Joseph Rofal

Joseph Rofal was the head of the Rofal Syndicate.

## Personality

Joseph was an astute businessman first and foremost. He was willing to do anything in order to get what he wanted, from bribery to coercion to murder. Rofal thought of his syndicate as an empire, and asserted control over his subordinates by using both rewards and threats. The rewards included not only money, but also protection from the police that came with being a part of the syndicate. Joseph also understood that, while he could go as far as take his subordinates’ children hostage, there was no point in such actions as killing subordinates simply for failure.

## Relationships

### Damian Rofal

Joseph greatly respected his father Damian, admiring his brilliance and ambition which shone through the madness.

### Geoffrey Rofal

Joseph had raised his nephew Geoffrey after the latter’s parents entrusted their child to him. He treated Geoffrey well enough to gain his favour, but was nevertheless frightened of him and considered Geoffrey a monster, as well as irreverent pain in the ass with no mind for the consequences of his actions.

### Jeremiah Colt

Joseph appreciated Colt’s proficiency at killing, and, despite taking his children hostage, believed that in time Colt will see the situation as Rofal did - that of an employee who can never betray Joseph, and an employer who can appreciate Colt’s talents and not hesitate to show his generosity. Even when Colt betrayed him, Joseph was still trying to turn the situation around and leave Colt both alive and still serving him.

## Appearance

Joseph Rofal had red and grey hair and a weathered face. He also presumably had Rofal family’s thick, arched eyebrows.

## History

Joseph inherited the syndicate from Damian ten years before the start of the story. Under his leadership the syndicate prospered, but he was still aiming for new heights, by (presumably) trying to buy an introduction to Pancake House Five.

At the start of the story Joseph came into conflict with Hector through his subordinates murdering Officer Mallory and Melissa Mallory. Though Hector failed to stop both murders, he managed to steal the introduction money and later turned Colt against Rofal. During the mission to rescue Colt’s children, Joseph was killed by Colt.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 ‘*You remember. You knocked his teeth out. I’m surprised he’s out of jail already. It’s barely been two days since he was arrested.*’

‘*Perks of being on Rofal’s payroll, I guess...*’

‘*Even so, two days is a bit ridiculous. The police force must be more corrupt than we thought. Maybe lawyers, as well.*’ - Excerpt from page 61
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rofal did not look amused. “You are obviously not the person to discuss this with. Tell me how your assignment went.”

“I contacted some of my old colleagues in the department. Told them I was innocent, like you said. I’m pretty sure none of them believed me.”

“I didn’t expect them to. But now they will be conflicted. And perhaps more malleable.”

Colt furrowed his brow. “You mean to coerce them.”

“Empires are not built on alliances. They are built on conquests.” - Excerpt from page 71
3. ↑ “Wh-who sent these men to kill you?”

Mallory squinted. “How old are you? You sound like a kid.” At Hector’s silence, he said, “Rofal. Joseph Rofal.”

“Because you’re testifying in court a-against him?”

“Not against him. His little shit stain of a nephew. I was there. I saw him murder that boy. No more than ten years old. Dropped a cinderblock on top of the kid’s head. And then *laughed*. Fuckin’ little bastard--” He broke off for a pained cringe and began coughing. His skin had grown pale. Sweat covered his face. “And now I’m dying ‘cuz of that little fuck? I should’ve just... sh-should’ve just shot that piece of... stupid piece of shit...” The dreary look in his eyes seemed to suggest he had forgotten what he was saying. Or that he no longer cared. - Excerpt from page 36
4. ↑ “Is it really so ridiculous? With you, I finally have someone reliable who can never betray me. With me, you finally have an employer who appreciates your finer talents. An employer who will not hesitate to show his generosity.”

“You have a strange idea of generosity.”

“I like guarantees, Colt. A man in my position shouldn’t trust anyone when he has the opportunity not to. I’m sure you can understand that. But when I have my guarantee--” He placed a briefcase on the desk. It was full of cash. “--I am free to show my gratitude.”

Colt eyed the money. By the size of the bills, there must have been at least five thousand troas. - Excerpt from page 72
5. ↑ “Money isn’t enough,” he said.

“Of course. I believe you have earned another two hours.”

Colt took the briefcase. “Where are they?”

“Today, they’re here.” Rofal motioned toward the broad double doors behind him, ornately wooden with brass lamps on either side. “Tomorrow, they’ll be somewhere else.”

