A Dissection of the Heart

The Ride

Rosalind looked herself over in the mirror. Her eyes were done in a dramatic orange and purple look, with her trusty magnetic lashes rounding it out and making her already doe eyes look even bigger. Her long curls were mostly tamed into a bun at the back of her head with two locks freed to frame her face. She wore a black cocktail dress and fur coat, though she knew they wouldn’t stay on for long once she got to the job site. She smiled at her reflection and added a dark red lipstick to her full lips.

Just as she finished slipping on her strappy black stilettos her phone buzzed with a cheerful ding ding.

From: Special A.ss Hey b.itch your chariot awaits!

Rosalind couldn’t help but scoff, shaking her head at her friend’s text. Grabbing her briefcase, she got up and scurried out the door. Even though she thought she left this life behind, she couldn’t help but feel giddy knowing she’ll be with her old partner in crime. Literally. She chuckled to herself. In the driveway a black SUV waited, engine humming as she approached. She opened the back door, glancing around. “What is this, ‘Driving Miss Daisy’?” Speciale grumbled from the driver’s seat. Rosalind laughed, “Depends on how good you are, I don’t know if I want to sit by your a.ss.” She sat the case carefully in the backseat before closing the door and crossing over to the passenger seat.

“Har har.” He said humorlessly as she slid into the seat. “Shush you know you love me.” She quickly snipped back, punctuating her statement by sticking her tongue out at him. “Remind me why, again?” He chuckled back as he backed out of the driveway and pulled out onto the street.

“So I need details,” Rosalind finally spoke up after a few moments of silence between them. Speciale just shot her a side glance, raising his eyebrow. “Okay? Anything specific?”

“Well,” she began, “we can start by telling me who our client is.” He clicked his tongue, mulling over his answer. “He works for the yakuza in Tokyo,” he said after a beat. “That’s all I get?” Rosalind practically shouted to him, making Speciale sigh and shoot her a scowl. “That’s all? What more do you need? What does it matter anymore than that? You probably won’t even meet him tonight anyhow. Look, I work for a lot of the yakuza gangs around here, you can think of me as an illegal contractor, ‘kay? That makes you my illegal sub-contractor, you’re the specialist I’m bringing in.”

Rosalind huffed at his answer, folding her arms under her ample bosom. “Okaaaay, well can I get any details about the guest of honor tonight?” She pouted her lips at him, just for added effect. Speciale just rolled his eyes at her and fished around the back of his seat with one hand for a minute before bringing up a black notebook with a bookmark sticking out of it in the middle. “I figured ya was gonna ask about that. Flip to the mark, it’s all my info on the subject and the questions we need answered. But I’m going to have an ear piece in so if the boss needs something else asked I’ll be lettin’ ya know.”

“Thanks. Did you get what I asked for?” Rosalind asked as she absentmindedly flipped to the marked page and began reading. “Yeah, weird f.uckin’ list though.” They both chuckled to each other before slipping into a comfortable silence.

Masamuri Yamato

Age 35 years

Captured from Inagawa-kai syndicate

Rosalind raised an eyebrow at the book. He’s from the third largest syndicate huh? Sucks for him.

Torture and retrieve information, leave face intact, kill when done

Rosalind looked away from the scrawled writing of the notebook. “If they want him dead, why do they care if his face is intact?”

“I think they want to deliver him back to his boss, I guess it’s supposed to be a message. Other than that they said you can do whatever you like as long as you get the info they need.” Speciale replied, not looking away from the road. Rosalind nodded, “I’m guessing he’s not an easy egg to crack and that’s why you had to call me in out of retirement?” He flashed a quick smile over to her. “Bingo! I know you can get the info and make it last a while if he wants to be tough.” Rosalind didn’t reply, she just nodded and looked out her window.

I can’t believe I’m doing this again. Just this once, I won’t get sucked back in. Rosalind hoped that she could keep the promise to herself.

She refocused her gaze out the window. Trees. Trees. And more trees. It seemed to Rosalind that they were headed away from the city. She had imagined being led to a Tokyo building lair but she supposed that seemed silly now. It would make much more sense to do this job out in the country, less chance for anyone hearing the screams. Plus, on the off chance they managed to get out of their restraints and escape there would be virtually no where to go. Work smarter, not harder.

After a time, they were thoroughly in the middle of nowhere. There seemed to be nothing around but trees and the occasional farm. But soon Speciale took a right turn down a somewhat hidden road in the woods. It took a full five minutes before they came to a high fence blocking what lay ahead from sight. Speciale rolled down his window as he cruised to a stop in front of the gate. “O yakusoku wagozaimasu ka?” (Do you have an appointment?) “It’s me f***k face!” He barked back at the intercom angrily. Rosalind shifted in her seat uncomfortably, unsure whether that was the right thing for him to say. After about thirty seconds of agonizing silence there was finally a buzzing sound as the gate slowly opened in to allow them through.

Speciale chuckled at Rosalind’s sigh of relief as he rolled up his window. “They’re used to me by now,” he reassured her with a wink.

They pulled through and Rosalind swore her jaw would have dropped off her face if it could as a magnificent manor house came into view before her. They pulled along the driveway to a round about in front of the main steps where Speciale parked and hopped out. “Close your mouth before you catch flies,” he teased her before shutting his door. Rosalind just frowned and rolled her eyes before joining him outside the car. “Let me grab my case and we can go get ready,” She said to him, opening the back door. “Mmkay,” Speciale said boredly as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and began walking up the front stairs.

This is it, she thought, resting her hand on her case. My last job, period. Then I can tell Special to go f***k himself if he tries asking me to do anything else. She smirked to herself and slid the case out, closing the door behind her as she went to go join Speciale at the front door.