Never in his 30 years had Tim done anything wrong. He paid his taxes, he followed the speed limit, he even volunteered at the local soup kitchen twice a week. So why, oh why, did he take the cologne? It was the principle of it really. I mean, $200 for a bottle of fragrance? The department store was the crook, not him.
He had almost gotten away with it too. He was two steps out the door when he heard a high-pitched voice say, "Sir?", causing him to turn around. He was greeted by a 5'1" skinny little blondie in a security uniform. "I'm going to have to ask you to come with me," she said. And that's how he wound up back here.
He was sitting nervously alone at a table, an empty chair across from him in the security office. Then, the door opened and the blonde woman entered. She was quite short, even compared to Tim, who was only 5'7" himself. She was thin too, probably barely weighed over 100 pounds. She was practically swimming in her security uniform. She was college-aged, probably a part-time gig she had while she attended school. She stepped over to the empty chair and sat down across from Tim.
"Any idea why we brought you back here?"
"I'm the one-millionth customer?" Tim said.
"Very funny. It's about what's in your pants."
"In my pants?"
"Don't play dumb. The bottle. What's your name?"
"T-Tim"
"Well Timmy, I'm Hannah, and it's my job to protect the store's assets."
Tim shifted in his seat uncomfortably. He still had the cologne in his pants, and she knew it.
"Now, I know you've got a bottle of cologne," she continued, "but what I don't know is what else you've got."
"It's just the cologne, I swear."
"So you admit you took it?"
Tim buried his face in his hands. Idiot. He'd fallen right into her trap.
"I'd hate to have to call the police," Hannah said, "But without knowing what you all took, I'll have to call an officer down to sort it out."
"No, please, I'll do anything," Tim said.
Hannah looked up for a moment, thinking. "Well," she said, "I suppose there's one way I could know you didn't have anything on you. Stand up."
Tim did as he told, stretching his short, thin frame up out of his seat. He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, not the type of clothing they even sell at these stores.