He thought about the tip jar. Guesstimated how much was in there. Tried distracting himself until his mind brought back what he was really thinking about. Back at the mansion. With Mr. Green.

He looked for him. He never stayed at the cafe long. But Stan had never seen Mr. Green physically leaving. He'd be there one moment, and then Stan would get distracted by his barista duties. Then he'd look up and Mr. Green would be gone. Just his empty 

coffee

cup at the spot he had been sitting.

Sometimes Stan would think he was going insane. Considered the possibility that he had been hallucinating Mr. Green. Looked for clues as to whether the man actually existed. The coffee cup that he left empty each time he left. That was a piece of evidence. He actually had seen Mr. Green drinking out of it. And then after Mr. Green would leave the cup would still be there. He'd even see his coworkers go pick the cup up. So it wasn't that he was imagining the cup.

Stan didn't know what was worse. Mr. Green being an actual real guy. Some psycho who murdered people without a second thought. Or he Stan himself imagining it all. If Mr. Green was truly an imagination. Did this mean the murders were also fake. Or was it that Stan was committing the murders all by himself. And blaming Mr. Green for it.

"Hey!"

Stan looked up. It was hi coworker Derek.

"I asked. Are you going out with us tonight."

The gang at the 

cafe

went out every Thursday night. There was a 

service industry

special at the Rust bar. Lately Stan had been growing tired of going there. The only people who attended were lowly paid service industry employees. He was trying to make big bucks and do big things. That's why he had gotten in with Mr. Green in the first place.

But after what had happened earlier that day Stan now felt in too deep. He needed to do something that resembled normal life.

"Yeah. I'm game."

"Okay good. Cause you know. Frankly you've been a stranger lately."

Stan tried to say something. Nothing came out.

"We miss you is all."

"Yeah. I'll be there."

"Okay good" Derek patted Stan on the shoulder and went on his way. "See you later!" he hollered.