, trying to make his eyes look honest. "I couldn't mistake that face."
Gordon stared hard at him, as if searching his face for the slightest trace of a lie. After a long moment, he let out a heavy breath and stiffly patted Li Jie's shoulder.
"You... did your best." Gordon's voice was heavy with exhaustion. "Go home and get some rest. Take a hot shower. Headquarters will handle things here. Later... there'll be a formal interview."
Li Jie