“As matter of fact…” I held up my badge and ID. “I’ll ask again. Did a man and an underage girl just check in? All we care about is the girl’s safety. Nothing else. If she’s okay, we’ll leave and there’s no report.”
The dopey kid snorted. “Like I’d believe a cop.”
Cindy said, “I saw them walk in here.”
“So you know the answer to the question. Why are you bothering me?”
Now Cindy couldn’t contain herself anymore. “Seriously, all we care about is the girl’s safety. Once we establish that, everything’s cool.”
The clerk said, “If you leave now, everything’s cool.”
I said, “I’m afraid I can’t leave now that we’ve established a concern for someone’s safety. I need to talk to your manager.”
“Does it look like there’s a manager around?”
“What’s your name?”
“Am I under arrest?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then I refuse to identify myself. Now, do I need to callyourmanager to get you the hell out of here?”
Neither Cindy nor I moved. I said, “It’s critical we find that girl.”
“You cops think everything is critical. My dad works in the mayor’s office. He says cops overreact to everything.”
Cindy said, “Your dad doesnotwork for the mayor.”
“Yes, he does.”
“Bullshit.”
I saw what Cindy was doing. It was genius. We’d find out this moron’s name soon enough.
Cindy added, “If your dad works in the mayor’s office, what’s his name?”
“Jerry Little.” The clerk looked satisfied like he’d just dropped a mic.
Cindy checked on her phone quickly and said, “Son of a gun. Jerry Little, right on the city website. He’s the mayor’s deputy press officer. And I’ve never even heard of him.”
An idea formed in the back of my mind. I took a risk. I looked at the clerk and said, “Call him.”
“What?”
“Call your dad. He’ll tell you what you should do.”
The clerk hesitated. Then he picked up the receiver on the push-button landline phone on the reception desk. From my end, I heard him say, “Hey, Dad. Some cops—”
I reached across and snatched the phone out of the jerk’s hand. I heard the clerk say, “Hey!” but I ignored him.
I wasted no time. I identified myself and explained quickly what we were doing.
All Jerry Little said was “So? Why are you calling me?”
I explained about the standoff with his son. To which Little said, “I recommend you leave the premises immediately.”
I was pissed off, but I held it together. I said in an even tone, “Okay. As I understand it, you just told me to leave the hotel and your son alone. I want to make sure I get this right for my report: The mayor’s office declined to help when the SFPD expressed concern for a minor child’s welfare. Is that correct, Mr. Little?”
