Better Latte Than Never
"You want to do what?" Jack asked, a bit startled by Ianto's request. He sat back in his chair and regarded the man in front of him.
"Apply for a part time job at the Coffi Emporium as a barista," Ianto said. "There's something not right about the place, and if I can get inside there as an employee, I might find out what it is."
"What makes you think the something not being right has anything to do with us?" Jack asked, one eyebrow raised in speculation.
"People disappear from the place," Ianto said. "They go in, they don't come out. I had a friend mentioned to me that they had a friend say they were stopping by to pick up some coffee one night and they never showed up for dinner. Someone who knew them said they saw them go into the shop, but never came out. It used to be a great little shop, but something is odd about the place now. I stopped buying the food just in case we have another Brecon on our hands. God, I hope it isn't that." He shuddered and Jack winced in sympathy. "But something fishy is going on."
"And you think you can find out what it is by working there?" Jack was skeptical. Ianto nodded. "Well, things have been fairly quiet here. Nose around and see what you can find out. But make sure you keep your mobile on you so we can get in touch with you if we need to. I don't want you getting in over your head if you're right."
"Will do. First I have to get them to hire me on," Ianto said. "Shouldn't be a problem, since I do make a damned fine cup of coffee, if I do say so myself."
"That you do, Ianto," Jack said with amusement. "All right, do it. But be careful!" Ianto nodded and left Jack's office. Jack pulled up his computer screen and did a search on the business, curious to see how much info he could find out. As soon as he did, his email inbox pinged with a message. It was from Ianto and had all the information that he had found so far. Jack wasn't sure if he sent it on his own or whether it was triggered by a web search. Either way, it was spooky that Ianto knew him so well. Chuckling, he closed out his browser and opened the attachment to read.
Ianto stopped by his flat and changed out of his suit. He didn't want to look too well heeled, but rather a hungry for work student type. Digging through his wardrobe, he found a ragged pair of jeans that he usually used when cleaning about the house and a worn jumper. Putting on his trainers, he went by foot and headed off to the coffee bar. It was about halfway between his flat and Mermaid Quay.
He entered the store and found it mostly empty. A bored student was sitting behind the bar and he went up to request an espresso. He tried to be discreet as he looked around the place. Good, the manager was on the floor. He wanted to get this right. He watched as the guy behind the counter made his coffee and left his money on the counter with a tip. Pulling the cup towards him, he took a sip and gagged.
"You call this coffee?" He asked hoarsely, wiping his mouth. It was truly awful, so he didn't have to act much. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the manager stop what she was doing and walk over.
"Is there a problem, sir?" She asked. She was a rather large woman and not really prone to cleanliness, he saw with some distaste. No wonder the worker was apathetic, with this woman as an example. He wondered if she were an alien. No human being would run a business and look that slovenly.
"Yes, this is probably the worst cup of coffee I've ever had in my life," he complained. "I might as well stay home and make my own; at least I wouldn't die in the attempt." She bristled at his comment.
"Sir, our baristas are highly trained and only do the finest work," she said.
"Maybe at one point, but not now," Ianto retorted. He wanted to play this just right. "I could do better in my sleep."
"Sir, these are highly complicated machines that take training to run," she said. The barista behind the bar wasn't even paying attention to their conversation but had drifted off to stare out the window.
"Yes, and they're not being used properly," Ianto said impatiently. What they were doing was criminal. No wonder the place was empty! "If I may?" He said and indicated the barrier which could be flipped open to allow the staff to pass. She stepped back, not certain what he was going to do. He pushed up the leaf and walked through, dropping it as he passed. Stalking over to the machine, he inspected it. God, it was filthy. He shuddered and turned to the sink. Quickly pulling the machine apart, he cleaned it, the manager watching him in amazement. He checked the temperature of the water and adjusted the controls for that as well.
Once he had done that he went over to the coffee container and opened it. Sniffing, he was reassured that the coffee itself hadn't gone off. It smelled fine, so he measured out a precise amount of beans and ran them through the grinder. Moving the basket over to the espresso machine, he tamped out the correct amount, checked the temperature of the water again and started the coffee brewing. Taking two demitasse cups, he put them under the nozzles. The smell was heavenly. He closed his eyes and inhaled as it poured out into the cups. Once it had finished he picked up both cups and put one on the counter in front of the manager. It was right next to the one he had abandoned.
"Try the first one," he said, indicating the first cup with one hand. She took a sip and shrugged. "Now this one," he nodded towards the one he had just put down. She picked up that one and took a sip. Her eyes widened as she tasted the difference. "That is how good coffee should taste." He picked up his cup and drank it, letting the fresh flavor wash away the previous burnt coffee that had stuck in his throat. Even if there wasn't anything funny going on, just teaching these people how to make a proper cup of coffee would be doing the world a service.
"You looking for work?" The woman asked, staring at him curiously. He shrugged nonchalantly. Staring about the room she knew that if she could get him to work there, it would bring more people in. Good. "If you are, I'll pay you good money. You can start right now, in fact."
