The call notes were simple.
Intoxicated guest.
Refusing to leave.
Argument with security.
Children possibly present somewhere on the property.
Mercer clipped his body camera into place.
“You want pool or lobby?” Cole asked.
“Pool.”
They walked through the hotel.
By the time they reached the west courtyard, they could hear Vanessa before they saw her.
“I don’t care what your policy is.”
Mercer glanced at Cole.
Cole gave him a look that said everything.
There she is.
Daniel met them beside the gate.
“Afternoon,” Mercer said.
“Thanks for coming.”
“What’s going on?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Female guest. Been drinking most of the afternoon. Staff cut her off. She got aggressive verbally, crossed behind the bar, started yelling in front of families. We told her to leave the pool deck. She refuses.”
“Physical with anyone?”
“No.”
“Threats?”
“Nothing specific. Just escalating.”
“You want her removed from the property or just the pool?”
Daniel hesitated.
“At this point, property.”
Mercer nodded.
That distinction mattered.
“Does management agree?”
“Yes. General manager approved the trespass.”
“All right.”
Vanessa spotted the deputies.
Immediately, her entire posture changed.
She straightened her cover-up.
Adjusted her sunglasses.
Smoothed her hair.
Then she walked toward them as if she had been waiting for reasonable adults to arrive.
“Thank God.”
Mercer stopped.
“Good afternoon.”
“You’re going to want to hear what’s happening here.”
“I do. That’s why we’re here.”
Vanessa pointed at Daniel.
“This man has been harassing me for almost an hour.”
Daniel said nothing.
Mercer looked at Vanessa.
“What’s your name?”
“Vanessa Whitmore.”
“Do you have identification?”
She blinked.
“Yes.”
“Can I see it?”
She hesitated.
Then reached into a large tan handbag and removed her wallet.
As she searched for her license, she kept talking.
“I want you to understand that I’m not some random person who came in here causing trouble.”
Mercer held out his hand.
Vanessa gave him the license.
“I have spent thousands of dollars at this hotel.”
Mercer glanced at the card.
“Okay.”
“I mean thousands.”
“Okay.”
“I come here constantly.”
Mercer handed the license to Cole, who walked a few steps away to run the information.
Vanessa continued.
“My children come here. My friends come here. I recommend this place. I’ve probably brought them tens of thousands in business.”