Colt proceeded through into what could only be Rofal’s bedchamber. Four guards looked up as he entered, and then put away their cards, book, and newspaper in order to watch him in silence. He approached the crib in the middle of the room.

Two babies lay sleeping, twins boy and girl. Colt took a relieved breath. He could not smile at them. Not here. He touched his son’s forehead and then his daughter’s.

Two hours, he had. It wasn’t enough. He wanted to spend it as efficiently as possible, but he didn’t know how to do that. So before it drove him mad, he decided to just sit down and watch them sleep.

Garovel merely continued observing. - Excerpt from page 72
6. ↑ Geoffrey was decidedly *not* his uncle. Joseph Rofal understood that killing his employees for failure served no purpose. Geoffrey did not. Or perhaps he did and just didn’t care, because simply fleeing was also out of the question. Two men tried to leave the city the other day. Geoffrey had their heads in his office now.

The search for Colt had not been much better. Of the three men that Swank sent to retrieve Colt’s personnel file from the police station, only one returned, delivering a message to stop looking for the man. Geoffrey killed the poor bastard anyway.

He had no idea what to do at this point. The Rofal empire was a sinking ship, and its new captain didn’t give a shit, because he was a fucking shark. - Excerpt from page 129
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 “Ah.” Rofal took a swig of his alcohol. “My father and mother retired successfully some ten years ago now. Great man, my father. These days, some people question his lucidity--namely, my mother--but sometimes, I can still see that brilliance of his. That *ambition*. One moment, he’ll be talking about his great grandfather or his dead sister like they’re in the room; and then the next, he’ll be whispering to me about some secret store room he had built thirty years ago.”

“I met him once,” said Swank. “He offered to cut my hair for me. And replace it with possum fur. I’m still not sure if he was joking.”

Rofal laughed. “Apart from that, I have a few siblings. I inherited the business because my older sister, bless her, hates everything about it.” - Excerpt from page 90
8. ↑ “What about Geoffrey’s parents? Are they dead?”

“No, they are alive. But they entrusted him to me. They struggled with him as a child.”

“I can imagine.”

“I do not think you can,” said Rofal.

Colt raised an eyebrow.

Rofal downed the rest of his whiskey and rested the glass in front of him. “There are very few people in this world who frighten me,” he said. “I am all too glad to have that monster’s favor.” - Excerpt from page 91
9. ↑ Geoffrey’s smile was full of teeth. “My uncle says you’re a true savage.”

“You should hear what he says about you.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

 “That you’re an irreverent pain in the ass with no mind for the consequences of your actions.” - Excerpt from page 68
10. ↑ He stared back coldly. “I expect I’ll feel something when I kill *you*.”

“Careful, Colt. Do not jeopardize the understanding we have.”

“I apologize,” he said through his teeth.

“I’m aware of your current hatred for me,” Rofal said. “But in time, I believe you will see the situation as I do.”

“Fat chance,” said Colt.

“Is it really so ridiculous? With you, I finally have someone reliable who can never betray me. With me, you finally have an employer who appreciates your finer talents. An employer who will not hesitate to show his generosity.”

“You have a strange idea of generosity.”

“I like guarantees, Colt. A man in my position shouldn’t trust anyone when he has the opportunity not to. I’m sure you can understand that. But when I have my guarantee--” He placed a briefcase on the desk. It was full of cash. “--I am free to show my gratitude.”

Colt eyed the money. By the size of the bills, there must have been at least five thousand troas. “Money isn’t enough,” he said.

“Of course. I believe you have earned another two hours.”

Colt took the briefcase. “Where are they?”

“Today, they’re here.” Rofal motioned toward the broad double doors behind him, ornately wooden with brass lamps on either side. “Tomorrow, they’ll be somewhere else.”

Colt proceeded through into what could only be Rofal’s bedchamber. Four guards looked up as he entered, and then put away their cards, book, and newspaper in order to watch him in silence. He approached the crib in the middle of the room.

Two babies lay sleeping, twins boy and girl. Colt took a relieved breath. He could not smile at them. Not here. He touched his son’s forehead and then his daughter’s.

Two hours, he had. It wasn’t enough. He wanted to spend it as efficiently as possible, but he didn’t know how to do that. So before it drove him mad, he decided to just sit down and watch them sleep. - Excerpt from pages 71 and 72
11. ↑ “I suppose I could find another phone, but they should be here any minute, so why bother? Your resolve is clear to me now at least.” Rofal walked around the desk. “But you know, I am nothing if not determined. I will give you one more chance.”

