Gerty (IX) in gerty

Gerty walked into the bar and thanked Jeremy and sent him on his way. Once the bellhop was gone she quickly left and went back to her room for a change of clothes. Not only did she not want to be seen moving about the hotel she did not want Fritz noticing her coming and going.

Gerty changed into a grey hooded sweatshirt and black jeans. She also grabbed a pair of Jackie O. sunglasses and silently left the hotel room happy. Gerty chose the stairs over the elevator. They were in the main lobby where as the stairs came out in a side hall away from the front desks view. The main floor guest rooms were situated in hallways that had secondary doors to the side alleys where food was delivered and garbage removed. Gerty was pleased to see the exits were not alarm equipped fire doors.
- -
Dickers left at ten sharp without a goodbye and comment to a coworker. In his years at the Palace his cold indifference and smug persona did nothing to endear him to the staff. Administrators kept him as he was punctual and rarely took time off. A lifer with no life. The perfect employee.

All employees either walked in from work or rode the city buses. Dickers was the later and walked the required block to the closest stop. Eyes straight ahead with not so much as a nod to any passerby. People were of no interest to him.
As usual he walked up just as the bus arrived. Dickers didn’t like to wait or be inconvenienced. Five or six passengers boarded and Dickers found a seat up front. He felt he was having a lucky day after all.
- -
Just as Jeremy predicted Dickers left the building at ten and headed down the street on foot. Gerty let him pass and trailed well behind hoping not to be recognized. She had the hood up and sunglasses on even well after dark. When it came to fashion in the big city nothing was considered unusual. Maybe she was a big star who wanted to not be noticed. Mostly people just didn’t care. Gerty stood back from the road once they got to the bus stop. When Dickers started for the door Gerty slipped in behind him so she could pass as he turned to sit. Luckily, he was not a man to look at others so she remained unnoticed.
- -
Dickers lived in a twelve story apartment building which could be considered shabby upon first look but the owners took pride in their business and it was well maintained. Fresh paint was kept on walls and apartment troubles were tended to quickly. The lobby was for sitting and security was keyless entry and buzzer locks. The Super lived in the building and essentially was the only manned security for any trouble.

Dickers keyed in his code after disembarking the bus and walked straight through to the elevators. The front entry doors were equipped with automatic systems to close the doors but also prohibit their slamming. A security catch 22 as no door would remain ajar but easy for Gerty to slip in behind Dickers without being right on his tail.
-
Dickers was three for three as when he rang for the elevator it immediately opened as if waiting for him to arrive. Although he preferred to ride alone only one other resident followed him in and she seemed satified to move to the back and stand away from him and the door. Most importantly not so much as a hello or attempt to make idiotic elevator chat. Four for four.
- -
Gerty stood in the back of the elevator with hood pulled forward and the glasses covered most of her petite face. Dickers made it easy as he stood nose aimed straight at the doors looking as if they would take it off if he moved closer. He pushed six and didn’t ask if she would like to choose a floor. Floor six it is. The elevator dinged as each floor was passed and slowed as they reached their destination. Dickers stepped out and turned left and Gerty stood waiting for the door to start to close. Just as it was ready to shut she hit the safety slide to reopen the doors.

Dickers was well ahead but the hall was straight with no offshoots and Gerty strolled behind.
- -
Dickers dug in his pocket as he approached his apartment door. Francis will be at the door pretending to be starving as she did every day. Soon as the key touched the lock she will be off her bed and meowing at the door.

Even though Francis never tried to escape Dickers carefully opened the door “just in case.” As the door swung open Dickers heard the ringing of a loud bell and stars shot in front of his eyes as he staggered into his living room. A shove from behind dropped him to his knees as the cat leaped away from her odd acting food ticket. The door slammed behind Dickers as he fell to all fours. Someone was in his home and they seem to be whispering some sort of childrens rhyme.