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The clerk was clearly surprised. And not terribly happy to see us police officers inside the hotel. “What do you guys need?”
I smiled and stayed polite. “Do you have a Daniel Ott registered here?”
“Can’t tell you. Can’t tell the cops anything without a warrant.”
The sergeant used a fatherly tone when he said, “Son, this is really important. We’re just asking if he’s here.”
“And I’m just telling you, I can’t say anything without a warrant.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Both.”
I asked, “Is your supervisor here?”
“Nope. I’m the assistant manager. And I’m telling you to get a warrant. I’m also about to tell you to leave the hotel unless you have one.” He worked hard at leveling an intimidating stare at Sadecki.
I put a hand on the sergeant’s shoulder. Sadecki was used to dealing with this attitude toward the police. But he clearly had no patience for it.
I said with a smile, “We’ll call your corporate office and wait in the lobby here.”
“You can’t wait in the lobby.”
As we turned, Sergeant Sadecki said, “Go ahead, call the cops on us.”
Chapter 89
I stood with Sergeant Sadecki and Detective Raina Rayesh in the corner of the empty lobby farthest from the desk clerk.
I had an idea.
I called Terri Hernandez on the radio. “We’re having a problem with the clerk. Can you turn your raid coat inside out, then come through the lobby and go up the stairs? Just wait there for me to call you. Don’t take any action or do anything.”
All she said was “Give me thirty seconds.”
That’s why I like working with my friends. They never give me excuses.
A minute later, I had the big sergeant block the clerk’s view of me while I pulled out my cell phone and called the hotel. The clerk picked up on the first ring. As soon as he said his standard welcome, I kept my voice very low and raspy.
I said, “Dude, I’m glad you answered. This is Daniel Ott. Cops might be looking for me.” I glanced over my shoulder.
The clerk was working hard to keep a neutral face. All he said was “Okay.”
I continued on as Daniel Ott. “Can you get to my room right now?”
“Not this second.”
“I got a thousand bucks if you can come up and help me for less than a minute.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll be right up.”
I smiled at the way the clerk tried to keep his tone professional and efficient.
Just then, Terri walked past us. She turned and took the stairway like she’d been staying at the hotel for weeks. No one gave her a second look.
The clerk called for the woman from the back room and asked her to watch the front desk. He made a point of saying loudly, so we all could hear him, “And don’t tell the cops anything. They don’t have a warrant.”
I watched the clerk get into the elevator. When it stopped on the third floor, I called Terri quickly to tell her what floor to check.