“Is that so?” said Colt.

“When they arrive, I will allow you to choose which of the two you wish to keep.”

“Like *fuck* you will.”

“Refuse, and I will take both. And I will not kill them, Colt. They will become *my* children. I have none of my own, you see. I will raise them. They will come to love me. They will come to *hate* you. And when they are old enough, I will send them to kill you in my name.”

Colt’s expression alone seemed enough to slaughter everyone in the room.

“Agree to my terms, and you will be allowed to keep one child for yourself. Our amiable relationship may continue, and perhaps in time, you will be able to earn back your second child.”

He clenched his teeth. “I’m going to kill you.”

“You seem so determined not to leave this building alive. Perhaps you would prefer to watch as I kill them in front of you before you die as well? That would certainly save me considerable time and effort.” - Excerpt from page 97
12. ↑ Rofal sat down. “Leave us,” he told Swank, who promptly exited. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his red and gray hair. The weathered lines of his face made his expression all the more foul. - Excerpt from page 71
13. ↑ And they all had the same dark hair and thick, arched eyebrows. - Excerpt from page 1471
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 ‘*Looks like Rofal consolidated several weeks worth of cash here from all over the city. I wonder if he was planning a big purchase.*’

‘*Seventy thousand troas... what do I even do with this kind of money...?*’

‘*That’s our funding for critical purposes. No spending it on booze and hookers.*’

Hector snorted. ‘*What about drugs? Meth and heroin are okay, right?*’

‘*Oh yeah. Let’s just give it all back to Rofal while we’re at it.*’

‘*Are you, um... er... are you sure we can even spend this money? Isn’t it, like... being tracked by the government or something?*’

‘*No. We didn’t rob a bank. We just won’t be able to make large purchases at licensed vendors without drawing attention.*’

‘*R-right...*’

‘*We could have stolen from Rofal’s gun running business*,’ said Garovel, ‘*or his car theft ring, but money doesn’t change hands nearly as often in those. And stealing from the prostitution business would have probably done more harm to the prostitutes than to Rofal.*’ - Excerpt from pages 66 and 67
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 “The money that the kid stole, what was it for?”

“Why? Did you recover it?”

“No.” The kid did have a *gripload* of money in his bag, Colt had discovered, but Rofal didn’t need to know that. The money was stuffed under the backseat of his car. “But you said something about it being for a seat at a table. What table?”

Rofal paused again. “Why do you want to know?”

“Let’s say I’ve been considering my circumstances,” said Colt. “And being more cooperative with you is starting to seem more advantageous.”

“I see.” Rofal leaned back in his chair. “Well, I would be lying if I said I did not want to tell you. However, if honesty is the game now, then I have to say, I am a bit taken aback by your sudden change of heart. And I have never been a very trusting man.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“I will tell you this,” said Rofal. “That money was my means of acquiring an introduction with certain... like-minded individuals.”

“I see,” said Colt. “Is that all ruined now?”

“For the time being, yes. A frustrating set back. But I’m sure another opportunity will present itself in time.” - Excerpt from pages 85 and 86
16. ↑ Geoffrey tilted his head as he laid eyes on the lone pancake house. He hadn’t been sure what to expect. Having to leave Brighton for some little town called Chesterville was strange enough to pique his interest on its own, but when he had also seen that the invitation was from the CEO of Boulder Inc., Geoffrey had been positively brimming with curiosity. Alone under a luminous moon, he entered.

Five people sat around a pair of joined tables. They all turned to look at him--as did the five accompanying reapers.

Geoffrey gave an open-mouthed smile as he looked over everyone.

“Have a seat, boy,” said an older gentleman on the right.

Geoffrey approached them, and the reapers all edged away from him. To his eyes, each reaper looked very human, except a bit blurry and flickering like an old video recording. “Why did you invite me here?” he asked.

“Because I liked your uncle,” the same man said. “Now be quiet. You haven’t earned the right to speak at our table.” - Excerpt from pages 130 and 131
17. ↑ Rofal scrambled through his desk, no doubt for a weapon, but when he saw that Colt already had the gun on him, he stopped and backed away. For the first time that Colt had seen, the man looked genuinely fearful. “Be reasonable, Colt... If you kill me--”

Colt shot him in the chest.

Rofal dropped, hands vainly touching the wound as he watched Colt walking closer. “No...!”

“Yes.” The bullet splattered Rofal’s brain all over the floor. - Excerpt from page 99