Vin Tanner, one of the first to arrive at the ATF building as he often did, wasted no time in jogging up the stairs and heading for the break room. Once inside, Vin casually glanced over the coffee pots and espresso machine. When that gourmet drink-maker first arrived, no one wanted to touch it. Now, it seemed like a good third of the people taking a break utilized that device at least once during the day. The coffee maker, on the other hand, never had a moment's rest. If it wasn't creating a fresh pot of coffee, it was keeping the old batch warm – and with how many caffeen addicts roamed the building, it got quite the workout.
Thankfully those who stocked the break room with the beans and other essential supplies knew when the less costly item was of superior quality, and when the cheaper alternative did not maintain the flavor standards everyone expected and needed on the long stake-outs, planning sessions, and exhaustive meetings.
Vin paused in his reprisal of the room and the equipment. His keen eyes reversed their examination and looked towards a new addition that did not fit the modern look at all. And yet, it blended in with the surroundings.
Apprehensive, Vin edged closer and gave the rest of the room a quick look. Seeing no one, hearing nothing out-of-the-ordinary, Vin reached out and touched the item. It felt solid. He picked it up. No wires and no electronic additions either. He put it back down. Somehow, somewhere, someone had found an old percolator and dropped it off. Gently picking up the lid and examine both it and the interior, Vin looked inside.
A chuckle quietly emerged from Vin's throat. The handwritten note on the single sheet of paper inside revealed that this particular coffee pot was reserved for Vin Tanner's use only. That was thoughtful – and Vin knew exactly who had gotten fed up with Vin taking the opportunity to make the coffee the way he liked best. Or, to be more accurately, the single person who successfully dropped this old-fashioned coffee maker had heard all the complaints from every team running late or behind, and most of the paper-pushers too lazy and cheep to go down the stairs and across the street to the local café' when their own mugs ran out of the precious liquid. Vin applauded the stranger, and looked forward to catching his friends off guard when they eventually realized no one had run across a 'cup of tar' or 'liquid pitch' that was Vin's preferred thick, strong black coffee.
Vin's shrug went unnoticed. He prepared his drink in the percolator, and then carefully measured out a minuscule amount of coffee grounds in the filters (after replacing the spent, soaked filters for fresh ones) for the regular coffee-pots. But only one device received water. The previously owned and used percolator.
The task done, Vin grabbed a mug of coffee and exited the break-room. He glanced at the analog clock hanging on the hallway, above the door and smiled. It was just about time for the other early arrivals to show up.
Right on time, Team leader 6 emerged from the elevator and stepped into the break room. Behind him, two men from team 8 – who had just finished a bust and were looking forward to regular office hours for a bit longer – walked behind him. Finally, one of team 7 – Josiah Sanchez – arrived, ready to begin a new day.
Josiah spied Vin leaning casually against the far wall, and instead of grabbing his mug from the cabinet, he wandered over. "What did you do?" He asked, suspicious.
Vin's second shrug had an observer this time. Vin sipped and let his mouth approximate a grin. "Oh, you didn't. Vin!"
Josiah turned and ran, nearly tripping one of the team 8 men, as both individuals arrived at the door simultaneously. "Did you sample the coffee before pouring a cup?" Vin couldn't see their reactions, but he sure could hear them. "What coffee? The pots were empty when we got here."
Vin let his laughter be heard. "Thanks Preacher." He called out. "Warn them, why don't ya? Ruin my prank." The teasing tone left no doubt these semi-harsh words were said in jest.
16 August 2012.