Power of Will, a SAW Fanfiction

Ch. 4 Pre-Saw: Toni Rosello

Wilhelmina Maddox

Toni Rosello had eyes like a shark. Will had decided she didn't like him as she quietly watched him from across the red and white checkered tablecloth. He sat with a stained handkerchief stuffed in the front of his shirt. A big suited man stood behind him, a gargoyle of a bodyguard that glared down at them as though he wished to eat them. Hoffman had his hand resting on the table, moving his digits fluidly as he calmly explained to the godfather why two Metropolitan Police detectives had decided to disturb his meal of baked ziti and salmon. She was impressed with how well he had been handling it. It was a first for her, seeing him speak smoothly with charisma.

"A couple of broads get capped and you guys think you can show your face?" The man had a slight Yankee accent, his vowels ending with a 'wuh' sound that Will crinkled her nose every time he sounded it. He noticed. "What's with you, Red? Allergies?"

Hoffman had gently nudged her with the side of his foot. "Yeah. Sorry." She needed to remember herself. It was out of place, being the one having to remember to stay in character. She gave him a small smile, blinking slowly, letting her face relax as though she was a ditzy space cadet. The shark eyes eyed her hungrily, wondering what type of fish she tasted like. "You need some Benadryl, honey?"

"If it's no trouble," she let herself keep the charade, running her hands through her hair, fluffing it out, and getting comfortable. Her collared shirt had the top button undone, so she pulled her shirt down as though to fix her outfit. Really, she just wanted to let the skin of her lower neck and chest begin to peak through.

Rosello snapped his fingers at his lackeys. They straightened in attention and went to the kitchen, disappearing behind the white swinging doors.

"Mr. Rosello," Hoffman's voice was patient and respectful, "the victims were found in trunks of cars registered to men who work for you. Now, we don't want to cause you any headache. I know you have better things to worry about than the killings of a couple of girls. We're just concerned that there were more involved than the man we apprehended."

"Who you got, Markie-boy?"

Will fought the urge to let her eye twitch or give Hoffman a look. Markie-boy? She wondered where that name came from. In fact, she was beginning to wonder about Hoffman's early career with MPD. He never spoke of it.

"Guy calls himself T-Rod. Some thug."

"Who's a rat."

"Well he's facing life in prison. He was hoping for some leverage. Or maybe he felt some regret."

Rosello's laugh was high and whiny, like a nasally mad scientist. "That's cute. Yeah, a quick death is probably better than life. So how many pounds of flesh you need?" The man's eyes darted from Hoffman to Will. "Lemme guess. You're new, aren't you, Red?"

"I've been working with Hoffman for a little over eight months."

Rosello whistled. "He kept you from me for that long? Markie-boy, she's stunning. I always have a thing for a woman with freckles." He licked his teeth, letting out another donkey giggle. "I bet you're pretty hurt about all those girls. You lady cops always get extra sensitive about 'em."

She let him bore into her, taking in the black beady irises, his long face, and the tomato sauce-stained teeth that grinned in bemusement at her. She had the urge to pull her gun out and shoot him point-blank. She never had felt that, in her life, and it scared her. This man was toxic. "Truthfully?"

"Of course, honey."

"I'm very upset about what happened to Effie. I'm sure her family's very upset too."