Two Shy

The coffee steamed in front of them, it would be too hot to drink for some time still.  The coffee shop's vintage table was dotted with ancient rings of similar cups from the last dozen years.  No part of Stanley's attention was invested in either the coffee or the decor, however.  Stanley was watching the door.

Martha was pointedly looking at the steaming cups, on the other hand.

"They changed the design." She said, lifting her paper cup up between them.

"Hmm?"

"They changed the design, on the disposable cup.  It used to have fourteen swirls from the top to bottom, now it has twelve." She indicated to her partner across the table.

"Hm." Stanely rarely admitted that he was envious of Martha's attention to detail. And not once did he ever mention it to her. But it was a remarkable gift, to be sure. And very, very helpful in their line of work.

"Why do you think they changed it?" She asked.

"Save on ink, maybe. Less to print."

"Hm.  But it probably cost them more to re-design it than they'll save on the new ones."

"Perhaps." Stanley admitted, tilting his head slightly in agreement. The door opened, and his body became alert with lightning speed, belied in no way by his outward appearance.  In fact, he moved not at all, save for the immediate dilation of his pupils as they locked on to the person entering the coffee house. "A discussion for another time, I'm afraid Martha. Our job is here."

Martha didn't turn to see, she knew what she would find. The dossier had been quite explicit, and Stanley was rarely wrong.  She slipped her gun out of her purse, and rested it on her lap.

"Very good," She said. "I was afraid if we had to wait much longer we'd have to actually drink some of this god-awful coffee."