I was on a break from work. I needed to get out of the office for a little while. So I went around the corner to the duly designated Caffeinarium -- the Evil Corporate Entity Known As Starbucks. I opened the door and let the smell of coffee and the cool air from the coldcase wash over me like an ocean wave.

--

Unbeknownst to me, but beknownst to those who were in on the action, a bank robbery was taking place across the street. It was in its initial stages when I entered the Starbucks, as several tall men in suits walked up to the bank, pulled black masks over their heads, removed guns from the smalls of their backs and headed inside.

Shots rang out as they aimed towards the ceiling to let people know they meant business. The usual orders came from their supposed leader. Money in bags. Down on the floor. Cooperate or get shot. The requisite crying and whimpering began taking place, but the men were oblivious -- intent on their score. They were efficient, they knew where all the vantage points were and they used them well, covering the entire floor from only four locations.

One of the children began crying loudly. His mother, desperate and scared, held him close, trying to smother his weeping in her blouse. She failed. One of the men glanced her way and gave her what she assumed to be an annoyed look, but she couldn't really tell from under the mask. But he refrained from exacerbating the situation by threatening either of them. At that instant, they both knew it would be over soon if everything just went according to plan. He'd be off with his money, and she'd be on her way home.

"C'mon," the leader growled at the tellers, "I haven't got all day." He almost went in back of the counter to help them pile the cash into the bags. But patience is a virtue, and he knew that if he dropped his guard due to impatience, someone might try something heroic and the whole scenario would go south. So he stood his ground. He knew the police wouldn't be long in coming.

The tellers were finishing up filling the fourth bag. One by one, the men ran to the counter from their places, grabbing the bags and heading back to where they'd come. When the fourth bag was complete, the last man took it while the leader kept guard over all of them. They slowly backed out of the bank, then ran off down the street and quickly into an alleyway, where a nondescript van waited for them.

--

I stepped out of the Starbucks five minutes later holding my frappuccino. I hate waiting in lines like that, especially for something as nonessential as a Starbucks beverage, but I needed the caffeine. I started back to the office, grateful I could spend at least a few minutes outside.

Off in the distance, I heard some sirens and, for a second, wondered where they were headed to before my thoughts went back to the project I was working on. I entered my office building and got into the elevator.