Count on getting a heartless reply (4)
I believe the answer is:
rely
'count on' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'a heartless reply' is the wordplay.
'a heartless' suggests removing the centre.
'reply' with its middle taken out is 'RELY'.
'getting' is the link.
(Other definitions for rely that I've seen before include "Run and see" , "Trust, depend" , "Depend on with confidence" , "City with cathedral" , "Depend, bank" .)