I clicked the 7th floor this time. An elderly woman was taking the elevator up to the 8th. I I knew these old elevators were in constant disrepair and she no doubt had struggled with the stairs a number of times just to get groceries, just to go on living. I smiled at her and she smiled back.
The door opened and I walked out leaving the old woman. Room 706 belonged to Edward J. Rabwinowitz, a divorced father of two boys. He would be gone today because it was his weekend with the kids. I knocked to be sure, there was no answer. I put on my gloves and removed a lock pick set. These antique door knobs weren’t much of a challenge.
I closed and locked the door. Inside I smelled the faint remnants of a Friday night pizza and movie party with the kids. I walked to the back window and opened it side-stepping my way out onto the fire escape. This side of the building faced a factory with a narrow alleyway between the two so I was still reasonably inconspicuous in my daring feat. I realized this was mighty elaborate and that perhaps I could have just came and knocked on Derek’s door but I was hoping to catch him asleep.
Moving down one flight I could see into Derek’s apartment he wasn’t on the couch. I tried his window it gave and slid open with a subtle whine. Inside, I took a moment of meditative thinking. Approaching the bedroom, I crept past dirty clothes. Derek’s bedroom door was slightly open. I pushed it with my gun and stepped into the dank yellow room. I froze. Sarah lay on the bed sleeping with Derek, their naked bodies twisted together.