Maintenance

It was some kind of broom closet, Jarret Lee Franklin realized, trying to focus his eyes in the dark while keeping himself very still. He worried his breathing could be heard, taking the shallowest breaths. This was a fine package, Franklin thought. Managed to wrap himself up real good this time. It was the easiest job. Bust the window, get in, find the dope, then split. Five minutes in-out, tops. Small pharmacy in the sticks, all quiet mini-mall, easy. Didn't count on getting sliced thru the window. Didn't count on can't find the good stuff, losing time, can't think. Didn't count on some silent alarm. Then Franklin heard the siren approaching, then stop. That's when he jammed into the tiny closet. 

Probably it was over, he thought, but he could hide and hope for a miracle. Remaining very quiet, Franklin could hear footsteps outside now, then the unmistakable scratchy clatter of a canine's paws on tile flooring. Franklin didn't even breath. This was beyond a disaster now. He began to shuffle thru his dwindling options. They were basically bad and worse. He was caught, he concluded reluctantly but with no more doubt. He did the quick math in the dark. Breaking and entering, two years, out in a year, sooner with Covid. Why get mauled by a police dog since it won't change where he ends up, Franklin instantly realized. He heard the dog again, sniffing near the narrow closet door. That's it, it was too much, Franklin couldn't stand it any longer. Frantic, he involuntarily shouted "Alright! Coming out. No dog!" The dog immediately started barking, and then a male voice simply said, "Okay."

Franklin flung open the closet door, the dog was right there, teeth bared, but only growling now. At the other end of the dog's leash was a portly man, fifty's, dressed in workman's overalls, and holding a mop in his non-dog hand. Franklin was puzzled for a moment. Wait, he had heard the siren stop, what... "I'm maintenance, this is my dog, Brent, and you're not supposed to be here.", the man said in a firm voice. Franklin realized it all at once: he had given himself up to a janitor. Now what? He started to move sideways towards the door, but the toothy dog reacted instantly, moving with him. The janitor raised his mop handle menacingly, "Mister, right now you look like kibble to my boy- so it's better you just don't move off of your spot." The janitor meant business, and Franklin was certain the dog looked hungry. That's precisely when they all saw the police car's flashing lights outside.