Why? I can pull up most of my documents from past few years on my mobile phone. And that’s not even fiction.

If I recall right he was locked inside, not outside.

A little late, but here's the rest of the quote. He was locked in.

From the drawer beside the sink Joe Chip got a stainless steel knife; with it he began systematically to unscrew the bolt assembly of his apt’s money-gulping door.

“I’ll sue you,” the door said as the first screw fell out. Joe Chip said, “I’ve never been sued by a door. But I guess I can live through it.”