Chapter 19: InVESTing in Opportunities

Thank goodness that crazy german shepherd was a little on the big side, Ralph thankfully thought with a huff, bearly able to breathe properly as he approached the large police station before him. If he was any smaller, I'd bust this thing for sure.

The snug police dog vest he was now wearing, fitted for a heavy-set german shepherd, barely held together around the mastiff. His sturdy build had instantly bulged out of the uniform's seams when he had somehow slipped it over his head, nearly causing it to rip as it squeezed him- and now it was currently cutting into his large sides despite only having in on for a few dozen minutes.

Ignoring the pain it was causing him, Ralph begrudgingly trudged forward, starting to feel claustrophobic in such a tight uniform.

At the sudden sound of something rustling near by, the mastiff quickly tried to inconspicuously dart behind a nearby bush- but unable to move as fast as he wanted because of the vest, he ended up clumsily tripping and falling on his face.

"Stupid tight vest," he growled embarrassingly, thankful no one was around to witness his fall as he stiffly sat back up. "Why do they make them wear these stupid things, anyway?"

Rolling his eyes, Ralph peered out at the entrance sign to the station in front of him. Ironically, his mind began to wander back to the somewhat crime he had committed just a few minutes prior...and began to think about how it was probably not considered good dog worthy.

The fallen soldier, the cop dog (whose name Ralph found out was Markowski from reading the vest) had been knocked out cold by running head first into the brick wall...

How could the mastiff not see an opportunity then?

And he knew that he had to take the opportunity before it -and his hope of a new collar- completely slipped away.

Silently and unnoticed by the world around him, Ralph had quickly and carefully slipped the vest off the real cop and somehow had managed to slip it on himself. The uniform immediately squeezed him snuggly, restricting him as he quickly and clumsily stumbled away from the crime scene...

No, Ralph interrupted himself as shook his head, trying to justify his actions. That was not a crime. Any dog would've taken that vest given the opportunity!

Ignoring the guilt growing in his chest, though, the nervous mastiff forced his mind back at to the police station- and more importantly, how in the world he was going to get inside it...

And most importantly, just how he was going to get a good dog collar.

Gulping, he watched as a middle-aged cop with overly spiky hair approached the entrance of the station. Balancing a box of donuts on his hand, the cop rushed inside the pair of automatic doors.

That Markowski mutt has no reason to have a K-9 vest now, anyhow, being passed out and all, Ralph then continued reasoned with himself absentmindedly, trying to lessen the guilt burning inside him as he stared at the double doors shutting. I need this vest more than he ever would, anyways.

After a few minutes, the automatic doors suddenly opened once again, capturing the mastiff's attention. This time an short, mustached policeman appeared, making his way outside as he munched on a chocolate donut. He was laughing it up with a slightly skinnier, taller man who follow in suit- also bearing a mustache.

"Thanks for the donuts, Sonic!" The tall cop called over his shoulder as he and his friend made their way out, pausing for a moment to peer out at the weather from under the safety of the awning.

The short lawman whistled, shaking his head at the pouring rain. "Can you believe this weather we're havin', Luigi?! Mama Mia, it feels like it's about to rain cats and dogs out here!"

The tall cop nodded in agreement. "You're definitely right, Mario! At least we don't have to work out in this mess now. Our shift is over!" The two shared another round of annoying laugher as they high fived each other with their free hand, shoveling more bites of donuts into their mouths with the other.

"Shee ya thomorrow, Koopa!" Mario called -a mouth filled of donut chunks- over his shoulder to the security guard sitting at a desk just inside the entryway.

The security guard, however, never responded with an intelligent reply, other than slight mumbling. He was too busy snoozing with his police hat tipped down over his eyes and feet up lazily on his desk.

Curiously, Ralph waited for the automatic double doors to shut once again as the cops walked away, but the doors didn't. That was odd.

I thought those doors were automatic? He thought in confusion. So why aren't they closing?

From his distance, the mastiff attempted to peer inside the station- seeing the security guard was starting to snore so loud it woke himself with a startle. The turtle-esque man at once realized the doors were still open and, looking a little embarrassed, he quickly reached over and pushed a button.

And as if like magic, the double doors shut again. All at the push of a button.

Realized quickly that these doors were different from other doors he had seen, Ralph raised his furry eyebrows.

These police station doors didn't open or shut automatically as some doors did. Instead, the doors were controlled by a button that opened and closed them- for the station's security, apparently.

And clearly it was a security guard's job to control them...

In this case, a very sleepy security guard's job.

In his rib-crushing, tight-fitting new uniform, Ralph smirked in his hiding place as another ingenious idea hit him. Getting inside the station going to be no real problem for him.

All he needed now was just another opportunity to take.