‘I want him gone!’ Sarah moaned to the grey suited man behind the desk.  He sat back in a relaxed manner, elbows rested against the seat arms, his fingers linked together and thumbs drumming off one another. There was almost a pout to his lips as he considered her demand.

‘Of course ma’am, if that’s what you want, then it shall be done.’ he replied coolly in his broad Brooklyn accent. He stood up and walked around the desk to offer his client a cigarette, which she politely accepted. His smooth metal lighter appeared open and alight before her as she put the cigarette to her lips.

‘It’s what I want.’ She said, flicking back her long brown hair as she sat back in her chair and took her first drag the cigarette. Nerves were beginning to creep in, so she busied herself with straightening out her black shirt in the most casual way she could. The grey suited man sat back in his chair and took no notice of her good looks, revealing black skirt and shirt with its top buttons undone. This was business, grizzly, unfeeling business that should never be mixed with pleasure, even if he did enjoy it.

 ‘How would you like the hit to be executed?’ he continued casually. ‘Being shot in the head is on offer this month, as too is garrottin’. Drowning will cost more and all expenses must be paid for. But you will be pleased to know that disposal of the body is covered in the cost of the hit. My boys enjoy the waist disposal part of their job.’

The casual and almost jocular tones of his voice set Sarah on edge. She had not been expecting such a disregard to the value of life, even from a gangster like him.  

‘How can you say something like that so casually?’ She caught herself asking, her mouth had ran away with her thoughts before she had time to stop it. The grey suited man looked at her with an unexpected smile the conveyed a sense of understanding.

‘Because in this business, if you don’t take the planin’ of a hit lightly, then it gets to you, you know what I mean? Grinds you down, tears at your soul, you know. Making light of it is what gets me through the day. After all we’re talking about taking a life here, that’s no small matter.’