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“Triple shot americano and a glass of water.” The drinks were placed onto the brushed metal tabletop with a dull metallic ring.
“Perfect, thanks so much.” Jamie half closed their laptop, hands reaching to their caffeinated nectar even as they gave their server a grateful smile.
“All good, enjoy!” The barista smiled before turning to return behind the counter.
The coffee was hot, fresh and smelled divine to Jamie, who had been staring at their laptop for the best part of four hours. Taking the time to give their eyes a rest, they took in the other patrons of the coffee shop. It was a local place, slower paced than the city around it with round metal tables and mismatched chairs. But the coffee was cheap and the staff friendly enough to keep them coming back.
There was a table of three women, who had been loudly catching each other up on what they’d missed in each other's lives. Two breakups, an ex with a baby and a job promotion was what Jamie had heard and catalogued so far. Nothing particularly juicy, although Jamie had mentally labelled them Stacy, Tracy and Lacy to keep track of all the developments.
There were a few other solo table occupants, a few young professional types and students scattered around the floor. An older couple of gentleman with a cocker spaniel sat by the opposing window, drinking matcha and gossiping as enthusiastically as the ladies behind Jamie.
The final occupant was a shabby looking man with greying hair and some of the worst table manners they’d seen for a while. He was positioned on a bar stool by the counter, unfortunately in perfect view of Jamie. They really wished he’d chosen a seat further round, just enough for Jamie not to have to witness the massacre that was occuring to the bacon butty that had been placed in front of him.
It was always a fun game, to look at a person and try and piece together a life behind the scenes. It was one Jamie liked to indulge in to take their mind off work for a few minutes. Jamie took in the stained tan jacket, grease covered suit that seemed more wrinkle than fabric, and the unwashed more-salt-than-pepper hair for a moment, pondering the options as they drank more of their coffee.
A tan overcoat made them think of old school flashers, like the ones you’d see in films, but Jamie dismissed the idea. He wasn’t the most warm guy but he didn’t seem overly creepy or hostile to the employees, just a bit brusque. The suit reminded them of the old school private eyes, and Jamie tried to picture the old man holding a gun and laughed away the idea. Nah, this man likely worked a boring job and probably always had.
With a sigh, they put down their half empty mug and set about psyching themselves up for the next stint. The bell over the door rang, not an uncommon sound, but the way the man who entered bypassed the counter to go straight towards the man at the bar caught Jamie’s attention.
“Oh for fucks sake- can’t I have one second of my day without you shoving your greasy nose into my business.”
Jamie stared at the words on screen, but found it increasingly harder to focus as the conversation continued.
“So you’re here to work?”
“I,” he took a bite and his next words left bits of partially chewed bread flicking out over the table and the other man, “am eating a bacon roll.” The new man screwed up his face and flinched back slightly at the glutenous onslaught.
“You said that we’d do this together.”
“Together? How sweet that you think anything we do means we’re doing it together.”
“You said-”
“I don’t give a flying fuck about what I said sonny boy. I came here alone, and I think that should give you a clue as to where you shouldn’t be.”
Jamie picked up their coffee, using the act to sneak a longer look at the two men. The one standing had some floppy blonde hair and was dressed in some casual jeans and a black jacket. The look would've passed for casual if not for the heavier duty black boots. The whole getup gave Jamie definite police vibes, and they’d worked with enough police during their time that it set them more on edge.
“Okay- fine. But now that I’m here can I at least know what’s going on?”
“You’ve interrupted my lunch and put me in a bad mood. You think I’m just gonna roll over and give you what you want?”
“I just want to help.”
Jamie was starting to feel kinda sorry for the kid. He seemed so defeated but Greasy PI wasn’t letting up.
“That ship sailed a long time ago. Your grandfather must be so proud to see you begging for scraps.”
“My grandfather-“
“You don’t know a damn thing about your grandfather. Do I have to remind you that I worked for him back in the day before you joined this grand enterprise of ours?”
It was like a lightbulb went on inside Jamie’s head. Of course, they thought, mentally slapping themselves on the forehead, they’re related!
“No I know-“
“You don’t know! And that’s your problem. You think you know and you don’t check, you just jump. Although even I have to admit the copy thing was finally a step in the right direction.”
“Was that a compliment? You’re getting soft.”
“You’re a fucking disgrace.”
A very dysfunctional father son relationship was one Jamie could understand. Blondie just sighed and sat down, rubbing the bridge of his nose. The other man finished off his roll, sucking the remaining ketchup from his fingers in a particularly grotesque way, and glanced out the big glass window opposite him.
“Can you just tell me what we’re doing here?”
“Our jobs. And hopefully saving our skin in the process.”
“Business as usual then”
“You wouldn’t know the business if it bit you in your arse.”
Jamie realised they were out of coffee. Shit that was quick. They had also finished off their glass of water. They spotted a water urn near the till and decided to indulge their nosy side and grab a new glass.
“Can we just get on with it? Why are we here and what do I need to do?”
“Time to go.”
“Wait- fucks sake.”
As Jamie was filling their cup, the greasy man shot up, surprisingly spry for a man that looked as athletic as a burger van with a flat tyre. He jostled them slightly as he whisked past, causing the water to spill and Jamie to curse.
“Sorry about him, he’s an asshole.” The blond man addressed Jamie, slipping past with more grace than his father had.
“No problem. Hey, uh-” What were they doing? Why did they start speaking?! “Just know father’s can be shit, and you don’t have to give them anything. But for what it’s worth from a stranger,” TOTAL stranger, what were they doing?! “I get the struggle.”
Jamie scrambled back to their table, mentally hitting themself for getting involved. The man stood for a few more seconds, looking like Jamie had just whacked him in the face with a frying pan. They swore he mouthed the word father before coming to and spinning round to see where the greasy bloke had gone.
“Shit.” and he was off, disappearing out the door in a flurry.
Jamie glanced around and noticed at least three quarters of the tables were nosily craning their necks to catch a glimpse of where the strange duo had vanished off to. It was then that Jamie realised even the ladies sitting behind them hadn’t been particularly vocal for the past ten minutes.
Before they could embarrass themselves further by giving advice to strangers, they pulled out their headphones and turned their music up loud, settling in to focus on work, letting the strangeness of the afternoon turn into simply another story to tell.